Looking for a starter bike

[bertusras]

Hi guys and girls, new to the forum and bicycling, but not two wheels.

 

I'm looking to get an MTB, but obviously I don't want to over commit myself financially, but I don't want to buy garbage either. I'm just looking for something to help with cardio, as I'm too lazy to go to the gym, and the stationary bike is hella boring.

 

My problem at the moment is wrapping my head around the terminology, I've no clue what the sizes are, what the acronyms are, or what I need. I'm sure I found like a summary post when I signed up, but I haven't been able to track it down again.

 

I'm just shy of 1.8m and weigh about 65kg's (so yes, tall and lanky), what would you guys recommend?

 

As far as gear goes, obviously a good lid is on the cards, and pants to make your gentleman's sausage area a bit more comfortable, what would be advised?

 

Please do excuse my ignorance!

 

Thanks in advance!

[Wayne Potgieter]

First of all, welcome.

 

Second of all, go to a bike shop and get sized properly.

 

Thirdly, give us a budget figure so we can help you out.

 

Fourthly, do you have a preference of new over second hand?

[bertusras]

Wow that was rapid.

 

Thanks!

 

Okay I'll go to a shop and have them help me out with sizing, I'm looking to spend about 5-6K, obviously that means I'll be looking at a second hand bike.

[iamgigglz]

I've just been through the same process of figuring out all the acronyms etc.

What I learnt is that the fork, brakes, derailleurs, shifters etc that are fitted to a bike are at least as important as the brand/model of the bike itself, probably more important. The bike I ended up buying was pretty meh out of the factory, but the previous owner had specced it up like crazy; different machine altogether.

 

Familiarise yourself with the various Shimano and Sram "levels" of kit, like XT, XTR etc. Those levels apply to brakes, drivetrain, shifters...pretty much everything, and will help you spot a well specced bike.

 

Do the same with forks and wheels and you're laughing. With low end forks, and I'm generalising heavily here, Fox is better than Rockshox is better than Suntour. Wait for the backlash...

[Wayne Potgieter]

I've just been through the same process of figuring out all the acronyms etc.

What I learnt is that the fork, brakes, derailleurs, shifters etc that are fitted to a bike are at least as important as the brand/model of the bike itself, probably more important. The bike I ended up buying was pretty meh out of the factory, but the previous owner had specced it up like crazy; different machine altogether.

 

Familiarise yourself with the various Shimano and Sram "levels" of kit, like XT, XTR etc. Those levels apply to brakes, drivetrain, shifters...pretty much everything, and will help you spot a well specced bike.

 

Do the same with forks and wheels and you're laughing. With low end forks, and I'm generalising heavily here, Fox is better than Rockshox is better than Suntour. Wait for the backlash...

Actually, thats pretty good advice.

 

The longecity and performance benefits of well specced components is no doubt.

 

If unsure, ask everyone here....we might banter a bit, but at the end of the day, we all hd to start learning somewhere and there is a huge amount of knowledge on this site.

[Guest]

If you look further down the page under this topic you will see numerous topics on this question. a new buyer pops up weekly. There is much good advice that you are looking for dealt with, just go read the other posts. Good luck and enjoy your riding.

[NicNacDH]

What kind of MTB'ing, you are up to?

Free ride, dirt jump, cross country, trail riding, all mountain or downhill?

"Judging" from your website .... cross country?

[bertusras]

Thanks for the responses guys, it's helped a lot so far!

 

@Chainsaw, for some reason I'm not seeing similar posts at the bottom of the page, I'll go check my settings.

 

@NicNac, it will mostly be cross country with some trails here and there.

 

I'll go to Cycle Lab just now and get their opinion on sizing as well.

 

In the mean time, I've been digging through various classifieds and I've found the following, what do you guys advise?

 

Silverback Vida 3 Medium Frame 29"

Frame: 6061 Custom Butted Alloy

Fork: Rock Shox XC30 100mm Remote PopLoc

Rims: Alex XD Comp Double Wall Alloy

Hubs: Shimano RM66 Center Lock

Shifters: Shimano M390 Acera 9spd Rapidfire

Front derailleur: Shimano M390 Acera 9 Speed

Rear derailleur: Shimano SLX Shadow Tech 9 Speed

Crankset: Shimano M391 Octalink 22/32/44T

Bottom bracket: Shimano ES25 Octalink

Cassette: Shimano HG30-9 Speed, 11-34T

Brake set: Shimano M446 Hydraulic Disc F: 180 R: 160mm

Weight: 13.3kg

 

Merida Big 9 Medium Frame 29"

Frame Aluminum

Fork Merida Air

Wheels Tubeless fastrack tyres

Front derailleur xls

Rear derailleur deore xt

Shifters xls

Brakes avid

Crankset xls

 

Silverback Spectra 3.0 Medium Frame 26"

Frame Ally

Fork Rock Shox Recon air

Wheels Alex rims on deore hubs

Front derailleur Deore

Rear derailleur SLX 10speed

Shifters Deore

Brakes Deore M445

Crankset Sjiimano Octalink

Other Tubeless

 

All three are in my budget, with the Merida being the top end of my budget.

[NicNacDH]

You should look @ a Large frame size.

Those are all Medium.

[NicNacDH]

When are you back from Cycle Lab, just to ask about a Silverback Sola that you have found and quite like? 

[Guest]

The list of topics continues to pa

 

ge 2/page3/..... just after the last topic on this page.

[bertusras]

@NicNak, yeah, large it appears to be. Didn't quite catch your second message?

 

@Chainsaw, yeah, no, I got that. I thought you'd meant like some forums have similar threads to the current thread under the reply bar. It would have been nice if there was a noob friendly sticky however.

[bertusras]

What about a Merida Matts TFS300 Large Frame?

 

I can't seem to figure out what wheel size it is, is it a 26"? The one thing that concerns me is that it has a coil fork (SR XCM HLO 100), not air. Obviously this adds weight, is it that much of a disadvantage over an air shock. Obviously if the spring is too stiff or soft I'm screwed without putting a new spring in, but the price is very good and it's in my living area.

[iamgigglz]

What about a Merida Matts TFS300 Large Frame?

 

I can't seem to figure out what wheel size it is, is it a 26"? The one thing that concerns me is that it has a coil fork (SR XCM HLO 100), not air. Obviously this adds weight, is it that much of a disadvantage over an air shock. Obviously if the spring is too stiff or soft I'm screwed without putting a new spring in, but the price is very good and it's in my living area.

 

SR = SR Suntour. Not fantastic forks but they get the job done, however the XCM is pretty much their bottom of the range fork. For your budget I'm sure you could get their XCR, which is one up from the XCM and significantly better.

 

..and at 1.8m tall I'd put money on you being a large or even XL frame. I had the same problem finding a bike. Everything seems to be medium!

 

That said, a quick search on the classifieds for large frames in your price range presents quite a few options.

[bertusras]

Thanks, that bike has already been sold it turns out.

 

Guess the search continues!

 

Thanks for all the help so far guys!

[bertusras]

Hi guys, for those that are interested, I stretched my budget by a thousand bucks and picked up a beautiful Silverback Sola 2! Stoked!

 

Unfortunately I'm also down with the flu, so I haven't been able to really go kit shopping. Just a quick question. The bike came with Shimano M520 Pedals. Do I buy flats first to learn, or do I go buy cleats and fall over numerous times?

 

Also, shorts, are they more or less all the same? What should I look for?

 

Oh, and, I guess I should just find the service manual, but is it easy to swap the brake handing around? I'd prefer front brakes on the right, otherwise I'm going to have an accident on either of my two two wheels.