Bicycle choices for TK

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Hey Twist..... What do you think of the Mongoose brand bikes?

We were in Sears tonight and they're on sale. This one in particular - The Saga.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605...000P?mv=rr

[Twitchin Kitten]

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You know, the specs say levers but the pic looks like it has twist shifters.

[twisteroo]

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As far as I know Mongoose is like Schwinn, there are really good ones and then the ones you buy at sears and walmart.
I'm trying to check it out but the sears site it down for improvements. If they list the derailers and stuff I can probably have an opinion on it.
Do not take my word as gospel on any of this bike stuff, I have opinions that's all.
It's like anything else, you get what you pay for.
Judging a "good" bike, I start by looking at derailers and stuff, you wouldn't put a $75 derailer on a bike then sell the bike for $100.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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From the site. It says Shimano shift system but does that mean Shimano derailleurs as well?

Product Description

Climb the trails in style with this Women's Mountain Bike - 26 Inch Saga. Features 21 Speed SRAM / Shimano Shift System with Aluminum Dual Suspension Frame and Promax front Disc Brake. The bike has Disc Brake front, Linear pull rear; Alloy Levers with Alloy 3-piece Crankset/Alloy Pedals and 36 Spoke Alloy Rims.

CLICK HERE for Bike Sizing Guide

CLICK HERE for Bike Buying Guide

* 21 speed SRAM / Shimano shift system
* Aluminum dual suspension frame
* Promax front disc brake
* Linear pull rear brake
* Alloy levers with alloy 3-piece crankset
* Alloy pedals
* 36 spoke alloy rims
* 67" L x 17" W x 42" H
* 40.1 Pounds

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Oh and the price online is half of what it's on sale for in the store! WTF?

I tried looking this up on the Mongoose site but they don't have it there. Seems they only show the hardcore mountain bike stuff and the BMX bikes.

Sears had a bigger selection of Mongoose bikes than Mongoose did. But, I did notice that on the Mongoose site they had a year by year listing of models. I couldn't find this one on the year by year list either so I'm thinking that it may be a discontinued year or maybe something specially made for Sears. The guy in the bike shop told me that Giant makes bikes for many different manufacturers that use their specs and names but you're really getting a Giant brand, made in China bike.

I just don't like the twist shifters. They didnt' seem comfortable or user friendly on that Giant I sat on in the other shop.

[twisteroo]

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OK, the site was back up. I can't find any actual names of derailer styles or anything, the brakes I have never heard of, they don't mention the shocks or anything. I suggest if you want a mongoose you get this one.

Actually, I say spend twice that on a Trek or a Giant, buy it from a shop, get a couple of free tune-ups, get one that is actually the correct size for your body so you can adjust the seat and stuff so you are comfortable. Get one that is not built out of complete junk.
If the shop doesn't take careful consideration about sizing the bike correctly to you find another shop.
Probably a Trek or Giant or other similar brands will have the mounts for racks and stuff on them so it is possible to mount saddle bags or a basket or something, possibly fenders. My cheapo mountain bike has all that stuff.
That green mountain bike of mine you see in all the pictures, I paid about $300 for that new in 05. I have put a bottom bracket in it and just put new brakes, chain, and a freewheel on it. All together I have put maybe $60 into it doing the work myself. It rides like a new bike as it sits right now. I would guess and say there is 2,500 miles on it.

Bottom line, don't cheap out. You don't have to spend thousands but don't go to sears or k mart or walmart. If you have a problem with it (and you will) who are you gonna go to, the 15 year old kid that put the bike together in the back room for minimum wage so he can buy more beer and dope? You will end up at a bike shop and they will be glad to fix it up for you for a couple hundred dollars.

Bike shops and a little more expensive bike is not failsafe, but you have a hell of a lot better chance of getting something that will work correctly and not just discourage you from riding.

Disk brakes are not needed for the kind of riding you or myself do, well, maybe I'll need them if I ever go down that ski slope. But so far they are nothing but an added expense for no real reason. I've always been able to stop so far, till I get to that ski slope.
Rear suspension is not really needed in my opinion either, not for my kind of riding. I like trails, rail beds and stuff. I like the front shocks to smooth things out some but don't need the added weight or expense of the rear suspension.

Aluminum, frame, front suspension, thumb and trigger shifters, is about all there is to worry about. The standard bikes are geared pretty well for the average person, the brakes are good, if they are not afraid to mention the model name on the derailers they are probably OK.
When they say SRAM or Shimano, that means that it is the cheapest no-name crap that SRAM or Shimano makes fort walmart bikes.

Also...that mongoose, I think when they are talking about the levers they mean the brake levers.

[twisteroo]

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The guy talking about the Giant bike made in China is probably right. Every major bike maker out there now has the frames made in China or somewhere. Even Cannondale, the last American made bike frame has started farming out the frames. All the other stuff, like derailers and stuff come from Shimano and those places anyway. So, having an American made bike??? I don't think so, not unless you are going to go to a frame builder and have them make you one. There are bikes that I'm not sure of like comotion or bruce gordon or salsa and others that I'm not sure of, but I'm sure you are not willing to spend that much money on one.

Mongoose and Schwinn as far as I know both still make very good bikes, just not the ones you get at wal-mart, k-mart, sears, etc...

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I need the rear suspension for my screwed together Borg spine.

OK you talked me out of that one. We were in Sears last night and saw the bike up on a shelf so I was wondering. I went online looking for it and only found that model at Sears so I was wondering. I was hoping you said it's a good bike and then I would go looking in the bike shops for it. I have no intention of buying it in a big mass market store but IF I see one in there that looks good, I would go find it's equivalent in the shops. I also know that Mongoose was "the" BMX bike in the day and figured it was worth asking about.

Good tip on the SRAM or Shimano description. That helps.

[twisteroo]

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It's a pretty safe bet that you won't see THAT bike in a bike shop.
Let me find you a rear suspension bike. That is gonna jack the price up though.
Maybe you should schmooze around a bike shop some, you know, spend a little time there, sweet talk the guys a little bit. Then find a good used one and take it in for their opinion before you buy it and and then maybe have them tune it up or something, or just take them a 12pack.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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OK stopped in another bike shop while out gallivanting around today. It seems rear suspension will be out of the question until I am ready to say I need 'more' bike. I just can't spend $1500 on a bike and wind up disappointed that my body does not allow me to ride it as I want and have to put it away or sell it. At lease around $500 +/- I can live with this reality if it happens.

This shop is good too. 6 months of free maintenance and they will take any Giant stock bike and customize the details for me. I'm going to go there during the week when they aren't on the verge of closing and ride a few of them too. They had all models in stock too and customizations are done on premise. They were patient with my kabillion questions as well.

Even nicer is this shop has a lay-a-way plan and we can both buy bikes at the same time this way. These are going to be our Christmas presents to each other.

Today three bikes are on my list - all ladies models:

Giant Boulder SE - (this is the one you suggested) http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bike...692/36240/


Giant Revel 1 - http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bike...514/44144/


Giant Rincon - http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bike...280/32123/