Hey guys,
So I am new to Mountain biking, since I use to prefer Road biking. Well I had a spare road bike at my house and my buddy wanted to join in on road biking since he is a mountain bike guy. Which was perfect because I needed a bike for school this semester so he bought me a brand new bike and I traded him my old road bike for the new mountain bike.
It is a: Mongoose Snare. I really like it and would like to start upgrading the bike. What would you suggest I upgrade first on the bike?

I'm not going to bash your mongoose.. it actually looks like a good school campus knockaround bike.. I'd hate to hear the noise coming from that trainer though!

haha yeah i figured the mongoose would get a beating but i don't care haha. What components should I upgrade first?

Assuming you're not a fuzzy little troll...


If you really like the bike, why would you "like to start upgrading the bike"? If you like it, ride it until it breaks. Replace what's broken with an entry level (Alivio) component and ride some more.


Save your money, man. When the "bug" truly bites you and you get deep into mountain biking......take that saved money and go to your local bike shop and buy a mountain bike that you don't get at a department store.

It really is an alright first MTB...but don't put any money into it.

Let's take your 2007 Fugi Team from your profile (spelled Fuji BTW)


Replace it with say a GMC Wal-Mart bike:


Now I ask you...would you upgrade anything on the GMC just for fun to make it more "performance oriented"...or would you just ride it until you could afford your Fuji Team?




Don't upgrade crap just to upgrade crap. Ride it til it breaks...then buy a new "decent" ride. Something you can do if you have "upgrade'itis"...get yourself a good frame. Slowly and meticulously build a good bike from the ground up. Put your upgrade money into building a good bike.

well put chelboed. O and I am riding it until it breaks like today when the chain broke.

Very true and thanks for pointing that out I dont know how I could spell it wrong hahha

Chain broke...now don't go out and buy a new chain. See if it's an 8 or 9 speed chain and just spend $3 on a quick link. Viola! Fixed...now you have the other $15 that you'd have spent on a new chain to spend on your lovely new project bike.

What's the guy in the third picture doing?

eating some food

Hitting the Pipe!

That has got to be one of the smartest and to the correct point, reply's, I have ever seen on here. Well stated!

It really is true and I already started shopping around. Do you guys have any good recommended sites for MTBs? I am looking to build my own custom bike since I dont really need a mountain bike right now.

I don't quite understand. You don't need a mtb but you want good sites for mtbs? But you are building a bike. What kind if you don't need a mountain bike?

i have a good quality road bike and have a cheap mountain bike for school, which this bike is driving me nuts. I want to build up a new nice good quality MTB through the winter.

dude in the third picture looks like he is applying some Visene before his mom comes over to see new bike...

Ahhh got it!

Hahahahahahahahaa
Yeah man

Within six days you went from liking it (Mongoose) to wanting to build another....Enjoy what you have and if you really take a shining to off road I would suggest upgrading then.

Yeah because I have been riding everyday all different trails and its great. I love having to retune everything after each ride.

if it is a brand new never ridden bike...
your going to get cable stretch and pad wear and what not...
I would guess that is normal... (I've never had a new bike so I have no experience)

The biggest complaint I have with the bike is the brakes. They get hung out all the time but I feel like I have that problem fixed.....I hope we will see when I bike to work tomorrow

are you selling it on the austin craigslist?

no hahaha

I would agree with you!