The Frankengoose
I recently inherited my grand daughter’s wrecked Mongoose 21 speed Walmart full suspension ledge 2.1 MTB … it came complete with the rear derailleur wrapped into the mangled spokes after a Walmart misadjusted derailleur overshift, and a blown rear tire. The dropout and hanger were also bent, so I thought, screw it, take it to the dump and be rid of it. (That model bike was on sale at Walmart for $57, so that tells you all you need to know about the quality of the thing) So I stripped it down for an easy fit into the scrap metal dumpster, but when I looked at the frame, it was actually kinda nice; aluminum and nice enough for a project bike (like I needed another bike!). So, I kept the frame after cold setting the dropout and hanger by eye, and tossed everything else, lightly sanded and repainted my future clunker with army green flat camo paint and some new decals for the bike’s new role as my neighborhood beer cruiser. I decided to try a single speed conversion and go with replacement parts from my spare parts bin and some eBay finds. Wheel master QR wheels from eBay with double wall rims, cream colored Fat Frank tires, a used eBay crankset, a headset and sealed bearing bottom bracket to replace the never been greased near frozen stock crapola setups, some barefoot friendly pedals, and we are getting somewhere. Swapped out the rear shock with a better one, a DNM 165x35mm. 38 chainring x 18 single speed rear originally planned for gearing, but after pondering my hilly neighborhood, I opted for a 3 speed rear setup with a few more cogs and spacers on the freehub body.. 12, 16, 18t spaced to the outside end of the hub, with a 38t chain ring, and an oldie but goodie rebuilt 1972 vintage Campagnolo NR derailleur to handle the short throw over 3 cogs. replaced one travel adjustment screw with a longer one so I could get the inside limit set on the derailleur for only 3 cogs. An inexpensive handlebar mounted friction type thumb shifter by Falcon handles the shifting job nicely. A massive vintage brass squeeze bulb horn from
Garret Wade mounted on the handlebar adds some neighborhood panache. A parts bin alloy seat post and a well used Selle Royal Respiro Moderate saddle with a repaired hole in the seat cover, and an
Origin 8 Pro Fit ATB 90mm quill type stem that accepts a 31.8mm bar completed the cockpit.
It’s not going to be fast, but for fun hops around the back streets and to the beer store, it will be fine. Below is a pre-crash image, and then what it looks like now.
