Types of Disciplines and respective bikes explanation for noob

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Don't forget your bike fit for a far better riding experience with the new bike!

 

Only true for xc or road bikes. The bike for is heavily biased to that sector of the market and is aimed at increasing pedaling efficiency.

 

Taking an am bike along to a bike fit is like asking a savile row tailor to knit you a sweater.

[RockCoach]

You should look at a bike which will be more comfortable to ride and has relaxed geometry which will inspire more confidence going downhill and on technical sections. A dual suspension bike will probably be best in the long run. So basically you need to ask a few questions and understand a bit of terminology.

 

The most important being travel which is the length suspension can move. Look for a dual suspension frame with at least 120mm of travel in the rear shock (140mm is better but hard to find and when you do will be either expensive or heavy). The front fork travel may be the same or a bit more.

 

The next most important technical question is the steepness of the head angle. The less this angle is the more stable your bike rides. Best not go to too slack an angle as uphill handling and tight cornering can be compromised... 67 to 69 degrees is a good range.

 

Now your difficulty will be a lack of such bikes at shops. If buying new your best bet is a 650B wheel size. Otherwise browse the classifieds. I picked up this nearly new Santa Cruz Nickel for our daughter for R8k a few weeks ago.

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/52839-snata-cruz-nickel/

Bargain of note and possibly what you should be looking at.

 

 

 

[Uni]

The bug has bitten. Step away from the credit card.

 

Ja, bad case of the want a new shiny

 

Everybody should be on a trail bike in my opinion. Relaxes geometry and very comfortable to ride. Can handle the odd race and will be happy on a coffee ride.

 

If you have a desire to race then look at the more XC race bikes etc.

Noted, comfort is good, not about to race anything

 

my bike is red.....

 

I want a black one. Second option a blue one, even if it's not as fast as a red one

 

 

Only true for xc or road bikes. The bike for is heavily biased to that sector of the market and is aimed at increasing pedaling efficiency.

 

Taking an am bike along to a bike fit is like asking a savile row tailor to knit you a sweater.

 

Really? If I go for the new bike at my LBS I'm sure the basic fit will be fine and adjusted by them, it's only if I end up buying second hand that I will need someone to adjust it.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

Really? If I go for the new bike at my LBS I'm sure the basic fit will be fine and adjusted by them, it's only if I end up buying second hand that I will need someone to adjust it.

 

Yeah. Really. The professional bike fits at least. The initial setup according to height and reach is cool, but for anything trail or am or DH you go with what is comfortable.

[Wayne Potgieter]

A proper bike fi is critical for XC, BUT you can only go after you have some miles under your belt.

 

It is very important to give your fitter feedback on what sensations you are experiencing on the bike.

 

Bike fitting is unique to the person and the bike....no two are the same, so you have to be able to participate in the fitting session.

 

IE, my hands get pins and needles etc.

 

The initial fit is fine to start, but after a while, go for a bike fit -

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Yeah Wayne, critical for xc for sure. But with am and trail the fitters try to fit xc fitment criteria to a totally different discipline. You know how bad that can be in your day to day stuff.

[RockCoach]

Yeah, many people need to learn that you can't set your MTB bike up like a road bike - unless you are planning on only ride dust roads. You will need to sacrifice some pedalling and aero efficiency in order to gain some comfort and handling. The more technical your riding, the less important pedalling and more important handling becomes.

 

And then some bike fit problems only show up after a certain amount of time in the saddle. Before a bike fit you should make sure that your body is doing well. Ie. you aren't carrying an injury and your flexibility is good. The best way is to continually adjust it yourself until you find the sweet spot but for that you will have to arm yourself with lots of knowledge.

[Uni]

by jove i think she's got it. I get the right "size" with the help of the guys at the bike shop. Get in the saddle and ride it. See what pains and niggles arise - and go from there .

[NicoBoshoff]

If I can give you a bit of advice from my own recent experience:

 

I got into mtb'ing in December 2012 (thanks to Squire). Initially I thought that I was going to go for the endurance aspect of it, because I enjoyed distance running and this is what is in vogue right now.

 

So I bought a hardtail bike with decent spec to get me going and start working towards those marathons and stage races.

 

However, after 3 months my childhood love of just going fast and jumping off crap came back and I realised that marathons and XC style racing would not be for me. I definitely wanted to ride trails and enduro / AM type races.

 

So I traded in the hardtail and got myself a 140mm Stumpjumper and it's been all smiles since.

 

The point is, if I could have done it over, I would have spent R2 000 on a crap old Game special to see what style of riding I enjoy and then once I knew what I wanted to do I would fork out proper money on the right bike and then just donate the cheapy or sell it for beer money or some bling for the nice bike.

 

Currently there is a massive push in the media behind marathon riding and given Saffas' tendencies to think harder and longer is better we all head to the shops looking for a bike that will make 110km on dirt roads as comfortable as possible. This is doing an injustice to a passion that should get you into the sport and will keep you in it forever.

 

Just my 2c.

[RockCoach]

If I can give you a bit of advice from my own recent experience:

 

I got into mtb'ing in December 2012 (thanks to Squire). Initially I thought that I was going to go for the endurance aspect of it, because I enjoyed distance running and this is what is in vogue right now.

 

So I bought a hardtail bike with decent spec to get me going and start working towards those marathons and stage races.

 

However, after 3 months my childhood love of just going fast and jumping off crap came back and I realised that marathons and XC style racing would not be for me. I definitely wanted to ride trails and enduro / AM type races.

 

So I traded in the hardtail and got myself a 140mm Stumpjumper and it's been all smiles since.

 

The point is, if I could have done it over, I would have spent R2 000 on a crap old Game special to see what style of riding I enjoy and then once I knew what I wanted to do I would fork out proper money on the right bike and then just donate the cheapy or sell it for beer money or some bling for the nice bike.

 

Currently there is a massive push in the media behind marathon riding and given Saffas' tendencies to think harder and longer is better we all head to the shops looking for a bike that will make 110km on dirt roads as comfortable as possible. This is doing an injustice to a passion that should get you into the sport and will keep you in it forever.

 

Just my 2c.

 

Awesome dude. And very well said.

[rouxtjie]

If I can give you a bit of advice from my own recent experience:

 

I got into mtb'ing in December 2012 (thanks to Squire). Initially I thought that I was going to go for the endurance aspect of it, because I enjoyed distance running and this is what is in vogue right now.

 

So I bought a hardtail bike with decent spec to get me going and start working towards those marathons and stage races.

 

However, after 3 months my childhood love of just going fast and jumping off crap came back and I realised that marathons and XC style racing would not be for me. I definitely wanted to ride trails and enduro / AM type races.

 

So I traded in the hardtail and got myself a 140mm Stumpjumper and it's been all smiles since.

 

The point is, if I could have done it over, I would have spent R2 000 on a crap old Game special to see what style of riding I enjoy and then once I knew what I wanted to do I would fork out proper money on the right bike and then just donate the cheapy or sell it for beer money or some bling for the nice bike.

 

Currently there is a massive push in the media behind marathon riding and given Saffas' tendencies to think harder and longer is better we all head to the shops looking for a bike that will make 110km on dirt roads as comfortable as possible. This is doing an injustice to a passion that should get you into the sport and will keep you in it forever.

 

Just my 2c.

You did the wrong races. Crater Cruise is only once a year.

[NicoBoshoff]

You did the wrong races. Crater Cruise is only once a year.

 

I should add that it may very well be that you end up falling in love with long marathons. Hell, some of them take you through amazing scenery that you can only experience on a bike.

 

The point is, don't blow big bucks on your first bike. Go cheap as possible, figure it out and then commit.

[Uni]

I should add that it may very well be that you end up falling in love with long marathons. Hell, some of them take you through amazing scenery that you can only experience on a bike.

 

The point is, don't blow big bucks on your first bike. Go cheap as possible, figure it out and then commit.

 

my "first" bike that's got me in love with the idea of cycling - done and dusted, one tiny hop up from a game special - and I'm very chuffed with it - it's got me where I am now - riding (not well but getting better each time) with a smile on my face. I really just want some suspension for those times when I read a bump wrong - forget to stand up and "eina".

 

I'm not likely to be doing any endurance long marathons, but i want to be able to do biking weekends - and my quick recreational 5kms around the park - and be able to "hop" over the odd root and pavement.

 

thanks

[rouxtjie]

I should add that it may very well be that you end up falling in love with long marathons. Hell, some of them take you through amazing scenery that you can only experience on a bike.

 

The point is, don't blow big bucks on your first bike. Go cheap as possible, figure it out and then commit.

Better and yes agree with this post

[NicoBoshoff]

my "first" bike that's got me in love with the idea of cycling - done and dusted, one tiny hop up from a game special - and I'm very chuffed with it - it's got me where I am now - riding (not well but getting better each time) with a smile on my face. I really just want some suspension for those times when I read a bump wrong - forget to stand up and "eina".

 

I'm not likely to be doing any endurance long marathons, but i want to be able to do biking weekends - and my quick recreational 5kms around the park - and be able to "hop" over the odd root and pavement.

 

thanks

 

Sounds like a nice basic trail bike is the one for you. Now it becomes a question of $$$$ - how much you thinking of spending etc. There's a thread for about every price range on the Hub, so you'll be spoilt for advice. No point in asking me, because I'll just keep saying Stumpy Stumpy Stumpy

[RockCoach]

 

 

Sounds like a nice basic trail bike is the one for you. Now it becomes a question of $$$$ - how much you thinking of spending etc. There's a thread for about every price range on the Hub, so you'll be spoilt for advice. No point in asking me, because I'll just keep saying Stumpy Stumpy Stumpy

 

Yep. And that's where post #18 comes in.