MTB Egypt Forums

Folks,

I'm a beginner to the sport, but I think from what I saw till now that I'm gonna go all the way in it.

I'm currenlty looking into buying my first MTB, looked into the market and on the internet and over whelmed with the details.

My budget is around LE 5,000 plus or minus, and I'd like some professional advice on what to buy especially that I think I'll be frequent off roader.

The brands I've seen in the Egyptian market so far are:
- Gitane
- Bianchi
- Carraro
- Orbea

There's one particular bike that grabbed my attention, Orbea Cool Flow (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/cool_flow/).

I'm seeking your advice on the above particular bike and any other you think can suit me.

Cheers

Ahmed

Ahmed,

I always say a quality hardtail is better than an average full-suspension (for cross-country/trail riding). The Cool Flow seems to have a very low spec. If you can get the Max Flow it should be better since it has a better component selection. Otherwise, look into a good hardtail and plan to upgrade to a full-suspension after you do some riding on a regular basis.

Make sure you get your correct frame size.

Hani,

Thanks a lot for that, I'll go for a hard tail then, and according to my budget I'm comparing between:

Orbea Zenit (LE 7,000) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/zenit/)
Orbea Compair (LE 6,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/compair/)
Orbea Satellite (LE 5,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/satellite/)
Orbea Sherpa (LE4,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/sherpa/)

which of the above do you recommend and is the most cost effective?

Thanks

Ahmed

(08-05-2011 05:48 PM)Ahmed Wrote: [ -> ]Hani,

Thanks a lot for that, I'll go for a hard tail then, and according to my budget I'm comparing between:

Orbea Zenit (LE 7,000) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/zenit/)
Orbea Compair (LE 6,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/compair/)
Orbea Satellite (LE 5,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/satellite/)
Orbea Sherpa (LE4,500) (http://www.orbea.com/int-en/bicis/modelos/sherpa/)

which of the above do you recommend and is the most cost effective?

Thanks

Ahmed

Ahmed,

Those four bikes have the same exact frame, just different colors and spec levels.

The Zenit and Compair are very similar to each other. The main difference is that the Zenit has Shimano's new 10 speed drivetrain, while the Compair is regular 9 speed. This is not a big difference, really, but the 11-36 cassette on the 10-speed can give you an extra boost up some of the very steep climbs (once you start riding more and build up your strength a 11-34 or 11-32 are perfectly fine for riding on Egyptian terrain).

The Satellite and Sherpa are also very similar, but lower-end builld-kit (especially when looking at wheels and suspension forks). Keep in mind that you will want to upgrade stuff within a short period if you intend to ride frequently, so since they all share the same frame, go for the cheapest one and just upgrade as you go.

I am assuming that the build kit at the shop is the same as the one on Orbeas website.

Make sure you ask for your correct frame size. I think these guys usually stock larges sizes only.