Got a sweet new mountain bike!

[mastacox]

Well after looking and longing for a mountain bike for several years, a set of birthday presents made it possible to get one. After shopping craigslist, ebay, and several pawn shops for a few weeks I wasn't happy with what I was finding. So I started looking at Performance Bicycle, REI, and other bike shops.

After talking to techs at the shops and reading up online, I narrowed my selections down to a hardtail 29'r or an entry-level full suspension rig. Problem is, being 6'4" I needed a large or extra-large frame. So I looked through the in-stock bikes in the two performance bicycle locations in Tucson, and found my bike!

It's a 2009 Mongoose Teocali Comp, XL frame :) It's an all-mountain bike capable of a lot more than I am that's for sure. I got it for $790 out the door, and I feel is very well equipped at that price point! The frame has 5.7" travel in the rear, and the front Rock Shox Tora has 5.1" travel. Also has Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, and Shimano SLX derailers. Overall, I'm super excited about this thing; I just need to finish my shoulder physical therapy before I can ride it

[4x4mike]

29'ers are a must for the tall crowd. In my mountain bike race class there are about 15 guys. Me and maybe 2 or 3 more guys are the only ones on 26" wheels.

[Robinhood4x4]

Pics or it didn't happen. :D

I wish I could fit on a 29er, but I have a hard enough time with the height on my new fangled full suspension bike. I'm used to a 1990 fully rigid bike.

[4x4mike]

I'm 5'10" with a 31 inch inseam and I had to sell my Surly Karate Monkey 29'er bike. The frame size was correct but it was a huge bike. When I rode it I felt like I was riding a horse. Most folks I know with mountain bikes have all the new fangled stuff and they all ride 29'ers, even the little women. The new frames have much better geometery so they would fit me fine but I've recently spent some money spec'ing my current bike so a new frame isn't in the card (which is fine).

[mastacox]

I'm super excited about this thing, it has good reviews online and will be able to handle anything I can throw at it. I'll probably upgrade the front fork to one with lockout and more adjustability later on, but for now this is a HUGE upgrade compared to what I've owned in the past. Problem is, I can't ride it for around 4 months because I just had shoulder surgery. Oh well I can still admire it lovingly ...

Some specs about the bike for those who care:

FRAME: Mongoose FreeDrive All Mountain 6061 Aluminum w/ Zero Stack Headset, Forged Dropouts & Disc Mount, Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, 145mm Travel

FORK/SHOCK: RockShox Tora 289 w/ Air Spring, Rebound Adjust & U-Turn 85-130mm Travel; SR/Suntour Epicon Air Shock w/ Rebound Adjust

DRIVETRAIN: Shimano SLX/Deore Derailleurs, Deore Trigger Shifters, FSA Alpha-Drive Crankset w/ ISIS Splined Bottom Bracket

BRAKES: Tektro Auriga Comp Hydraulic Disc, 160mm Rotors

As proof, here are some pics showing that it did indeed happen :thumbup:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/IMG_20101026_160329.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/IMG_20101027_165855.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/IMG_20101027_165906.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/IMG_20101027_165920.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/IMG_20101027_165933.jpg

[mastacox]

btw- I have a 36" inseam with shoes on, this bike is about 33-34" standover right in front of the seat. Its a great size for me, but a real monster of a bike comparing it to the small versions of the same model!

[mastacox]

I was originally looking at the Mongoose Otero Elite, which is a level below this one in terms of performance, but it's large frame model wasn't tall or long enough for me so I ruled it out. Glad I did, because I got this bike for just a bit more, and it's miles ahead in terms of rear suspension geometry and overall performance :thumbup:

2010 Mongoose Otero Elite (MSRP $799.99): http://www.mongoose.com/usa/usaeng/mtn/Products/Mountain-Urban/Details/2820-M10OTEEL-Otero-Elite
http://www.mongoose.com/usa/usaeng/mtn/MongooseFiles/ProductImages//786_511_M10OTEEL_238.jpg

2009 Mongoose Teocali Comp (MSRP ~$1500): http://www.mongoose.com/nor/eng/mtn/Products/Mountain-Urban/All-Mountain/Details/2757-M9TEOC-Teocali-Comp
http://www.mongoose.com/nor/eng/mtn/MongooseFiles/ProductImages//786_511_800_600_M9TEOC_313_1.jpg

[4x4mike]

4 months! I'd buy or borrow a trainer and slap a slick tire on the rear. Set it up in front of the tv and get some miles on it. I own a trainer and hate it mostly because I enjoy riding outside instead. If a doctor told me I couldn't ride for 4 months I'd be devistated. The trainer let's you use you legs and gets your cardio going. If your shoulder started giving you trouble you could just sit up and ride with no hands.

[mastacox]

4 months! I'd buy or borrow a trainer and slap a slick tire on the rear. Set it up in front of the tv and get some miles on it. I own a trainer and hate it mostly because I enjoy riding outside instead. If a doctor told me I couldn't ride for 4 months I'd be devistated. The trainer let's you use you legs and gets your cardio going. If your shoulder started giving you trouble you could just sit up and ride with no hands.


Well as it is I haven't been riding bikes for a while, and 4 months puts us in feb, which will be snowy and cold (well, at least cold, snow will depend on weather). Let's just say this bike is for next season :) I'm definitely looking forward to getting cardio in on this thing instead of jogging; I HATE jogging...

I like the trainer idea though, might look into it.

[Crinale]

nice bike... good to see Mongoose is actually building decent bikes again. that is a weird rear geometry, but looks like it should function well. If you have much weight to you and plan to hit any higher speed tech trails, that fork is gonna die :-P iv gone through 2 forks on my mountain bike, and finally ended up with a RockShox Pike DualAir (which i love! this thing is beefy and super smooth).

Im 6'3" but i actually hate riding bikes that are sized "correctly" for me... i prefer the small side, medium-large. I think a lot of it has to do with the very technical high speed trails we have around here... i like a little more room between my junk and the seat :-P as well as the shorter wheelbase for the tight turns and drops

[mastacox]

nice bike... good to see Mongoose is actually building decent bikes again. that is a weird rear geometry, but looks like it should function well.

The geometry is specially designed to reduce/prevent pedal bob while climbing. It gets good reviews on MTBR and similar sites. Almost 6" of travel is nothing to sneeze at either, I was originally looking at XC bikes with around 4" travel, but this deal was too good to pass up.

http://mongoosebikes.blogspot.com/2008/10/wondering-how-mongoose-freedrive-works.html



If you have much weight to you and plan to hit any higher speed tech trails, that fork is gonna die :-P iv gone through 2 forks on my mountain bike, and finally ended up with a RockShox Pike DualAir (which i love! this thing is beefy and super smooth).


Could be, but it's no surprise it isn't an amazing shock considering the price. In my opinion a shock is an easy upgrade, and I'll just ride this one because I won't know any better any way.



Im 6'3" but i actually hate riding bikes that are sized "correctly" for me... i prefer the small side, medium-large. I think a lot of it has to do with the very technical high speed trails we have around here... i like a little more room between my junk and the seat :-P as well as the shorter wheelbase for the tight turns and drops


I wanted a BIG bike because I wanted a longer wheelbase that matched my height. Should be super smooth and stable at high speed.

[Crinale]

cool, it does look like a nice bike.

the front shock will hold up fine for normal trail use, and when it does go it shouldnt go catastrophically. When mine went, both of them bent at the crown, first one bent out forward and the 2nd bent inwards... first was a Marzocchi Bomber, and the 2nd was a Manitou Stance.

Looks like a good bike, should treat you well. Has a good frame, as a platform to upgrade... just like our trucks though, you will find stuff to upgrade once u start riding it much :thumbup:

[Robinhood4x4]

Out here in AZ, our season is just starting. Summers are too hot to do anything outside. After my CO trip and looking at all the downhillers at Telluride going up the ski lift, I really really wanted to get back on my bike.

[mastacox]

Some pretty pictures to put my cell phone's camera to shame:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliHDR1.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliHDR4.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliPicture1.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliHDR5.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliHDR8.jpg
http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l70/mastacox/TeocaliHDR6.jpg

[Obi..]

You need to get that thing dirty!
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5132762439_bf9f4af534_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1436/5133371704_787bf53bb9_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/5132776555_7f17b4ba7f_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/5132781995_9be87ae7c2_b.jpg

[mastacox]

I want to! Problem is, I'm still in recovery from shoulder surgery and won't be riding it for a couple of months yet (like 4)... :asshat:

At least I can admire it, the web-biker :hillbill:

[some_odd_girl]

Nice detail pics! :) This thread makes me want to go ride my mnt bike for more than just every day across campus stuff like right now... problem is, I really don't want to go out trail riding by myself...

[Crinale]

Damn rain out has probably made the trails pretty sloppy too... Orcutt Hill would be SCARY muddy >.< maybe we can go out there another time though

[some_odd_girl]

Aw ya... maybe Thanksgiving will be sunny :)

[Okie81]

Cool bike Brian, does the rear shock have a lockout?

[mastacox]

Cool bike Brian, does the rear shock have a lockout?


No lockout, just rebound adjust. It will work for now, I'm happy with the shocks given the bike's price point ;)

[Robinhood4x4]

I've only ridden mine a handful of times but the only time I use the lockout is going down to the store. Maybe I'll figure it out once I hit the trails more.