"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Thursday 20 October 2016

The Giants

Being a cyclist is quite different from being a runner. That is my experience anyway. You need a lot more gear than for running and there are many gadgets to have. This is a good thing for me as I love gadgets!

But first of course is the bicycle...

There are incredible machines available today. They also come at incredible prices. With our currency not doing great at all bicycle prices in South Africa seems to be totally crazy. Maybe it is the same everywhere... I really don't know.

I bought my Giant ATX 27.5 last year and it's been great. This is a great mountain bike for riding on the road and also some gravel and other off road if needed. It also copes well with the poor road surfaces and pot holes here in SA! It is not for technical single track in the mountains. It is perfect for me.

I've done 4000km with the ATX now. I ride it in the mornings during the week. It is perfect for our road conditions and I feel safe on it in the dark or semi dark.

Giant ATX 27.5 2

I've done a few races with the ATX without any problems. I am slow and don't plan to get very fast... However, I do find it difficult lately to keep the wheel of my wife Anette's road bike more and more as she gets stronger and faster.

So after some thinking and contemplating and more thinking I decided to buy a road bike as well. It is more or less the road equivalent of the ATX. 

Giant SCR 2

The bike is still very new and I am still getting used to it. It is great! The same effort on the mountain bike makes me much faster on this bike and I like that.

I didn't plan to own 2 Giants, it just worked out that way. I suppose they have the right bikes in the right price range for me.

The road bike will be my weekend ride for now while I stay on the mountain bike during the early morning week rides. I'll keep you posted on how things go.

Happy training everyone!

4 comments:

Robin said...

Nice bikes!! I bought Amelia a Giant (the LIV line - for women) and she loves it. It's a hybrid. She was intimidated by the road bike. I have a Cannondale that I bought used (also a hybrid) that I really like :) Bikes sure have changed since we were kids that's for sure!

Kate Geisen said...

I think bikes are expensive anywhere. That's why most of mine have been bought used. My road bike is a Giant, but the poor thing mostly lives on a trainer while the mountain bikes and cross bike get all the fun. I need to channel some of your dedication and ride more in the mornings before school. I get up plenty early on weekends to do the same thing, but then I have the lure of friends to motivate me.

Mark said...

Nice looking bikes! Now I've got the fever!

coach dion said...

LOL I also have a Giant Mnt bike, but only ride on the roads, that said I have a friends racer as well, and will start using that as I get fitter.