Bicycle quality Q and recommendation request

About 6 months ago I bought my son a bicycle. 18 speed, 26", it said
Mongoose on the side. Since then, the brake level handles on the handlebars
have started to split apart, making the cable and handles loose. The brake
assemblies on the rear wheel has broken and I can see where the one on the
front will soon break, leaving the bike with no breaks unless I find
replacement parts. The pedal crank is loose, about 3/8" back and forth play
in it. I looked at it and realized that the bearing cup on one side was
pressed too far in (I thought for sure they would screw in, but nooo...they
appear to be pressed in). I'll take a pic of it so you can see what I can
mean. I'm tempted to throw the thing in the trash and start over, I have
little confidence in the thing.

Anyone have any experience with these "mongoose" bicycles, and do you have
any recommendations for a good quality bike? I'm looking for one for my
son, adult size, and two for my daughters, ages 9 and 11.

Ook wrote:
About 6 months ago I bought my son a bicycle. 18 speed, 26", it said
Mongoose on the side. Since then, the brake level handles on the handlebars
have started to split apart, making the cable and handles loose. The brake
assemblies on the rear wheel has broken and I can see where the one on the
front will soon break, leaving the bike with no breaks unless I find
replacement parts. The pedal crank is loose, about 3/8" back and forth play
in it. I looked at it and realized that the bearing cup on one side was
pressed too far in (I thought for sure they would screw in, but nooo...they
appear to be pressed in). I'll take a pic of it so you can see what I can
mean. I'm tempted to throw the thing in the trash and start over, I have
little confidence in the thing.

Anyone have any experience with these "mongoose" bicycles,

Sounds like a Walgoose. Did you buy it in a bike shop or Walmart?

and do you have
any recommendations for a good quality bike?

Go to a bike shop rather than a department store.

Greg
--
The ticket******* Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html

"G.T." wrote in message
...
Ook wrote:
About 6 months ago I bought my son a bicycle. 18 speed, 26", it said
Mongoose on the side. Since then, the brake level handles on the
handlebars have started to split apart, making the cable and handles
loose. The brake assemblies on the rear wheel has broken and I can see
where the one on the front will soon break, leaving the bike with no
breaks unless I find replacement parts. The pedal crank is loose, about
3/8" back and forth play in it. I looked at it and realized that the
bearing cup on one side was pressed too far in (I thought for sure they
would screw in, but nooo...they appear to be pressed in). I'll take a pic
of it so you can see what I can mean. I'm tempted to throw the thing in
the trash and start over, I have little confidence in the thing.

Anyone have any experience with these "mongoose" bicycles,

Sounds like a Walgoose. Did you buy it in a bike shop or Walmart?

and do you have any recommendations for a good quality bike?

Go to a bike shop rather than a department store.

Greg

I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?

On Sat, 10 Mar 2007 09:08:54 -0800, Ook Ook Don't send me any freakin'
spam at zootal dot com delete the Don't send me any freakin' "spam"
wrote:


"G.T." wrote in message
...
Ook wrote:
About 6 months ago I bought my son a bicycle. 18 speed, 26", it said
Mongoose on the side. Since then, the brake level handles on the
handlebars have started to split apart, making the cable and handles
loose. The brake assemblies on the rear wheel has broken and I can see
where the one on the front will soon break, leaving the bike with no
breaks unless I find replacement parts. The pedal crank is loose, about
3/8" back and forth play in it. I looked at it and realized that the
bearing cup on one side was pressed too far in (I thought for sure they
would screw in, but nooo...they appear to be pressed in). I'll take a
pic
of it so you can see what I can mean. I'm tempted to throw the thing in
the trash and start over, I have little confidence in the thing.

Anyone have any experience with these "mongoose" bicycles,

Sounds like a Walgoose. Did you buy it in a bike shop or Walmart?

and do you have any recommendations for a good quality bike?

Go to a bike shop rather than a department store.

Greg

I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?



What part of planet earth do you live in?
--
Slack

I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?



What part of planet earth do you live in?
--
Slack

I guess that might help LOL. I live in Lebanon Oregon. I'm in Portland,
Oregon, during the week, north east part of town - Glisan and 82nd. I drive
through Salem and Albany several times a week. I'm also in Vancouver
Washington several times a week.

Ook wrote:
I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?


What part of planet earth do you live in?
--
Slack

I guess that might help LOL. I live in Lebanon Oregon. I'm in Portland,
Oregon, during the week, north east part of town - Glisan and 82nd. I drive
through Salem and Albany several times a week. I'm also in Vancouver
Washington several times a week.



There are plenty of shops in Portland. I think what you really need to
understand here is that a fairly decent bike is going to cost a bit more
than the $98 you spent at Wally World. In fact, probably 5 times that
amount for the lowest end of the fair bikes.


--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ook" Ook Don't send me any freakin' spam at zootal dot com delete the
Don't send me any freakin' spam wrote in message
...


I live in Lebanon Oregon.

nuff said

Ook wrote:
"Ride-A-Lot" wrote in message
m...
Ook wrote:
I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?


What part of planet earth do you live in?
--
Slack
I guess that might help LOL. I live in Lebanon Oregon. I'm in Portland,
Oregon, during the week, north east part of town - Glisan and 82nd. I
drive through Salem and Albany several times a week. I'm also in
Vancouver Washington several times a week.
There are plenty of shops in Portland. I think what you really need to
understand here is that a fairly decent bike is going to cost a bit more
than the $98 you spent at Wally World. In fact, probably 5 times that
amount for the lowest end of the fair bikes.


I'm not opposed to paying good money for a good bicycle. Any brands you
would recommend? Is Schwinn any good?



A lot depends on the price range. I am partial to Titus, Ventana, and
Yeti. However, you'll pay a LOT of money for those. If you google this
newsgroup, you'll see the question has been asked before. Most of the
time the answer is Specialized Hardrock for a base, cost effective
starter rig.


--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Ride-A-Lot" wrote in message
m...
Ook wrote:
I saw the "mongoose" bikes at both Wal-Mart and Costco. Any bike shop
recommendations?


What part of planet earth do you live in?
--
Slack

I guess that might help LOL. I live in Lebanon Oregon. I'm in Portland,
Oregon, during the week, north east part of town - Glisan and 82nd. I
drive through Salem and Albany several times a week. I'm also in
Vancouver Washington several times a week.

There are plenty of shops in Portland. I think what you really need to
understand here is that a fairly decent bike is going to cost a bit more
than the $98 you spent at Wally World. In fact, probably 5 times that
amount for the lowest end of the fair bikes.


I'm not opposed to paying good money for a good bicycle. Any brands you
would recommend? Is Schwinn any good?

Ride-A-Lot wrote:
Most of the
time the answer is Specialized Hardrock for a base, cost effective
starter rig.


That says it all. I've had many friends buy Hardrocks over the last 20
years for their first mtn bikes. OTOH, I haven't looked at them in over
5 years so things may have changed.

Greg

--
The ticket******* Tax Tracker:
http://www.ticketmastersucks.org/tracker.html