> Seeing some of the really cool, heavy duty utility bikes people talk about here I thought I’d start a thread about the other end of that scale and post a few pictures of a cheap, almost unrideable bike I converted on a small budget into something useful. I have about $450 total investment in this machine.

> The background; I took a short term position on Guam I didn’t want to move one of the good bikes I have in Hong Kong because Guam is not a very bicycle friendly place in large part because of the packs of aggressive feral dogs that chase cyclist as an avocation and the constant rain I didn’t think I would have much opportunity to ride. Once here I found out that because I had not driven in 15 years it was going to take me 12 to 15 months to get a driver’s license and since there is no mass transit to speak of I was stuck walking. So I bought a cheap bike to ride the ½ mile to the grocery store, the bank, church and the other mundane places people need to go.

> Here is a picture of the original configuration of the bike:  

> http://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Xcom-700c-Bike-Blue/dp/B0085WB0EU

> For a department store bike this thing gets rave reviews. Therefore I thought that I could use it since the area I live in is rather flat and I didn’t have the time to find a real bike shop.

> I think that Sears and K-Mart pay someone to write the reviews. Mongoose should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on this bike it was simply terrible. I should have probably just bought a different bike and thrown this one away but just kept thinking "One more change" Now all that is left of the original bike is the frame, headset saddle and brakes

> The problems:

> 1.       When the tires were inflated to about 20 PSI less than the max listed they rubbed the top of the non-adjustable fenders.  But as the bead of the tires was not tight if I kept the pressure low enough to not rub the fender the tire would de-bead in a corner and be essentially flat if I carried any load at all.

> 2.       The frame is spaced 130 but the rear wheel was 127 since it is an aluminum frame this was somewhat problematic.

> 3.       The 13-28 7 speed freewheel was Ok the 44 tooth front chain wheel was a bit high for my creaky old knees

> 4.       The handle bars are good for a very short ride but the swept back, sit-up-and-beg position does not lend itself to climbing a hill or outrunning big dogs

> 5.       The brake pads stop well but are inexpensive units that are almost impossible to toe and squeal like a cat with its tail caught in a door

> I tried minor fixes like adjusting the fenders and brakes. The brakes can be made to stop pretty well but are still noisy. I ended up taking the fenders completely off hoping to use the tires that came with the bike. However even at pressure the bead would not seal right and the front tire blew off the rim at about 60 PSI. I do not know if this was problem with the tire or the factory rims.

> Since I still didn’t want to bring a bike from Hong Kong here because I didn’t want the airline damage it.  I could either buy a different bike or modify this one.  I took a trip back to Hong Kong to see the family in June and dipped into my dead parts box and ordered other things mail order.

> I ended up replacing the wheels, the rear derailleur, the crank, the bottom bracket, handle bars, seat post, rear cassette (Old wheels used a free wheel) the chain, the pedals and shifters. I added a front derailleur, computer, bar-ends a water bottle cage, a set of small panniers and a set of lights with a bottom bracket generator. (However I would now never ride at night here as the dogs would eat me)

> An odd issue was there is no cable stop for the front derailleur cable. The picture shows the bike with zip-ties used for this. That worked but I have since bought a clamp-on cable stop which also helps to keep the pump in place

> The bike is actually comfortable. Since some of the parts were things I had and the others are rather low end like SRAM x-3 Derailluers and shifters the total cost for parts was about 350 dollars. The bike can now carry about three sacks of groceries in the bags and on the rack. If I stay out of residential areas where the dogs are and on the shoulder of main roads like Marine Corps Drive then I can go pretty much all over Guam given enough time. Generally I ride the bike over to the K-MArt on my day off and take the tourist buses to shop or go out to eat from there then ride back home later.

> I really like the Vitoria Randoneer tires. They are 700X38 and roll very well with a nice reflective white wall. I bought them because they were cheap but I have been really pleased with how well they perform and will buy them for other bikes. The low end SRAM derailleurs also work very well.

> The spray bottle in water bottle cage contains a home-made do repellant. It is mainly tap-water with a few drops of dish washing soap and 3 table-spoons of ammonia.  I have no idea if this is considered humane or not. Since the dog I spray it on is trying to bite me I do not care.

> Her are some photos of how the bike looks now

> http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/Phil_hk/Bicycle/Mongoose/?acti...

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bicyclelifestyle/-/ly78o4Wf_PQJ.
> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.

> On Sep 19, 2012, at 18:57 , Fai Mao wrote:

> Hi

> Seeing some of the really cool, heavy duty utility bikes people talk about
> here I thought I’d start a thread about the other end of that scale and
> post a few pictures of a cheap, almost unrideable bike I converted on a
> small budget into something useful. I have about $450 total investment in
> this machine.

> The background; I took a short term position on Guam I didn’t want to move
> one of the good bikes I have in Hong Kong because Guam is not a very
> bicycle friendly place in large part because of the packs of aggressive
> feral dogs that chase cyclist as an avocation and the constant rain I
> didn’t think I would have much opportunity to ride. Once here I found out
> that because I had not driven in 15 years it was going to take me 12 to 15
> months to get a driver’s license and since there is no mass transit to
> speak of I was stuck walking. So I bought a cheap bike to ride the ½ mile
> to the grocery store, the bank, church and the other mundane places people
> need to go.

> Here is a picture of the original configuration of the bike:

> http://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Xcom-700c-Bike-Blue/dp/B0085WB0EU

> For a department store bike this thing gets rave reviews. Therefore I
> thought that I could use it since the area I live in is rather flat and I
> didn’t have the time to find a real bike shop.

> I think that Sears and K-Mart pay someone to write the reviews. Mongoose
> should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on this bike it was
> simply terrible. I should have probably just bought a different bike and
> thrown this one away but just kept thinking "One more change" Now all that
> is left of the original bike is the frame, headset saddle and brakes

> The problems:

> 1.       When the tires were inflated to about 20 PSI less than the max
> listed they rubbed the top of the non-adjustable fenders.  But as the
> bead of the tires was not tight if I kept the pressure low enough to not
> rub the fender the tire would de-bead in a corner and be essentially flat
> if I carried any load at all.

> 2.       The frame is spaced 130 but the rear wheel was 127 since it is
> an aluminum frame this was somewhat problematic.

> 3.       The 13-28 7 speed freewheel was Ok the 44 tooth front chain
> wheel was a bit high for my creaky old knees

> 4.       The handle bars are good for a very short ride but the swept
> back, sit-up-and-beg position does not lend itself to climbing a hill or
> outrunning big dogs

> 5.       The brake pads stop well but are inexpensive units that are
> almost impossible to toe and squeal like a cat with its tail caught in a
> door

> I tried minor fixes like adjusting the fenders and brakes. The brakes can
> be made to stop pretty well but are still noisy. I ended up taking the
> fenders completely off hoping to use the tires that came with the bike.
> However even at pressure the bead would not seal right and the front tire
> blew off the rim at about 60 PSI. I do not know if this was problem with
> the tire or the factory rims.

> Since I still didn’t want to bring a bike from Hong Kong here because I
> didn’t want the airline damage it.  I could either buy a different bike
> or modify this one.  I took a trip back to Hong Kong to see the family in
> June and dipped into my dead parts box and ordered other things mail order.

> I ended up replacing the wheels, the rear derailleur, the crank, the
> bottom bracket, handle bars, seat post, rear cassette (Old wheels used a
> free wheel) the chain, the pedals and shifters. I added a front derailleur,
> computer, bar-ends a water bottle cage, a set of small panniers and a set
> of lights with a bottom bracket generator. (However I would now never ride
> at night here as the dogs would eat me)

> An odd issue was there is no cable stop for the front derailleur cable.
> The picture shows the bike with zip-ties used for this. That worked but I
> have since bought a clamp-on cable stop which also helps to keep the pump
> in place

> The bike is actually comfortable. Since some of the parts were things I
> had and the others are rather low end like SRAM x-3 Derailluers and
> shifters the total cost for parts was about 350 dollars. The bike can now
> carry about three sacks of groceries in the bags and on the rack. If I stay
> out of residential areas where the dogs are and on the shoulder of main
> roads like Marine Corps Drive then I can go pretty much all over Guam given
> enough time. Generally I ride the bike over to the K-MArt on my day off and
> take the tourist buses to shop or go out to eat from there then ride back
> home later.

> I really like the Vitoria Randoneer tires. They are 700X38 and roll very
> well with a nice reflective white wall. I bought them because they were
> cheap but I have been really pleased with how well they perform and will
> buy them for other bikes. The low end SRAM derailleurs also work very well.

> The spray bottle in water bottle cage contains a home-made do repellant.
> It is mainly tap-water with a few drops of dish washing soap and 3
> table-spoons of ammonia.  I have no idea if this is considered humane or
> not. Since the dog I spray it on is trying to bite me I do not care.

> Her are some photos of how the bike looks now

> http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/Phil_hk/Bicycle/Mongoose/?acti...

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bicyclelifestyle/-/ly78o4Wf_PQJ.
> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.

>  --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.

> On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 12:54 AM, alan lewis <drbaba...@gmail.com> wrote:

>> Great write up.
>> I just love the imagery.  Dirt and feral dogs, and what not.  Just make
>> it work, huh?
>> Good luck and thanks.

>> On Sep 19, 2012, at 18:57 , Fai Mao wrote:

>> Hi

>> Seeing some of the really cool, heavy duty utility bikes people talk
>> about here I thought I’d start a thread about the other end of that scale
>> and post a few pictures of a cheap, almost unrideable bike I converted on a
>> small budget into something useful. I have about $450 total investment in
>> this machine.

>> The background; I took a short term position on Guam I didn’t want to
>> move one of the good bikes I have in Hong Kong because Guam is not a very
>> bicycle friendly place in large part because of the packs of aggressive
>> feral dogs that chase cyclist as an avocation and the constant rain I
>> didn’t think I would have much opportunity to ride. Once here I found out
>> that because I had not driven in 15 years it was going to take me 12 to 15
>> months to get a driver’s license and since there is no mass transit to
>> speak of I was stuck walking. So I bought a cheap bike to ride the ½ mile
>> to the grocery store, the bank, church and the other mundane places people
>> need to go.

>> Here is a picture of the original configuration of the bike:

>> http://www.amazon.com/Mongoose-Xcom-700c-Bike-Blue/dp/B0085WB0EU

>> For a department store bike this thing gets rave reviews. Therefore I
>> thought that I could use it since the area I live in is rather flat and I
>> didn’t have the time to find a real bike shop.

>> I think that Sears and K-Mart pay someone to write the reviews. Mongoose
>> should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on this bike it was
>> simply terrible. I should have probably just bought a different bike and
>> thrown this one away but just kept thinking "One more change" Now all that
>> is left of the original bike is the frame, headset saddle and brakes

>> The problems:

>> 1.       When the tires were inflated to about 20 PSI less than the max
>> listed they rubbed the top of the non-adjustable fenders.  But as the
>> bead of the tires was not tight if I kept the pressure low enough to not
>> rub the fender the tire would de-bead in a corner and be essentially flat
>> if I carried any load at all.

>> 2.       The frame is spaced 130 but the rear wheel was 127 since it is
>> an aluminum frame this was somewhat problematic.

>> 3.       The 13-28 7 speed freewheel was Ok the 44 tooth front chain
>> wheel was a bit high for my creaky old knees

>> 4.       The handle bars are good for a very short ride but the swept
>> back, sit-up-and-beg position does not lend itself to climbing a hill or
>> outrunning big dogs

>> 5.       The brake pads stop well but are inexpensive units that are
>> almost impossible to toe and squeal like a cat with its tail caught in a
>> door

>> I tried minor fixes like adjusting the fenders and brakes. The brakes can
>> be made to stop pretty well but are still noisy. I ended up taking the
>> fenders completely off hoping to use the tires that came with the bike.
>> However even at pressure the bead would not seal right and the front tire
>> blew off the rim at about 60 PSI. I do not know if this was problem with
>> the tire or the factory rims.

>> Since I still didn’t want to bring a bike from Hong Kong here because I
>> didn’t want the airline damage it.  I could either buy a different bike
>> or modify this one.  I took a trip back to Hong Kong to see the family
>> in June and dipped into my dead parts box and ordered other things mail
>> order.

>> I ended up replacing the wheels, the rear derailleur, the crank, the
>> bottom bracket, handle bars, seat post, rear cassette (Old wheels used a
>> free wheel) the chain, the pedals and shifters. I added a front derailleur,
>> computer, bar-ends a water bottle cage, a set of small panniers and a set
>> of lights with a bottom bracket generator. (However I would now never ride
>> at night here as the dogs would eat me)

>> An odd issue was there is no cable stop for the front derailleur cable.
>> The picture shows the bike with zip-ties used for this. That worked but I
>> have since bought a clamp-on cable stop which also helps to keep the pump
>> in place

>> The bike is actually comfortable. Since some of the parts were things I
>> had and the others are rather low end like SRAM x-3 Derailluers and
>> shifters the total cost for parts was about 350 dollars. The bike can now
>> carry about three sacks of groceries in the bags and on the rack. If I stay
>> out of residential areas where the dogs are and on the shoulder of main
>> roads like Marine Corps Drive then I can go pretty much all over Guam given
>> enough time. Generally I ride the bike over to the K-MArt on my day off and
>> take the tourist buses to shop or go out to eat from there then ride back
>> home later.

>> I really like the Vitoria Randoneer tires. They are 700X38 and roll very
>> well with a nice reflective white wall. I bought them because they were
>> cheap but I have been really pleased with how well they perform and will
>> buy them for other bikes. The low end SRAM derailleurs also work very well.

>> The spray bottle in water bottle cage contains a home-made do repellant.
>> It is mainly tap-water with a few drops of dish washing soap and 3
>> table-spoons of ammonia.  I have no idea if this is considered humane or
>> not. Since the dog I spray it on is trying to bite me I do not care.

>> Her are some photos of how the bike looks now

>> http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/Phil_hk/Bicycle/Mongoose/?acti...

>> --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
>> To view this discussion on the web visit
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bicyclelifestyle/-/ly78o4Wf_PQJ.
>> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>> bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
>> For more options, visit this group at
>> http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.

>>  --
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
>> "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
>> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
>> bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
>> For more options, visit this group at
>> http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.

>  --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Bicycle Lifestyle" group.
> To post to this group, send email to bicyclelifestyle@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> bicyclelifestyle+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> For more options, visit this group at
> http://groups.google.com/group/bicyclelifestyle?hl=en.