Mountain Biking - Upgrade on 26" Men's Mongoose Blackcomb

Here is the bike I have:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4698935

The red bike is the same as this gray one, it's just a newer version with very minor changes: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8399258

I would like to upgrade it however I do not even know where to start. What would be some good options for me? I already raised the handlebars a bit and got a better seat. What can I mod on this bike? Perhaps better shocks?

New bike.

Save your money.

Hmm.

I'd say:

-Fork
-Shock
-Wheels
-Drivetrain
-Pedals
-Handlebars
-Seatpost
-Frame


In that order. Which is to say that unfortunately you would be better off buying a brand new bike than pouring money into this one. The problem with those walmart (or an department store) rigs is that they're built to look like mountain bikes, without actually functioning as such. None of the components are particularly durable, nor do they function well even when they are not broken. I've spent enough time fixing friend's walmart bikes, and working in a local coop doing the same, that I should know.

If you ride with any regularity, and especially if you actualy mountain bike (this is a mountain biking forum after all) I strongly suggest heading to a local shop and buying whatever they have that suits your budget.

A Cane Creek Double Barrel shock,RS Lyric fork,and a set of I9 wheels would make that bike an amazing ride.

Looks just like a Giant ATX - - I'd say it's a downhill weapon!

http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/46/0003867546969_500X500.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Bookstore/1547/giantATXDS.gif

A Fox 40 on the front and a DHX shock and you'll be good to go.

You people are all rediculous. Be serious!



BTW Doug...if you can pry yourself away from your work for a moment...could you please P-shop a 40 on that 'Goose? I'd love to see that.

Thanks for those of you that offered some good advice. Just because a bike isn't 5 pounds and costs $2,000 doesn't mean it's not good. I've been riding my Blackcomb for over 2 years now and I would give it 10/10. Granted, I have not ridden on $2k bikes so I'm can't compare it but I'm very happy with this bike.

I just thought that I would upgrade some parts on it to make it even better.

Thanks for the advice so far, I'll look into some of the products that were mentioned.

Listen here you little troll (in the nicest way possible), ride it until it melts and then buy a new bike. $200 on craigslist or ebay will go a long way.

http://www.kimgrahamstudios.com/images/troll-15.jpg
http://www.opticstalk.com/uploads/3940/Troll.jpg
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/images/troll.jpg
http://www.ibiblio.org/hhalpin/tutorials/socweb/troll.jpg
http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/NON-SOGA/NON_SOGA_Female_Troll.jpg
http://www.patenthawk.com/blog_images/troll.jpg

I was just pulling your leg, there, Hulk. Anyone who knows me would know that I would be the last to cast stones at a 'Goose; since mine, when all was said and done had:

LX rear hub/Rhynolite rim
STX-RC Megarange cassette
STX-RC rear derailleur
Bonttrager Crowbar riser bar
Kore Lite3 stem
SRAM X-Ray gripshifters
Kenda Kinetics 2.35s
Rockshox Judy XLC dual-crown fork
Fox Alps5 rear shock . . .

and I flogged it mercilessly and repeatedly and it never failed on me. I just outgrew its capabilities.