New bike day, and thanks to 4 individuals…

[Zebra]

Bought a Giant Revolt, my 1st new bike in over 35 years, IIRC! (though have had a good few 2nd hand bikes in that time!)

Got good advice from  @ChrisF on why the Revolt over the Avalanche, as well as the very capable Titan….

And yes, I wanted 2x…

@Buff confirmed he, too, was very happy with his Revolt, which was reassuring.

I got good service from GECO cycles, and his ADVERTISED price was so good, that it beat most all other shops nationally - admittedly this is the 2022/2023 model year spec, but this new bike was advertised on BikeHub at R25k all in, as compared to R29,995 nationally, for same 2023 model.

(to be clear, i was not bargaining on price, his price was simply 18-odd percent better than nationally advertised ‘discounted’ price).

He double-wrapped the bars for me, since i have large hands AND the bar felt somewhat ‘skinny’ on the test ride.

(he - @Geco Cycles Fred Koleske, owner - also kindly bought the bike to my work premises 2 days ago, for a quick test ride/look over, pre-purchase, this was HIS suggestion, and a nice touch!)

Being a S.Suburbs resident, had never even HEARD of Geco; a cool store, with some beautiful, vintage Battaglin’s displayed around the store! Nice.

Then directly with new bike to Irma, of Irmfit, for my 1st ever bike fit, she was VERY thorough, very professional, and i felt i got something out of her discussion even before i climbed on the bike - as ChrisF said, i would spend over 30 mins just giving history, and getting advice, BEFORE climbing on the bike! many on here recommended her; was money well spent).

(in between all of this, ChrisF and i had a mini-breakfast catch up, nice!).

Onwards, and upwards

Chris

Edited Saturday at 06:56 AM by Zebra
Clarification

[Mike Dewing]

Congratulations.! That’s awesome.! 😃

[RobynE 🚵‍♀️]

Massive congrats @Zebra! Happy New Bike Day! 

I don’t see myself getting a new bike for a very long time (affordability plus I thankfully LOVE my current bikes) so I can see your excitement! 

[Thomo]

Any additions to cycling equipment is always nice ... but a new bike must be right at the top.!

Enjoy.!

[ChrisF]

Congrats Chris 👍

[RickyM]

Congrats on the new ride 👏 

[betaboy]

Congrats, sweet ride… hope it brings a lot of miles with smiles Boet.👍🏻🤛🏻

[Zebra]

Did a quick ride, HB - Fish Hoek circle - HB, bike performed very well indeed, needs a bit of gear adjustment, but ride was ‘buttery smooth’, and i actually think that the minor cleat-reposition that Irma suggested made a difference.

Ignore the ‘aero’ bottle set-up; that is temporary, whilst i design a frame-fit bag for the triangle, I have already made a template, bike will be used for some touring, thus the frame-fit bag requirement. Had to remove both bottle cages for the template, so ‘out back’ they went! (from my tri-bike in my late 20’s…!)

Very affordable, and a brilliant feel - am happy with it!
Chris

Edited yesterday at 02:31 PM by Zebra
Spelling.

[Rowl]

34 minutes ago, Zebra said:

Did a quick ride, HB - Fish Hoek circle - HB, bike performed very well indeed, needs a bit of gear adjustment, but ride was ‘buttery smooth’, and i actually think that the minor cleat-reposition that Irma suggested made a difference.

Ignore the ‘aero’ bottle set-up; that is temporary, whilst i design a frame-fit bag for the triangle, I have already made a template, bike will be used for some touring, thus the frame-fit bag requirement. Had to remove both bottle cages for the template, so ‘out back’ they went! (from my tri-bike in my late 20’s…!)

Very affordable, and a brilliant fell- am happy with it!
Chris

Lekker man, lekker!

[NC_lurker]

32 minutes ago, Zebra said:

Did a quick ride, HB - Fish Hoek circle - HB, bike performed very well indeed, needs a bit of gear adjustment, but ride was ‘buttery smooth’, and i actually think that the minor cleat-reposition that Irma suggested made a difference.

Congrats on the new bike.

Thought it was you going up Chappies on the Hout bay side as I was going down, seems it was. 👍🏼

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Congrats on the new bike Chris, I certainly hope it gives you as much enjoyment as my Revolt has given me over the past 4 years. I compare the Revolt to a Hilux, not really the best at anything but does everything really well 🤙

I bought a really affordable Rockbros frame bag 2 or 3 years ago and it has served me well on my tours. I do however realize that you have great contacts for custom bags and that's always the best route when possible 👍

The only thing that has disappointed me with my Revolt was the standard rims that came on the bike. After my Cape Cross tour, the rear rim had cracked around all the nipples. The spokes fortunately never pulled out of the rim but the cracks were visible. I then bought another secondhand set in very good condition here on BH and the same thing happened to the rear rim on that set.
I then bought a 3rd set here on BH but of the more modern Revolt rims which are slightly wider and more curved than the earlier editions. So far they have held up so I'm hoping your new model has the new & improved rims as well 👍 
I should add that the combined weight of myself and my setup is around 100kgs so those rims should have held up.

Here's my touring setup on my Revolt.

[Zebra]

@BuffsVintageBikes thanks for detailed insights, I am 90kg ‘in my socks’, without luggage, so we shall see how MY back wheel holds up…thanks for fore-warning me…🫡

A year back, for my 29”er, I did buy cheap Chinese tail bag and handlebar-roll, (Newboler) but feel they are not up to the rigours of SA touring…

(attached is a close-up pic of rim profile on my own Revolt bike; since it is a ‘22/‘23 model year, I feel i MAY have the same (older-style) rims as you?)

An affordable Natal-based company makes many fabric items, one of which is made-to-measure frame bags; will report my progress here, they use Ripstop + industrial zip, we shall see! Around R1200 for the frame-fit bag, IIRC. Made to measure. I love a bargain, as long as it works! Am thinking of having them design a quick-release frame bag (meaning faster than Velcro straps), for my rather particular needs, will see what they say!

I see the ALU versions of Revolt all have the extra bottle cage mount u/neath the down tube, whereas this is MISSING on ALL the Carbon revolts. This extra mount is useful, since i have used it many times on my Alu 26”er, and, apart from mud/grit around the mouthpiece, have never lost a water-bottle in that location, low COG, etc -lekker optional spot, when needed!

Your bike looks well-sorted; it was ONLY when i read of your desire to do RASA, that i reconsidered my retirement Munga ambitions, and instead, thought:

RASA could be fun….🤔

Doing it with or around @BuffsVintageBikes could be fun….🤔

…‘Kicking his butt’ would be amazing… 🤣🤣🤣

(…in my dreams!).

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Zebra
Added pics…

[Zebra]

…for those interested, my last new bike, yup, W-A-S 35+ years ago, BEFORE the invention of front shocks, IIRC, so i flew to UK, bought a hard tail/hard FRONT MTB, and set about touring UK/Ireland/Wales, and then on to Pak/China: great memories, with spare spokes stuffed down the seat tube! 

..oh, and 3x was a ‘thing’…🤣

Edited 59 minutes ago by Zebra