New Titan Switch Gravel bike?

[Sepia]

Oh dear... this is not going to end well.

Seen this type of "bursary management" many times.  

Seems common enough to even talk/boast about it here on the Hub?

And as a lecturer as well?

 

My, my, have I got this picture wrong or what?

[Shebeen]

Seen this type of "bursary management" many times.  

Seems common enough to even talk/boast about it here on the Hub?

And as a lecturer as well?

 

My, my, have I got this picture wrong or what?

that's totally acceptable spend of bursary money...oke has to get to class!

it's when the student loan gets spent on toys.....

[Damocles]

Ok, let me sort this out before it gets out of hand. I Can understand if people might feel upset about the idea of bursary being used to buy a luxury item. I Agree with this. I must however point out the difference between different kinds of bursaries. The bursary that I am receiving is not an undergraduate/development bursary, but is a post-graduate research bursary which is "payment" for research output, i.e. my research output (it also compensates a bit for the greater amount of money that I could have been making in a professional position). So in this case, the term "bursary" can easily be replaced with researcher salary. 

 

I Hope that sorts it out.

[Andrew Steer]

Ok, let me sort this out before it gets out of hand. I Can understand if people might feel upset about the idea of bursary being used to buy a luxury item. I Agree with this. I must however point out the difference between different kinds of bursaries. The bursary that I am receiving is not an undergraduate/development bursary, but is a post-graduate research bursary which is "payment" for research output, i.e. my research output (it also compensates a bit for the greater amount of money that I could have been making in a professional position). So in this case, the term "bursary" can easily be replaced with researcher salary. 

 

I Hope that sorts it out.

Next time do yourself a favor and just leave out any facts that could in any way be used by anonymous strangers to persecute you... this is le hub, and a Friday nogal!

 

Enjoy the bike, looks a thing of beauty and it's great value

 

People waste money on far stupider things ever single day of the week 

[Sepia]

Nope, we have post grads with "bursary" issues very similar, if not, the same as yours. 

(you should never have used the word "Bursary" as it just does not sit too well when used for "other" matters)

 

I see you cleared this matter up but for transport issues, this does not sit well either.  How many airplane fares have we paid for in this manner.......

 

(Glad this came up on a Friday)

Edited March 1, 2019 by Sepia

[forkie]

Ok, let me sort this out before it gets out of hand. I Can understand if people might feel upset about the idea of bursary being used to buy a luxury item. I Agree with this. I must however point out the difference between different kinds of bursaries. The bursary that I am receiving is not an undergraduate/development bursary, but is a post-graduate research bursary which is "payment" for research output, i.e. my research output (it also compensates a bit for the greater amount of money that I could have been making in a professional position). So in this case, the term "bursary" can easily be replaced with researcher salary. 

 

I Hope that sorts it out.

its your money - use it as you please. you dont have to explain yourself to complete strangers who know nothing about you.

[Geronimo]

In a way it does, it's just for cashflow, I actually do temporary work as a lecturer as well, and in reality THIS is what will be paying for the bike, but that money is spread out over the year, so I'm using the lump sum of the bursary to purchase the bike 

 

I'm disappointed. Thought that was beer money 

[Sepia]

 

 

Or rather, obtaining a Bursary is very scarce, sure, use it how you want to, buy what you like but remember, bursaries are for you to spend and certainly do not take any advice from those whom you do not know, even though they are in the industry 

After all, it is your money, ask the bank?.

Others after you may have even a bigger problem obtaining a "bursary"

 

I know of four companies in the research field who have stopped this cash cow....and this is in Durban only.  Use it or lose it.

 

It is your money so use it and abuse it.

Edited March 1, 2019 by Sepia

[Geronimo]

OP requested advice with regards to the bike, not a lecture on how he should or should not use his bursary money 

[PhilipV]

Back to bikes

 

That is a kief bike. My only "worry" would be the hubs and brakes. I haven't ridden tektro cable brakes in ages, but they weren't the best when they were the budget option on mtb back in the day. But you may not even notice it on a gravel bile as they don't really offer much traction to brake with anyway.

 

Titan started out as a lower price point complement to Merida bikes. It is imported by the same company. Titan then grew to become the brand it is today. And one day when I grow up and buy a new bike again, I'll look at their options as well.

Edited March 1, 2019 by PhilipV

[Damocles]

I Noticed that the mechanical disk brakes might a "weak" point. But I was thinking along the lines that braking power isn't such a big issue on a gravel bike, and also, brakes aren't that difficult to upgrade later on. This bike will be a long term investment. I Don't buy expensive things lightly and unless it gets stolen, I want to use it as my primary means of local transport for the next 10 or so years, minimum. So it makes sense to get a setup that has a more expensive frame, but saves on more easily replaceable/upgrade-able components.   

[Mamil]

Ja... cos academics are swimming in money from over generous funders. Well known that the za university scene is overflowing with overpaid post docs looking for ways to shed the cash.

 

Edit to note that above is comic sans

 

Enjoy that bike OP. Post pics.

Edited March 1, 2019 by Mamil

[Long Wheel Base]

Where does one apply for a bursary? Asking for a friend.

[ChrisF]

I also thought Titan was an "entry level" bike .... but over the last year I have SEEN how these bikes perform in the various junior MTB races !  These things are worked HARD, and just keeps going and going and going .....

[TomR]

I Noticed that the mechanical disk brakes might a "weak" point. But I was thinking along the lines that braking power isn't such a big issue on a gravel bike, and also, brakes aren't that difficult to upgrade later on. This bike will be a long term investment. I Don't buy expensive things lightly and unless it gets stolen, I want to use it as my primary means of local transport for the next 10 or so years, minimum. So it makes sense to get a setup that has a more expensive frame, but saves on more easily replaceable/upgrade-able components.

The mechanical braking isn’t awful, but an upgrade in braking would be to hydraulic braking, which actually isn’t that easy with this setup. You would need new hydraulic STI levers as well as new hydraulic calipers. A Shimano 105 set can cost at least R5k-R6k and upwards. Just FYI. That bike looks like good value as is though

[Patchelicious]

I had mechanical disc on my BMC, Pikey now rides it, and they are plenty good enough.