JXV Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Hi Everyone, Its been a few years since i was last on a bike or pedal powered at least... I used to ride BMX dirt and sold my last to transition to MTB but then life caught up with me and i never got down to it... I live in PMB id say a 10 min ride from cascades bike park. Ive started to look into what direction i should go as a new starte on MTB. I am a huge DH fan, but it would be just silly to get a DH bike and end up not enjoying it. Essentially i want something that will handle DH terrain but still be able to peddle uphill ive had so many mixed opinions from people, some have said get a jump bike, others have said all mountain will do, and others have been like screw it get a DH bike suck it up and carry / push back up the mountain... give me your insider opinions!!!If you will only ride at Cascades then a dedicated DH, AM or enduro type bike will likely satisfy you. I would get bored riding repeatedly in one place though...so if you want to get in a bit of fitness, maybe participate in a few events, ride many different venues with your friends and explore off the beaten track a bit then modern trail bikes are versatile all-rounders that can do this. They descend better than dedicated XC racers, are comfy to ride all day and pedal nicely. If you live near Cascades then there is a good bike shop close by with a great selection of such bikes
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 If you will only ride at Cascades then a dedicated DH, AM or enduro type bike will likely satisfy you. I would get bored riding repeatedly in one place though...so if you want to get in a bit of fitness, maybe participate in a few events, ride many different venues with your friends and explore off the beaten track a bit then modern trail bikes are versatile all-rounders that can do this. They descend better than dedicated XC racers, are comfy to ride all day and pedal nicely. If you live near Cascades then there is a good bike shop close by with a great selection of such bikesErm, as are enduro bikes... they're also very adept at pretty much everything
JXV Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Erm, as are enduro bikes... they're also very adept at pretty much everythingYes but more dedicated for getting rowdy.....more robust build...longer travel suspension weighs more, usually fitted with heavier duty stems, bars, rims, shock, discs etc. For a location like Cascades, great but for general use including the odd Classic?? The distinction is small though. I regard my 29er Tallboy LTc with 135mm/140mm travel as a trail bike but some local riders are getting good enduro results on them. So getting back to OP's request I reckon he should be on 27.5 rather than 29 and something with 125 to 150 rear travel. That covers a bunch of bikes from trail thru "enduro" to AM
Odinson Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 ....and also Shaun, can't stop looking at that freaky cat in your avatar.... Glad to read I'm not the only one. It's incredibly distracting.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Yes but more dedicated for getting rowdy.....more robust build...longer travel suspension weighs more, usually fitted with heavier duty stems, bars, rims, shock, discs etc. For a location like Cascades, great but for general use including the odd Classic?? The distinction is small though. I regard my 29er Tallboy LTc with 135mm/140mm travel as a trail bike but some local riders are getting good enduro results on them. So getting back to OP's request I reckon he should be on 27.5 rather than 29 and something with 125 to 150 rear travel. That covers a bunch of bikes from trail thru "enduro" to AMEnduro IS all mountain, but agreed to a point. The new reign comes in at 12.1kg on the top end build a d can be built lighter still. That's hardly heavy. And yes, the lower end ones are heavier but then so are all lower end bikes.
Psycholist Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 I'm a lucky one.. I have the best of both world... A hard tail and a soft tail..????????
B1cyk1ll3r Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 If you will only ride at Cascades then a dedicated DH, AM or enduro type bike will likely satisfy you. I would get bored riding repeatedly in one place though...so if you want to get in a bit of fitness, maybe participate in a few events, ride many different venues with your friends and explore off the beaten track a bit then modern trail bikes are versatile all-rounders that can do this. They descend better than dedicated XC racers, are comfy to ride all day and pedal nicely. If you live near Cascades then there is a good bike shop close by with a great selection of such bikes I have no intention of riding only Cascades but it will be where majority of riding will be done to begin with at least. Ill go and check out Greg Min's shop on saturday and see what's on offer. something tells me i won't be buying new though i don't have 30k + lying around unfortunately... Glad to read I'm not the only one. It's incredibly distracting. Hahaha ok sorry guy's ill change it!
B1cyk1ll3r Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 what about this? https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/139952-giant-trance-x4-26-like-new/
JXV Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I have no intention of riding only Cascades but it will be where majority of riding will be done to begin with at least. Ill go and check out Greg Min's shop on saturday and see what's on offer. something tells me i won't be buying new though i don't have 30k + lying around unfortunately...!There are occasionally some excellent high end 26" trail bikes going 2nd hand for good prices as people upgrade to the new wheel sizes. If you are careful and patient you could pick one up. Keep an eye on classifieds. If you buy 2nd hand be careful not to buy into 'technology traps' where redundant tech could make parts difficult to come by.E.g.-Boutique brands now out of business (like my Maverick) .-Bikes with frame specific pivot bushes instead of commercially available bearings-spare drop outs not available-strange hub standards...maybe stick to 9mm QR, 15mm TA,standards widths-straight steerer tubes or Giant OD2...this makes it difficult to upgrade to new forks, look for a bike with tapered steerer Good luck
Brawler Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 I also went from DJ/BMX to AM riding.Bought a great condition 2012 Specialized Stumpjumper for R13k in 2013 and it was fun but it broke a lot. Pretty much every ride something broke or came loose (serviced by numerous bike shops in Cape Town). In the end figured I was too hard on the bike as I like to jump stuff and have fun so I sold it and upgraded to a new Reign which is a proper AM bike and 9 months in I haven't had an issue. A proper AM bike also gives so much confidence as you need not worry is something going to break if you case or land front heavy. You said you like DH/BMX and live near a bike park so I would definitely say go for a full AM bike. There are 26 inch bargains to be had but be careful of the points the poster above mentioned. Also a lot of (not all) 26" bikes are now out of date and showing it so if you do get one, don't pay big money for it. Rather save up more and buy the bike you want complete out of the box. Upgrades are faaaar more expensive in the long run. Also don't forget the other cycling gear you will need:HelmetGloves PadsShoesCycling clothesHydration gearI have pretty average stuff and not a lot of it and have spent probably R10k on the bullet points above.
B1cyk1ll3r Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 There are occasionally some excellent high end 26" trail bikes going 2nd hand for good prices as people upgrade to the new wheel sizes. If you are careful and patient you could pick one up. Keep an eye on classifieds. If you buy 2nd hand be careful not to buy into 'technology traps' where redundant tech could make parts difficult to come by.E.g.-Boutique brands now out of business (like my Maverick) .-Bikes with frame specific pivot bushes instead of commercially available bearings-spare drop outs not available-strange hub standards...maybe stick to 9mm QR, 15mm TA,standards widths-straight steerer tubes or Giant OD2...this makes it difficult to upgrade to new forks, look for a bike with tapered steerer Good luck problem is i wouldn't know a "technology trap" if i walked right into it. Ive just overcome catching up with wheel sizes i had no idea the 27.5 and 29 had been adapted so fast! MTB technologies are all new too me. Give me a BMX ill strip it down to the bare minimum an rebuild it without a hitch but MTB absolutely nada! With that said ill research and ask questions on your points above when looking at bikes. I also went from DJ/BMX to AM riding.Bought a great condition 2012 Specialized Stumpjumper for R13k in 2013 and it was fun but it broke a lot. Pretty much every ride something broke or came loose (serviced by numerous bike shops in Cape Town). In the end figured I was too hard on the bike as I like to jump stuff and have fun so I sold it and upgraded to a new Reign which is a proper AM bike and 9 months in I haven't had an issue. A proper AM bike also gives so much confidence as you need not worry is something going to break if you case or land front heavy. You said you like DH/BMX and live near a bike park so I would definitely say go for a full AM bike. There are 26 inch bargains to be had but be careful of the points the poster above mentioned. Also a lot of (not all) 26" bikes are now out of date and showing it so if you do get one, don't pay big money for it. Rather save up more and buy the bike you want complete out of the box. Upgrades are faaaar more expensive in the long run. Also don't forget the other cycling gear you will need:HelmetGloves PadsShoesCycling clothesHydration gearI have pretty average stuff and not a lot of it and have spent probably R10k on the bullet points above.Fair point will keep that in mind, i am most definitely factoring in gear with my total price!
B1cyk1ll3r Posted June 9, 2015 Author Posted June 9, 2015 Ooh this!!! If only!!! http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_za/bikes/models/images/800/2015/Reign_27_5_2_Charcoal.jpg
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Ooh this!!! If only!!! http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_za/bikes/models/images/800/2015/Reign_27_5_2_Charcoal.jpgYou can get them for 35k if you ask nicely. Heard a report of someone getting one for 30... First hand
Joe Massapuss Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Ooh this!!! If only!!! http://www.giant-bicycles.com/_generated/_generated_za/bikes/models/images/800/2015/Reign_27_5_2_Charcoal.jpgI've got one of those, and they are great. Save up and buy yourself one, you won't regret it.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 This should be arriving soon tho... can't wait
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