Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

Dawes MTA or Mongoose Cachet

Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Dawes MTA or Mongoose Cachet

Old 02-04-11, 06:00 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Dawes MTA or Mongoose Cachet

I have quite a bit of experience with bikes, but I'm old school. I rode BMX's back in the 80s and mountain bikes in College (I'm in my 30s now).

I'm back in grad school and broke, but I need a bike for a 15 min commute from the T to my school. Something light enough to haul onto the bus, but quick enough to outrun thugs who think I'm too geeky to be on a bike.

The two bikes I'm looking at are the Dawes MTA and the Mongoose Cachet (yes, I know it's a Walmart bike).

Any suggestions for around the $150 mark?

Thanks.

Jacob
pastoryusuk is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 06:11 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 74
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Buy used off craigslist if possible. the dawes mta is darn heavy...i think its made of hi-ten steal
Paultso is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 06:48 PM
  #3  
Your cog is slipping.
 
Scrodzilla's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 26,054
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 640 Post(s)
Liked 100 Times in 58 Posts
You're in Boston? Good luck if you're looking on craigslist. Usually just a bunch of crap or stuff that's way overpriced.

Of those two bikes, the MTA is the better choice. Frame is cro-mo, not hi-ten. For around 150 bones, you won't find much else.
Scrodzilla is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 07:13 PM
  #4  
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1330 Post(s)
Liked 760 Times in 431 Posts
If you're talking about the Dawes MTA being sold on the bikeisland eBay store, the price is $150, but shipping is an additional $50.

https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BICYCLE-TRAC...item588c30be7d

These bikes are really junky with terrible brakes and cheap cranks, etc. For about $80 bucks more including shipping, you can get something much better from bikesdirect.
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is online now  
Old 02-04-11, 08:30 PM
  #5  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ah thanks
I found one 56cm MTA for $168 shipped.
Sadly $150 is on the high end for me. Anything more and I have to beg my wife... lol.
pastoryusuk is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 08:37 PM
  #6  
Veteran Racer
 
TejanoTrackie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757

Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels

Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1330 Post(s)
Liked 760 Times in 431 Posts
Originally Posted by pastoryusuk
ah thanks
I found one 56cm MTA for $168 shipped.
Sadly $150 is on the high end for me. Anything more and I have to beg my wife... lol.
This one? https://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ROAD-BICYCLE...item1e6164eb23
__________________
What, Me Worry? - Alfred E. Neuman

Originally Posted by Dcv
I'd like to think i have as much money as brains.
I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel keeps getting longer - me
TejanoTrackie is online now  
Old 02-04-11, 08:43 PM
  #7  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
yup, shoot, my find is out
pastoryusuk is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 08:44 PM
  #8  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
it's a tiny bit too big for me though. I'm 5'9.5" but with short legs (30" inseam), and I'm trying to have kids...
pastoryusuk is offline  
Old 02-04-11, 08:52 PM
  #9  
Ride heavy metal.
 
Maddox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Teenage Wasteland, USA
Posts: 1,633

Bikes: '74 Raleigh LTD-3, '76 Motobecane Grand Jubile, '83 Fuji TSIII (customized commuter), '10 Mercier Kilo WT (fixed obsession), '83 Bianchi Alloro, '92 Bridgestone MB-1 (project), '83 Specialized Expedition (project), '79 Peugeot UO-8 (sold)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Whatever you do, don't get the Mongoose, please. Don't support WalMart invading every market and ruining it.

If you're really looking for a bike and truly strapped for cash, I'd recommend asking for help in C&V - there are a bunch of Boston-area guys who could probably aid you in finding a working, reliable old 10-speed. Once you have it, ride it. Then, when you have some spare cash maybe swap out the rear wheel for a flip flop hub, so you could ride SS or fixed.

Ultimately, it will be more cost effective and (I'd argue) a much better experience. Old bikes are raaaaaaad, and you can get much more bang for your buck.
Maddox is offline  
Old 02-05-11, 04:23 PM
  #10  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Arlington, MA
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks for the tips.
There sure are alot of documentaries out on Walmart nowadays too
pastoryusuk is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
robinkd2029
Commuting
16
05-21-14 10:30 PM
GordoTrek
Classic & Vintage
2
04-30-12 07:50 AM
pkpyro
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
7
10-02-11 01:26 PM
guitarguy
Commuting
12
05-13-10 08:58 AM
datlas
Recreational & Family
10
03-19-10 08:52 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.