BECAUSE I WANT TO BE COOL.

[mix]

hey

 

so i recently (3 weeks ago) decided i want to get back into cycling, when i say "get back into cycling" i say it very loosly because i used to ride around my neighbourhood and did a few mountain bike rides in the drakensburg (recreational)

 

so i went out and not wanting to spend a large bag of money, ibought myself a MERIDA MATTS TFS 100d which i am rather happy with.

anyway the sales clerk at the store i bought it from said that i should not upgrade anything on the bike, rather in time get myself another better bike.

 

i feel differently tho, in time i will get a better bike as i improve and enter races etc.

 

so i guess my question is if you guys bought this bike what would you improve first or would you improve at all??

 

thanks alot. here is the bike.

[rad006]

Take his advice and ride more to get fit. Then buy a new bike or start buying pieces every month and build up a mean machine. What you have is good for now.

[Thumper]

Upgrade your wheelset first.

You can always transfer it to your better steed later on.

[Eldron]

Upgrading in pieces is generally a very expensive route - buying a bike "in pieces" is multiples more expensive than buying it as a unit. Plus you end up with loads of parts that are second hand and practically worthless.

 

My advice is always to ride the bike into the ground then sell it second hand complete and buy a new (or second hand) better bike.

[Ceres]

I agree with Eldron, buying a new better bike will be alot cheaper than upgrading your frame to the same spec.

[rad006]

Aaaa but you see when you go Custom there are no buildkits.. Well rarely is ie buying a different frame etc. But yes in general just buying a new bike is cheaper

[mix]

great thanks guys.

 

and this bike is fine to start riding and potentially do a few races?

[cosborne]

Dude if you saw what the two african guys rode at the Joberg2Sea then you must know your bike is good enough! I watched it on TV is disbelief! They came 2nd overall if I'm not mistaken.

[kosmonooit]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it! You can spend a fortune on 'upgrading' its not going to make a big diffs until you get up there amongst the mountain goats and racing snakes in terms of fitness and technical skills. At a later stage you might appreciate slicker gears or shox or whatever.

[Eldron]

great thanks guys.

 

and this bike is fine to start riding and potentially do a few races?

 

Absolutely.

 

When you start wanting to get competitive in races then perhaps it's time to upgrade the bike. For now though - no worries at all racing that baby.

[Zeps]

I did my first race (about '98) on a 700 rand MTB and takkies. It was the Barberton full marathon!

[mix]

awesome, much appreciated.

[Honkdonk]

Bought my 1st bike in 2006 just before the 94,7 MTB challenge. Did the 20km in just on an hour, which with min training and still smoking I though was pretty good.

 

5 years on I still have the same frame. Everything else is upgraded. Bit by bit as time and budget allowed. Its a good way to get into it and learn about the way things work and fit together.

 

Horses for courses though

[mix]

Bought my 1st bike in 2006 just before the 94,7 MTB challenge. Did the 20km in just on an hour, which with min training and still smoking I though was pretty good.

 

5 years on I still have the same frame. Everything else is upgraded. Bit by bit as time and budget allowed. Its a good way to get into it and learn about the way things work and fit together.

 

Horses for courses though

 

cool what bike?

[Honkdonk]

Merida Matts Speed.

Had all Deore components which I have replaced with XT and SLX. Upgraded the front fork to a Recon. Better saddle and SPD pedals. KORE XCD wheels.

Slowly slowly catches monkey.

[mix]

sounds really cool bud.