BSA Grocery Getter on West End Ave, NYC

When I first saw this bike and I saw the BSA head badge my first thought was Boy Scouts of America?  No way!  But after doing a little interwebs research BSA really stands for Birmingham Small Arms Company.  According to the Wiki article, BSA was sold to Raleigh in 1957 and by judging from the cranks, this bike hails from the early 1970s.

Reminds me of the bike I rode when I live in Germany.  It was my second bike, my first one which was on loan from a neighbor was stolen outside the Blackout Discothek in Ploen, Germany one night.  I loved that bike, it was my first gravel grinder styled mountainish bike that I rode everywhere when I lived over sees.  My consolation bike was something similar to this BSA.  Ahhh, the 80s!

Is this a new fashion statement, CD Spokecards?  Does anyone use CDs anymore?

The head badge is cool but didn't quite come out in this picture.  It shows three muskets at stack arms.

Monster Cross in the Paugussett

Frigid temps all week and having to work at another location meant no saddle time for me, that is until I got a narrow window of opportunity sandwiched between dropping temperatures and fading day light.  I hopped on the Qball Monster as soon as the wife returned from shopping and rode over to Upper Paugussett State Forest where I was meeting my friend Rick for quick loop in the forest.  After riding the Qball at Huntington State Park two weeks ago, I have been eager to try it out here since I ride here pretty regularly being so close to my house and the trail I built would be perfect for this bike.

Recent signs of another bike

Since I was rolling a little early, I decided to head in off of Sanford Rd and take the Gussy trail over to a connector trail that leads to the Parking Lot at the end of Echo Valley Road.  This would be a good test of the Qball to see how hit handles on sustained climbs on this part of the Gussy Trail and I have to say it did pretty good.  It did really well but I am still squeamish going over logs without a rock ring so I hopped off for one that I know that I always hit.

Qball Monster Cross (MCX)

Rick showed up right at 3:45 and it took him a few minutes to get ready.  While he was doing that a dog walker returned from his walk and said that he was thinking about going riding today (on the road) but felt it was too cold.  He said he completed a Ride Across America this summer, 3,700 miles and said it was a blast.  He said he averaged 80 miles a day which must have taken him 40+ days!  I wouldn't mind trying that sometime.

Enemy at the Gates

As I was riding up the Jeep Road to the Gussy Trail head I heard what sounded like a pair of dirt bikes riding down Sanford Rd and then I got a glimpse of them but they were ATVs!  It looked like the same ATV that I saw further up on Echo Valley Road last weekend ride up the embankment at the gas line heading towards the old railroad bed.  When I got over to the parking lot at the end of Echo Valley Rd, it looks like they came up the drive and sniffed at the gates but decided to get out of there.  The other thing I noticed as they rode by is that they stopped somewhere further up the road, as if they were contemplating trying to penetrate the forest at the McKenzie's property, which has an old driveway that leads into the back part of their property but never enters the forest.  Even if they went in that way they would hit the Blue Trail or the horse trail but there was no sign of them while Rick and I were riding on the Forest Road.

Rick and I headed down the Brody and immediately encountered a runty pitbull or some sort of angry mix of a dog that was a cross with a basset hound.  He looked mean but the stumpy legs made the dog look ridiculous.  At the split off the Brody it was pretty iced over but this section is pretty much always wet year round and freezes in the winter time.  If you had studs on this would have been the only place you would have had to use them.  It was easier just to walk.

The rest of the ride up to the Gussy was uneventful except for the fact that one thing I noticed on the Qball was that knobbies were really grippy while climbing the back section of the big hill compared to the last time I rode through here on the Qball on my Turkey Burner Exploratory Ride where I spun out due to no traction in the leaves riding on 45c tires.  What a difference.  And this bike really climbs!  Riding the Gussy was great, the bike performed excellently on just about everything.  I stayed off the log rides and the real big rollers but the 29er wheels really proved their capability in the technical sections.  The one thing I did notice more of today is the ride position while descending.  A shorter stem would probably make a big difference in the Single Track and probably wouldn't notice it on gravel but I won't get that far when I try a new set of bars that are under the Christmas Tree at the moment.

Back on Sandford Road, Rick took a picture of me.  I was pretty warm, in fact sweating with a thermal, long sleeved cycling shirt and short sleeved cycling jersey over all that and then my NEMBA TA jacket over that!  I rode with the lobsters and brought the head light along just in case but it was unnecessary.  Even at 4:40 pm there was plenty of light.  Although, on the ride home I did turn on the light because I was riding on the road and wanted to be seen by cars.

On my ride two weeks ago at Huntington, the release tab on the Edge mount broke off taking the device out of the mount so I put a bungee cord around it for today's ride, which was unnecessary.  There is a catch on the locking mechanism that was still intact that I noticed when I mounted it earlier but kept the bungee on for good measure.  Getting it off was another story.  I needed a small flat head screw driver to release it.  I am getting tired of replacing these mounts every time this little tab breaks.  I am going to see if I glue something on to the release or tie some fishing line onto it so that it could be pulled down and release the unit.

Don't be deceived by the 'Goose 29er

I think it's a good beginner bike,

with the proper upgrades it's a great trail bike..I've rode mine plenty hard..

Anon 9:07 pm

Disclaimer:  Originally this post was a review of the Mongoose Deception but how can it be called a review if I have never owned one or even ridden one? As one commenter recently pointed out, you were right and I am sorry I deleted your comment.  I think what I was trying to do with my original post was to show my readers that 29ers have finally hit the mass produced, low quality bike manufacturing line sold by the big box retailer.  Posted here are merely my observations of a bike that I saw in a bike rack at the office one day and it surprised me to see that 29ers finally (in 2009) hit that point.  You can also now get a Fixie at the big box retailer but that is a different story.   

Read the comments to this post if you want a real review of the bike.

If you have one, share your experiences!

Mongoose was a great brand of bikes but in today's market, the decision to build and sell cheap quality bikes in order to diversify your product line in order to meet all market demands at the same time sacrificing quality and craftsmanship is a shame.  If that makes me a Bike Snob, so be it, but one has to stick to his principles and my feeling is that your reputation as a bike manufacturer is relies solely on the quality of your product.  No amount of Red Bull Sensationalism and an experienced rider, in my opinion, is going to help sell an inferior product.

Also, just so that you know, I have never purchased one of these bikes, nor do I plan to.  This post is merely based on observations and correlation of facts accessible through the interwebs.  Should I ever come into possession of one of these bikes, I would thoroughly and rigorously test it on rail trails, bikes paths and commutes.  For the individual wanting to get into the sport as cheaply as possible, and drink the 29er kool aid along the way,  I would not recommend this bike.  Buyer Beware!

Take my advice, spend a little extra money at a local bike shop and start building that relationship with them so that over time you get outstanding service and a shop that is going to take care of you.  The big box retailer will refund your money or, from what I hear, give you another bike.  Supporting your local bike shop (LBS) supports your local economy.

Original Post:

It appears the 29er has finally hit critical mass in popularity if it's now being sold in a big box store as seen by this very low end entrant to the 29er family, the Mongoose Deception 29.  The naming of this bike is cliche because looks can be deceptive.

Basically, for a fraction of the price you can get all the features of a real 29er!  That's great isn't?  Or is it?  Reviews that I have read about the bike, range from great to as soon as I started riding this POS it broke. Of course it would be a great bike for commuting or riding bike paths or rail trails but many folks on that review site mention how they have had to replace parts.  Even if you purchased the cheapest bike at an LBS you would not be replacing parts right out of the gate, in my experience of buying bikes from bike shops.

There is an interesting thread on MTBR that might be worth reading, if you haven't already.  While the 29er riders at MTBR may sound elitist they do know their stuff.  All you folks thinking you are getting over on those that spend more money on their bikes, you may be saving some money in the near term but later down the road, if you ride this thing on trails, you will be wishing you went to your Local Bike Shop and spent a little more money.  I am always looking for a bargain, but buyer beware, don't be deceived by the Mongoose Deception!

Men's Health mentioned an earlier version of the Mongoose 29er, the Impasse (who comes up with these names?) that states:

It’s got no suspension, and the components won’t last long. (Grip shifters? Really?) But the Mongoose Impasse is a blast on rolling trail thanks to those meaty 29-inch wheels. Oh, yeah — and it only costs $199. Truth is, a worthwhile mountain bike with any suspension starts at $2,000, so if you’re just looking to dip your toes in the sport or try the 29er experience on the cheap, you can’t go wrong with the Walmart special.

UPDATE: The Impasse has since sold out at Walmart, and has been replaced by the Mongoose Deception, also a $199 29er.

While I would disagree with the statement that any worthwhile mountain bike with suspension starts at $2,000 because I think it's more like $1000, Men's Health is saying that if you really want a good mountain bike, you will need to drop anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000, but if you want a sniff, head on down to the nearest big box store and get yourself a 'Goose!  Ahonk!

Actually, the name is fitting, just like the Impasse, any one purchasing this bike is automatically being deceived that they are getting 29er, especially if you read the description by a famous big box store not known for selling quality biking merchandise:

The Men's All-Terrain Bike Mongoose Deception model features 29" wheels that roll over rocks, stumps and roots easier than standard-size wheels. That means more fun and less wipeouts. With details you expect such as disc brakes, front suspension and a tough, alloy frame, the Men's All-Terrain Bike by Mongoose delivers a great riding experience, for less.

More fun and less wipeouts?  Is that meant to mean because you roll over things better with the bigger wheels you are less likely go OTB?  Regardless of the wheel size, it's the skills not the bike that will keep you safe.

Most of the bikes made to look like they are made for riding on trails that I have seen sold at these stores all have disclaimers warning the new owner that the bike is not made for off road use.  And then there is the fact that they are calling it an All-Terrain Bike and not a Mountain Bike.  Is this the distinction for a bike made to be ridden on single track (e.g. Mountain Bike) and one that you can ride on trails as long as they are not really technical and challenging?  Call it what you will but anyone walking into the store will think they are buying a Mountain Bike.

The other funny thing is that there is no mention of this bike on the Mongoose Website.  I couldn't find it listed in Canada either but the frame is very similar to the 2010 Tyax Sport.  Is there a website for sub par bikes of questionable manufacture?  Or does the company not want to be associated with this bike, because it's not a Mountain Bike in the purest sense of the word, but they still tout their commuter bikes on the website.  No, I think the answer is, and I forget where I heard this, but bikes of this quality are made exclusively to be sold in the low end market for the big box stores.  Similarly, another brand that recently went under, Iron Horse, I have heard will be back exclusively at Costco.  

Nice welds, not!

The parts spec is especially deceptive:

Men's All-Terrain Bike Mongoose Deception Model (29"):

Riding Style: All-terrain

Frame Material: Alloy 6061

Handlebars: Alloy Riser bars

Gearing: 21 speed

Seat: MTB saddle

Brakes: Lee Chi DSK-400 disc brakes

Brake Levers: Lee Chi levers with alloy lever

Wheels/Tires: 29" x 2.1" tires with 36H wheels

Rims: alloy

Pedals: alloy VP pedal

Assembly required

Weight: 38 lbs.

The weight of this bike is unbelievable!  Almost 40 lbs.  While 6061 aluminum is cheaper than 7005 it is a bit softer, and that's a plus. Still, Men's Health doesn't feel that the stock componentry would last very long.

I have never seen a stem reversed on a mountain bike before, granted the rider of this bike doesn't strike me as someone who is planning to ride it off road.  This is being used as a commuter.

There is a good thread on MTBR written by a new owner of one of these bikes and how the fork already failed him.  This bike doesn't sound like it could handle being ridden too hard but if you were looking for something for rail trails, dirt roads, or maybe even fire roads and didn't have a lot of coin, this might do the trick.  I would not recommend this bike if you were looking for a cheaper entry point into the 29er riding world because by the time you finish upgrading all the parts that would be broken you might as well buy something a little better and not from big box shop.

Riding the Frosty Whore

Charlie (aka CB2) mentioned in a recent post that his riding buddies call riding in frosty conditions, Whore Frost, well the whores were certainly frosty at Collis P Huntington State Park today.  Frost heaves and icy conditions were definitely in abundance.  The snow from the night before has all but melted making some rocky surfaces wet and others a little slick.  Still, temperatures in the upper 30s, maybe it even hit 40, made for really nice riding.  As luck would have it, the opportunity to take the Qball down to Trumbull wasn't in the cards today so I opted for the Dillinger instead of doing a repeat and it was a good choice.

I rode in the Big Burn, hitting all the big rollers and spending a little more time in there than I wanted while looking for a trail that I didn't find, again, and then it was over to the single track that heads to north section of the park.  Last week I went south towards the Vomits but on Saturday I turned north for the single track that makes a real nice DH run.  By this time I took off my thermal layer which was just too hot.  Coming down that DH run I cooled off and it got chilly but the long climb back up changed all that.  I headed up the lollipop trail and happened notice that it looked like someone tried to drive a truck up the trail.  Seemed kind of crazy.

Heading back towards the ponds I took a trail that I haven't ridden in at least 5 years.  Nice technical climb that ends up in some hike-a-bike both on the final ascent and the initial descent but pops you out onto the red trail after a little bridge.  From there I headed up the red trail and came cross two guys riding GTs trying to be clandestine at the start of the Chimney Trail but who are you fooling?  Everyone knows the trail is there, even the Land Manager.  I rode over the to the Blue Trail that goes to South Pond and had great time flying down that single track.  Noticed that someone re-armored the lower section of the trail.  From there, I hit the single track off the white trail and finished the ride with a final loop on the red trail.

Frozen Whore Frost Mud

A Penny for your thoughts?

Paid a visit to the Bicycle Goodie Shop in Bethel Friday night to see what they have for cables because over Christmas I am going to change the bars on the Qball, I think Santa will be making a stop in Markham, ON and putting some Fme bars under the tree this year.

photo credit:  Misfit Psycles Liesnshite Blog

Upon entering the store they had a modern day Penny Farthing, sort of.  Turns out it is a Corker Wheelman, which is basically free wheeled uni with a training wheel.  It has 36 inch wheel, that according to the owner runs around $70 for the tire and $30 for tube!

It has both a front and rear brake and a freewheeled hub up front.  I test rode it around the parking lot and found that the stem was too small for me.  The tops of my legs kept hitting the underside of the bars and forget toe overlap, try the legs!  Turning the wheel too much to other side resulted in considerable leg rub.