Advice on buying a new Mountain Bike

[Funky]

Hello fellow cyclists :-)

 

I'm looking for some advice & your opinion please.

 

I's a road cyclist, been cycling for 5 yrs & enjoying it (ride 100 to 125 every Sunday morning, riding a Silverback Space 2.0, full carbon, Ultegra), but recently thought I'd start looking into getting into some mountain biking on a Saturday to try & build up some strength & if I start enjoying it, then maybe also do some MTB races in the future, but for the moment more to just do some basic riding in JHB on a Saturday morning.

 

Been doing my research, & visiting a few cycle shops & there is a wealth of info out there, enough to confuse anybody.

 

I was initially convinced that I was going to get a 29er, but over the weekend, I tried getting onto a Titan 29er a small frame (http://www.titanracingbikes.com/29relite.html) & there is no space in-seem wise, so I'm beginning to think that maybe a 29er maybe be too big for my height size. (I'm 167cm tall).

 

I was also looking at the following bikes:

Specialized Rockhopper @ R8999.

http://www.specialized.com/za/en/bikes/mountain/rockhopper/rockhopper-29#manuals

 

Silverback Sola 4 @ R6999

http://www.silverbacklab.com/upload/2011_website_SILVERBACK/sola4_14.htm

 

Titan 29er Elite @ R10k

http://www.titanracingbikes.com/29relite.html

 

So based on the above, what do you guys think?

Am I too short for a 29er & will I battle on this size of bike, should I go with a 650b, or just go with the 29er.

 

Also, any other tips to look or for (i.e. Air shock is a must, 8, 9 or 10 speed) or recommended bike to look at (budget is +/- R10k)

 

Thanks in advance...

[Flou]

Onthou daar is ook niks fout met 'n tweedehandse fiets nie en vir om en by jou prys gaan jy n tweedehandse fiets optel met baie beter komponente op dit.. Dit is die pad wat ek gevolg het. Einde laas jaaar was ek ook op soek na 'n bergfiets in dieselfde prysklas as jy en ek het ook na die Titan en Silverback gekyk asook 'n Merida big-nine. Maar toe een aand vind ek 'n Giant XTC 1 vir onder R10000, toe koop ek dit en dit ry soos 'n droom!

 

Van die opsies wat jy genoem het, een van my vriende het vir hom einde laas jaar die Sola 4 gekoop en sover het hy nog geen probleme met dit gehad nie. En dis baie fiets wat jy kry vir die prys!

 

Probeer ook die verskillende fietse uit en voel op watter een is jy die gemaklikste.

 

Nog opsies waarna jy kan kyk is die Giant Revel of 'n Merida Big-Nine.

 

Sterkte