would this be a good winter bike
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
would this be a good winter bike
these are pretty cheap but would they be a good wnter bike for lite snow,sush,salt etc...so not to ruin my good bike ?
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
#2
Mechanic/Tourist
There are 92 reviews by people who actually bought and rode the bike. Might be helpful to check those out. If you get it I would suggest making sure the hubs are adjusted and bearings well greased. A piece of inner tube over the lower part of the headset can do much to protect those bearings.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
There are 92 reviews by people who actually bought and rode the bike. Might be helpful to check those out. If you get it I would suggest making sure the hubs are adjusted and bearings well greased. A piece of inner tube over the lower part of the headset can do much to protect those bearings.
Would I need to chg the chain too
#4
Allez means go.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Two Rivers, WI
Posts: 892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Ooh...back down to $249. They were listed at $200 or maybe even less for short time earlier this year but then went back up to $299. If you read through the reviews, you'll find a lot of notes about quality issues - bent forks, bad welds, etc. I'm sure it's hit and miss but at a $249 sales price, you can't expect great quality control. There are some complaints about the brakes as well. I have also read that the tires themselves are extremely heavy.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ooh...back down to $249. They were listed at $200 or maybe even less for short time earlier this year but then went back up to $299. If you read through the reviews, you'll find a lot of notes about quality issues - bent forks, bad welds, etc. I'm sure it's hit and miss but at a $249 sales price, you can't expect great quality control. There are some complaints about the brakes as well. I have also read that the tires themselves are extremely heavy.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
Also would I need to chg the chain ?
#6
Allez means go.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Two Rivers, WI
Posts: 892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Department store bikes usually use freewheels. A replacement megarange freewheel comes with a 34 tooth cog. I don't know what this one is, but it's probably not much different. It's hard to say if you'll need a longer chain...depends how slack this one is.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If its a freewheel can I remove it w/o special tools ?
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
They are cheap for a reason. I'm very reluctant to recommend ANY bike sold by Walmart, Target, or similar mass market retailers. The bikes are low quality and are generally assembled by unskilled and unknowing employees. You should do much better on CraigsList. As to size, these seem to come in two sizes, "mens" and "boys". Will it fit you? Who knows.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: midwest
Posts: 2,528
Bikes: 2018 Roubaix Expert Di2, 2016 Diverge Expert X1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 482 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
105 Posts
To answer your question in the topic I would say no. For a winter bike I would put a lot of weight on quality - I wouldn't want to get stranded. I think this would strand you.
If you can afford somewhat more, look along the lines of Surly or other quality brands:
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/pugsley_2015/bike_specs
If you can afford somewhat more, look along the lines of Surly or other quality brands:
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/pugsley_2015/bike_specs
#11
Senior Member
Right in between wal mart and surley is Bikes direct.
Save Up To 60% Off Fat Bikes and Fat Mountain Bicycles from bikesdirect.com FREE Ship 48 States
Save Up To 60% Off Fat Bikes and Fat Mountain Bicycles from bikesdirect.com FREE Ship 48 States
#12
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
If you're thinking about riding in snow, you'll want to read some of the threads in the winter commuting forum. At $250, I'd buy an old school rigid mtb from Craigslist. That way you'll end up with a quality bike. Old school mountain bikes tend to go cheap and they make ace commuters.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
these are pretty cheap but would they be a good wnter bike for lite snow,sush,salt etc...so not to ruin my good bike ?
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: England, currently dividing my time between university in Guildford and home just outside Reading
Posts: 1,921
Bikes: Too many to list here!
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
2 Posts
At that price point I'd imagine so, if you wanted a coaster brake bike with gears you'd need an internally-geared hub with a coaster brake, and that's not the kind of thing really cheap bikes would be equipped with. It certainly doesn't look like it has one in the photo on the site.
I'd also point out that the coaster brake version hasn't got a front brake, meaning it's not really safe to ride at any serious speed.
I'd also point out that the coaster brake version hasn't got a front brake, meaning it's not really safe to ride at any serious speed.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Iowa USA
Posts: 58
Bikes: Bianchi Campe D'Italian 84, Trek custom by me touring bike- 1986. Plus another 8/9 in my collection
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Ooh...back down to $249. They were listed at $200 or maybe even less for short time earlier this year but then went back up to $299. If you read through the reviews, you'll find a lot of notes about quality issues - bent forks, bad welds, etc. I'm sure it's hit and miss but at a $249 sales price, you can't expect great quality control. There are some complaints about the brakes as well. I have also read that the tires themselves are extremely heavy.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
So...if you're willing to take those risks, great. Just be prepared. It's a $250 bike for a reason.
Dolomites were 225 when the first containers arrived went from 350 to 299 no they are $250. at Walmart. The Beasts and massif were $199. I have all of them. Fun project bikes.Not a risky bike to get.
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you think 7 speeds is enough for the Dolomite in the snow or would I need 8 ??
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Iowa USA
Posts: 58
Bikes: Bianchi Campe D'Italian 84, Trek custom by me touring bike- 1986. Plus another 8/9 in my collection
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
The $250 bike is heavy. It will go thru snow however as long as the terrain is flat. It comes with a 7 speed . You could change the cassette to a Mega geared one and get a taller gear. KIND of a silly question on speeds.
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 417
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 41 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
well i guess i wasnt clear...im looking at the multi speed Dolomite bike NOT the single speed...and not sure what "KIND of silly question on speeds" means either...my WHOLE question is/was changing the rear FREEWHEEL to add on more larger gear because I feel I would need it EVEN on flat rides IN THE SNOW....So I wanted to know IF I could just do a swap of the actual freewheel to a megarange one OR if I have to chg shifters,rear deraulier etc,,,,
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 1,258
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It's running a Shimano Tourney RD which means it can take up to a 34T cog. You could swap in a 13-34 7-speed and the only thing you may need to change is the chain (though you're only adding 1.5" so stock may be sloppy enough to handle it). It's a HEAVY bike (about 50 lbs ready to ride) so depending on where you're going to ride, you might be better off putting on a smaller chainring than the stock 36 and lowering the entire gear range.
#22
Si Senior
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Posts: 2,669
Bikes: Too Numerous (not)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
8 Posts
I commute all winter long but would likely never consider one of those super fat tire bikes for actual commuting use. For cleared (plowed) roads you don't need those tires, and for pristine snow (even deep stuff) you're better off with skinny normal tires to slice through. Maybe once a year I encounter heavy, unplowed, rutted conditions where that kind of tire "might" be beneficial. The rest of the winter you'd be lugging huge heavy tires around needlessly (in my humble and not totally informed opinion).
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 269
Bikes: '74 Schwinn Le Tour, Fuji Newest 2.0, Fausto Coppi Torino,Bridgestone RB-2, CB-1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
these are pretty cheap but would they be a good wnter bike for lite snow,sush,salt etc...so not to ruin my good bike ?
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
Also would the size be correct for a 5'8" 140 pound guy ?
Mongoose Dolomite 26" Men's Bike - Walmart.com
If you can return it in 30 days for a full refund you can try it and let us know. The Specialized Fat Boy I rode last week was a lot of fun but it sells for $2600. It was surprisingly easy to pedal.
#24
Lost at sea...
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Western PA
Posts: 935
Bikes: Schwinn Paramount (match), Trek 520, random bits and pieces...
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I'm not anti Walmart/Target bikes... they actually make some decent bikes with a little tuning, albeit they are one-size-fits-all and that one size doesn't fit most. My brother bought a Schwinn Trailway a few years ago from Target and it has actually held up reasonably well. The only failure, to date, was the non-cartridge bottom bracket which was installed incorrectly and had a few grams of loose metal mixed into the grease. I replaced that and it has served him well with only normal wear and tear for maybe five years now. Most of the parts are interchangeable with higher end replacements... so the real down side, is the frame only coming in one size.
That said, I'd avoid the Dolomite based on the reviews I've read. It doesn't seem to be a well thought out frame and as one reviewer put it, it's more of a beach-cruiser with fat tires than an actual fat bike. Consider it a novelty bike that isn't made for real cyclists rather than as a cheap bike with cheap components. I'd look elsewhere for a fatbike. What about Nashbar or BD, are they selling them yet?
That said, I'd avoid the Dolomite based on the reviews I've read. It doesn't seem to be a well thought out frame and as one reviewer put it, it's more of a beach-cruiser with fat tires than an actual fat bike. Consider it a novelty bike that isn't made for real cyclists rather than as a cheap bike with cheap components. I'd look elsewhere for a fatbike. What about Nashbar or BD, are they selling them yet?
#25
Mostly harmless ™
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Novi Sad
Posts: 4,430
Bikes: Heavy, with friction shifters
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1107 Post(s)
Liked 216 Times
in
130 Posts
If roads are plowed and you don't have big hills, get a cheap 2nd hand no suspension MTB.
If the roads are plowed but you have hills - get a rigid MTB with disc brakes.
6 x 3 speeds is enough to get you up most hills. 7 speed "megarange" with even a 28 tooth small chainring up front (ie a "trekking" crank, not 22 tooth MTB one) will be fine with 26" wheels.
If the roads are plowed but you have hills - get a rigid MTB with disc brakes.
6 x 3 speeds is enough to get you up most hills. 7 speed "megarange" with even a 28 tooth small chainring up front (ie a "trekking" crank, not 22 tooth MTB one) will be fine with 26" wheels.