WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR USED MTB OR ROAD BIKE IN GOOD CONDITION!
Welcome to bicycle-trader.com, and thank you for taking the time to visit the site. We hope you will soon discover that we are more than just another bicycle website, we are in fact a shop based in the Valley View Centre (adjacent to Cedar Square) in Craigavon / Fourways, Sandton. bicycle-trader.com is owned and managed by cycling fanatics (and yes one does not need to be a shaven legged, 50 kg, racing snake, to be a fanatic).
With years of competitve cycling behind us, our interest now lies in assisting competitive cyclists, but perhaps more satisfying, is assisting beginner cyclists as they navigate their way through cycling jargon and do’s and dont’s.
Ours is a realxed, informal environment, and yes this does mean couches and loads of fresh coffee. So when you have half an hour during your day and are in the Fourways area, why not drop in for a chat.
Please note that all bikes or items (unless otherwise stated) are 2nd hand or previously owned. And that the picture (unless otherwise stated) is the exact bicycle or item.
This weeks Article – Hardtail vs Softtail?
Our 50kg, racing snake, cycling friends could probably do without a bit of rear suspension, opting for the lightweight, responsive – rigidity of the hard tail, but when the ‘fullness of time’ fills us out a bit, some ‘additional’ cushioning under our ‘seat’ does make riding a little more comfortable, but this comes at a price.
This pretty much sums up (a) the difference and (b) the application of the hard and soft tail mountain bike, and I guess we all wish it were that simple, but there are those enquiring minds who would prefer a slightly more detailed differential explanation between these two mountain bike frames.
The hard tail is generally;
1. Lighter – making fast district roads and single tracks a pleasure.
2. Efficient – no excess pedal power is absorbed in the rear suspension.
3. Maintenance – slightly less required.
The soft tail is generally;
1. Comfortable – bicycle absorbs roughest terrain, and is at home on technical and demanding routes.
2. Not so efficient – an amount of effort and energy during pedalling is absorbed by the suspension (and yes most rear shocks can be locked out to avoid compression, particularly on climbs and easy going terrain)
3. Maintenance – occasional attention is required to maintain compression levels.
Very often the decision between the hard tail and soft tail is determined by ones budget, and at the outset, it is worth knowing that a good soft tail will require an investment upward of R20,000. And naturally there are more affordable options, and these are generally made possible through the inclusion of less reliable and durable components. In short it may well be worth-while considering a better hard tail than a cheaper soft tail.
There is a buoyant ‘used mtb market’, and the rate at which the value of new mountain bikes depreciates, makes it possible for a lot of bicycle to be purchased at relatively modest prices.
