Drpain Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Hi all, I have been looking at countless pc screens of information about buying a mountain bike provided by good old mr Google. But what google doesn't tell me is how they are to live with and looking at the sheets of information doesn't mean anything to me as a noobie. Right, so I am looking at a entry level Mountain Bike for between R4000 and R5000. I went into CycleFactory and spoke to one of the gents there and they suggested the Giant Revel 0 as a good all round compromise of performance to price. I will primarily be using the bike to cycle to and on some farm roads for fitness. And later on some adventure tracks at our local nature reserves. What I would like to know is what is your experiences with a Giant if you have one, and are there better riding alternatives for around the same price? Giant Revel 0
Drpain Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 Today after work I went down to Chris Willemse Cycles here in Cape Town and it was much of a muchness. They mostly stock Scott, Merida and GT. In my case the sales rep presented me with the entry level GT and recommended it as a good value for money bike. Anyone have some thoughts? Which bike you are currently riding and your experiences with it both good and bad??
Inusc Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 How about the GT avalanche 3.0 had it about and year ago,really nice just 'n bit on the heavy side
Drpain Posted February 8, 2011 Author Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) LOL I was just looking at GT's site and it looks like the one I saw today GT Site. If you don't mind me asking how was the bike in general? Does it have adequate equipment on it? The shock in particular. Thanks for the reply. Edited February 8, 2011 by Drpain
scotty Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 I'm assuming the GT is the 2011 3.0 D ,good components for an entry level bike Another you can look at in that price range is Raleigh Nomad
Burts Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Hi Drpain. Welcome to The Hub. I am really no expert in all the technical stuff. I bought a secondhand Specialized Epic a couple of months ago for a m#@$ bargain. So am actually 'n groetjie in the MTB business. The only advice I can give you is to try and find the January Issue of Bicycling. There are a couple of entry level MTB's in with some reviews of it. Before you buy anything, go and sitt down and think of what you are planning to do with the MTB. Do you want to go mainly XC? There are a couple of nice brands which I think will do good. In my opinion... Just stay away from the Nomad. It weighs a ton!! One of my friends bought one to start riding with us. At the biginning I could not understand why he could not keep up on the climbs. He is actually about 25kg's lighter than me. When I picked up his bike the other day. I could understand why he suffers so much. Good luck with the buying process!!
scotty Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) In my opinion... Just stay away from the Nomad. It weighs a ton!! One of my friends bought one to start riding with us. At the biginning I could not understand why he could not keep up on the climbs. He is actually about 25kg's lighter than me. When I picked up his bike the other day. I could understand why he suffers so much. Good luck with the buying process!! Never ridden a Raleigh so that's good to know. 2nd hand will always give you much more bling for bucks Edited February 8, 2011 by scotty
timM Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 For good value, look out for a good second hand GT avalanche 1.0If you want to go new and stick to your budget then the 3.0 is a good option.
leeu52 Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Welcome to this highly addictive sport!Good luck with the bike buying!
Slowbee Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 The real question to ask, is what sort of riding do you want to do .... and then what your goals are? That should help focus on something that fits into those groups.
TNT1 Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 The real question to ask, is what sort of riding do you want to do .... and then what your goals are? That should help focus on something that fits into those groups. Oh, no. I see a 37 page thread arriving... OP, run, run fast and run far...
Slowbee Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Oh, no. I see a 37 page thread arriving... OP, run, run fast and run far...he's buying, not me. So the legs on this thread are going to be short.
TNT1 Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 he's buying, not me. So the legs on this thread are going to be short. We live in hope.
spyster Posted February 8, 2011 Posted February 8, 2011 Do yourself a favour, buy a second hand bike (avoid carbon if buying second hand), you get good value for money and will be able to afford a middle of the range bike for the same price as a new entry level bike. Try to take a friend who knows bikes with you to check chain and drivetrain, shocks, hubs/wheels and other expensive to replace/repair parts. Based on your price range you will probably be looking at a hardtail - a dual suspension bike at that price is likely to be a lemon. Good luck!
Drpain Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 Hey all, thanks for all the replies. I thought of buying a bike second hand, but then you never know what it has been through. Sadly I don't really have friends in the know to take with when shopping second hand. I basically will be using the bike for both on and off road, I would like to go cycle on all the farm roads here on the Stellenbosch and Durbanville Hills wine estates. So it will most likely just be dirt and gravel roads. I might start doing some easy down-hills etc, but that will come with time. Saw quite a few of you recommending the GT Avalanche so I think I will go test ride that first as a yard stick. You guys mind telling me what bike you currently riding or have some experiences to share? Thanks,Rudi
Mojoman Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 I ride a GT Avalanche 1 2009 model, got it new for R6500 last year Feb (after shopping around and haggling on prices).Has 160mm Tektro hydraulic brakes (pad wear is nice and slow), Deore FD, XT RD, Deore shifters and it had a Shimano cassette and chain (I have changed to a SRAM 971 chain now, easier to get off for cleaning). Cane Creek headset and GT stem, bar and seat post.The saddle was a WTB but the stitching came apart and now I use a R300 BBB saddle. The fork was a Suntour Mag32 (spring) but it never felt right and the shop swopped it with a Mag32 air shock. Will be replacing that one of these days anyway.The crank was a FSA but now it has a Deore crank (replaced drivetrain parts in Jan). Done over 5000km and its great. Bike handles pretty well and I am a piggers at 110kg.It also looks the part with the triple triangle design.
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