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Submitted by
jpp001
a Weekend Warrior
from Blue Springs, Mo. USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Landahl Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$570.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Stop Blue Sprin | | Strengths: | Price, Redline Quality, Cro-mo frame, Fun Factor | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to BB7 discs | | Bottom Line: | Coming from a life-long BMX background I wanted something simple, tough and fun. I found all these and more with the Redline Monocog 29er. After 20+ years of BMX racing I was hesitant to enter MT. Biking. I've had a few Mt. bikes over the years but never felt comfortable. The overall frustration of the complex bikes (compared with BMX), gears, as well as unfamiliar bike brands. I was thrilled to stumble across the Redline Monocog 29er, just what I was looking for. It is a relatively lightweight bike, comfortable, SIMPLE and you can't beat the price. The best thing about the bike is that it is a super fun ride. I picked the bike up from my lbs (Big props to Bike Stop), hopped on it and went for a ride. No fuss ~ No muss! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
rowbear314
a Weekend Warrior
from Waco, Texas, United States
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Vortex | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$500.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Steamrolls over obstacles; solid frame; solid feel while riding | | Weaknesses: | Harder to get going on hills from a standing-still start. | | Similar Products Used: | Surly Karate Monkey | | Bike Setup: | All stock | | Bottom Line: | I guess the first thing I noticed about this bike is how lightweight it really is; considering that redline frames have lifetime warranties, I was expecting it to feel like an anvil, but surprisingly, it is lighter than my 26" Colombia Trail Head HT. Can definitely see the likeness to BMX bikes that I had ridden as a kid, and gives me a great workout on the hills. Overall, fantastic bike for the price; can't wait to get out on it again. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doggity
a
from Santa Fe, NM USA
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Any one I ride back from | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$475.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Frame build quality and geometry pretty darn good for the money. Simple, strong, fun bike. | | Weaknesses: | Lot of the small parts are marginal. I notice Redline is slowly improving these. | | Similar Products Used: | '01 Rocky Mountain Blizzard, converted to a SS. | | Bike Setup: | Surly stainless steel chainring, Dual ACS claws freewheels on a Surly 'new' SS flipflop hub. | | Bottom Line: | This is a followup to my review below. As it turned out, the clanking sound mentioned with heavy pedaling was because the cheapo aluminum chainring had ovalized under my Clyesdale weight. Replacing it with a stainless Surly fixed the prob. Conclusion: Replacing the headset, bottom bracket, rear cassette with a flipflop hub (if so inclined, as I was), chainring, saddle, seatpost clamp,and brakes, starts running into some money. These parts were all marginal on my bike, and needed replacing pretty quickly. For this reason, you're probably better off just buying the frame, and building it up RIGHT from the get go. I foolishly sold mine,and started missing it so much that I am now running a Rocky Mtn Blizzard, converted to SS. It's good, but the damn vertical dropouts mean I have to run a tensioner, which is not as optimal as the track ends on the Monocog. Just get the MC frame, build it with good parts, and you'll probably never break it. ONE THING the Rocky Mtn does a LOT better than the Monocog is, taking street corners at high speed. The MC's high bottom bracket makes it just handle like a pig at this. Tight cornering at high speed? Fahgeddaboudit! Everything else, they're pretty close. The Rocky Mtn Blizzard is a highly respected Reynolds 725 frame, and it is a little lighter and livelier. The MC soaks up roughness a bit better. Hard to go wrong...just keep SS'ing, is the main thing. This bike is proof you don't have to spend 2K to have a serious piece of offroad gear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Hislop
a Cross Country Rider
from Boston
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$308.00 | | Purchased At: | Simple Living | | Strengths: | Study steel frame .Great geometery .Handle bar | | Weaknesses: | Seatpost , come loose fequently .Cheap bottom bracket. | | Bike Setup: | Stock redline parts | | Bottom Line: | This is my first 29er. I am 6 1" and have raced all kinds of 26ers HT and FS . There is something about the 29er feel that is a totally new experience .Add the rigid fork , single speed cog and you are in a different groove altogether , it truly beings the fun and challenge back into trail riding .Everyone should have one if they are getting bored with technology that babysits your skills on the trail .
I am currently riding in snow here is Boston , and the bike just refuses to loose traction , even as I enter some scetchy terrain I am thinking "get ready to dismount" wrong !The wheels roll over a lot of stuff that the 26er's would not. It climbs like a goat. I am running motorraptor DNA tires .
If you want value for your money and a total new experience , you should get this bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Byron
a Racer
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Vista | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$420.00 | | Purchased At: | J&P cycle | | Strengths: | Strong, well made frame. Has good handling and smooth ride qualities, perfect fit (for me). Price of course. The stock replacement parts are really inexpensive. | | Weaknesses: | Not a very good fit between the seatpost/frame. Cheap headset. Replace it right away. | | Similar Products Used: | First singlespeed I bought, don't feel a need to buy any other, this one has the right stuff. | | Bike Setup: | I have upgraded it from stock with a rockshox 80mm suspension fork, avid bb7 discs, mavic 318 disc rims and a cane creek s3 headset. | | Bottom Line: | Good steel SS you can upgrade as you go. I have ridden mine for over 2 years and I cannot say a bad thing about it. It is the most ridden bike I own. You could spend alot more cash on a SS, but you will not get more for your hard earned dollar. With upgrades I still have less than 700 in my bike.
BW | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from CA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Good single speed to find out if you can push the gears | | Weaknesses: | poor componants, Heavy | | Similar Products Used: | first SS, but I own softies | | Bottom Line: | If you are lookin for your first SS then this may be a good bike for you. Problem is that if find you like riding SS you may want to change may componants. Ive had problems with the peddles, chain ring bolts, saddle, grips, hedset, wheels, lock ring for the rear cog and creaking in the bottom bracket. Most of this stuff needed to be replaced, but some of the drive train just needed tcl. Ive also added disks, a 100mm fork, changed the stem and now want longer bars. Ill admit im hard on the bike and keep up with most people riding softies uphill and downhill. After an overhaul the bike is trail worthy. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott McRoberts
a
from San Luis Obispo
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$520.00 | | Purchased At: | adrenaline bikes | | Strengths: | Great bike that's easy to take care of and built to last. An inexpensive setup to get onto the trail with only one gear. | | Weaknesses: | Headset, cranks. | | Similar Products Used: | a couple of years ago I had a Titanium bike that was built up by the LBS just for me. That thing rocked! But, I had to part it out, needed money at the time. A big mistake on my part. This new Redline is no match for a titanium frame or the custom parts I had assembled onto it. The Redline is a great buy for someone who's not sure if they would like the SS experience. For me, it has been an epic ride. | | Bike Setup: | Since buying it; new cane creak s-3 headset, free felt 110mm stem, Truvativ firex cranks, an old set of fox vanilla forks, old set of Avid BB disc brakes, old set of cane creak grips.
| | Bottom Line: | The only additional cost in fitting this bike into something that I can't get off of would be the headset, 20 tooth rear sprocket and cranks. Everything else I had sitting around in my garage. Plus, the hand me down Felt stem. Thanks LBS! I have been riding this bike more than my FS and having a blast.
I'm not rating this bike with 5 chilis because it's not perfect, not many bikes are. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Van
a Cross Country Rider
from Dunbar, WI
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | 10 miles of track in the woods around my house | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Mortls | | Strengths: | Good sturdy ride in 29er SS for the money. | | Weaknesses: | A little heavy. Some components cheap (bottom bracket creaks - tightening the crank bolts helps, seat is a little thin) | | Similar Products Used: | Hah! My last bike was to get me into the sport - a Wally-world, Mongoose, geary, full-suspension piece of junk. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. I will replace parts as the shear off or our too difficult to work with. First off is the seat. Next off is the BB. | | Bottom Line: | The LBS in Wausau (Rib Mountain) turned me onto the 29er SS scene and let me ride one of these. I was hooked, and it hasn't been a disappointment yet. I started this season a little out of shape with my riding buddy goat walking up 45 degree inclines in his Gary Fisher, while I barely could carry my bike (the old Mongoose). A few weeks later, he now eats my dirt as I actually accelerate on the uphills while the geary grinds on. It is great for the kind of interval type ride of 5-10 miles we do every other weekday. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Downhiller
from the dirty south
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | crooked stick | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$459.00 | | Purchased At: | the bicycle shop | | Strengths: | simplicity, value, rear wheel placement adjustments, 29er | | Weaknesses: | headset, brakes | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | all stock except for headset (chris king) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a blast!!! I normally ride freeride/downhill but wanted a cross country/hybrid street machine. Replaced stock crap headset with a King (king of the sets) the day I bought the bike. Cost me a Ben but worth it. I had some chainring bolts loosen up and as a result I bent a chainring. Since then I have replaced them and havn't had any more problems. I guess a fully rigid rig needs more attention to nuts and bolts... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Albuquerque, NM, USA
Date Reviewed: April 29, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$475.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Shop | | Strengths: | Cheap. Solid. Nice rootbeer color. | | Weaknesses: | Headset | | Bike Setup: | put ritchey cyclocross tires and 15t cog | | Bottom Line: | The main issue I have with this bike (which I use for a 6 mile roundtrip commute) is that it has the most dead feel to it for a steel bike. It really beats you up. It is probably from the heavy steel used. I am selling mine because the ride quality is so crappy. Sure, it is a deal at under $500, but the ride feels less than $500. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Olafur
a Racer
from Minsk, Belarus
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | - cheap
- solid frame
- cool graphics
| | Weaknesses: | - seat should be immediately thrown away
- some have crap headsets
- rear tire clearance a bit narrow | | Bike Setup: | completely stock | | Bottom Line: | Buy this bike, set it up with the pedals and seat you want, then forget about it. It isn't light, it isn't trick, but it does everything a singlespeed needs to do. Spending more than this is just an extravagance. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lawrence
a Weekend Warrior
from Los Angeles, CA
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Strengths: | Simple one speed gearing, built solid and very fun to ride. Frame and hubs come disc ready. | | Weaknesses: | The hubs do not seem all that great so in time I think I may need to change them. | | Bike Setup: | All stock. | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks! I had been kicking around the idea of a single speed for the last year and finally decided to bite the bullet and get one. This bike is so much fun I only wish I bought it sooner. Couldn't decided between the 29r or the 26r but Redline solved that problem for me, the 07 26r's are readily available but the 29r's are still a ways off from shipping. I have a road bike, flat bar road bike, hardtail, FS trail bike and a downhill bike and this is bar far my favorite. Every time I ride this bike I have a stupid, silly grin on my face from ear to ear. This bike can do it all - from street urban riding, to dirt trails this bike really is a blast to ride. The new 07's come in a flat brown color that I like because it doesn't stand out like other colorful bikes. It's so nice not to have to worry about gears, jumping chains, mis-shifts and broken rear deraileurs. I am almost tempted to buy the 29r when it's available. Sure people can be hard on this bike due to it's mostly in-house branded components but it's sure hard to find a fully built single speed bike that is this much fun for $500 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Lincoln, Ne
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycleworks | | Strengths: | Strong frame, lots of bike for the money. | | Weaknesses: | 1. Saddle Blows 2. Headset (see my review) | | Similar Products Used: | 1996 Cannondale F700 | | Bike Setup: | Bone stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | I have probably put about 50-70mi on this bike over the last 2 weeks I have owned it. I have mostly been doing concrete trails commuting around town here in Lincoln. I really dig this bike!! I bought it because all of the reviews I looked at here on mtbr. I am liking the SS thing a bunch as I feel as if I am 6 yrs old again sometimes riding this bike. The bike is a heavy pig, but that is ok, I am not a racer. I feel that I get great acceleration, and this bike coasts down the little rolling hills here in Lincoln quite well.
I am running the stock head set with no problems right now. But that is because I printed off a copy of all the reviews from this website and showed them to my LBS when I bought this bike. My LBS contacted Redline and had parts shipped out to fix my headset, as well as all the other Monocogs they had on the floor at the shop. I am sure the headset is not top quality, but I will continue to ride it for at least a season or two before I replace it with a top notch unit.
The saddle on the other hand is a real POS. It is very soft and fairly thin in the tail area. I don't consider myself a big guy (6'2"-3" and 195lbs), but my sit bones as all the bicyclist's call them are hanging off the edge of this saddle. So, my first upgrade will be a new saddle and not a new head set.
Overall, I am really quite happy with this purchase. I will continue to upgrade parts around this frame for the next few seasons of riding. Then, if I decide that I am back into mtb'ing for a good long time(if it continues to be this fun...I AM!!!), I will buy a new frame in a few years and just move over all the components I have upgraded.
I think this bike is a great way to get into 29ers and real affordable way to try out SS as well. This bike is not a 3K XC racing machine, but that is not what it is trying to be. It IS a real fun machine that can be had for less than 500.00 and can be majorly upgraded to suite the rider's tastes. And you can probably buy this bike and do some big upgrades and still come in way less than 1K.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
S.J.
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterey, CA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Fort Ord | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa | | Strengths: | Excellent geometry, great cable run placement(rear brake cable runs under the top tube, very responsive frame (no flex, it goes where I want it to go.) | | Weaknesses: | 110mm rear spacing limits rear hub options. | | Similar Products Used: | KHS Solo-One | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Mars Super fork (which, for some extra fun on the trails, I occasionally swap with the stock rigid RL fork), Chris King headset, Raceface stem and bars, XT levers, SRAM brakes, Avid flakjacket cables/housing, Raceface XY seatpost, SDG Belair saddle, FSA bottom bracket (the best and smoothest!) Truvativ cranks, SRAM chain, Shimano DX hubs laced to Mavic 217 SUP rims with DT Swiss double butted 14/15/14 spokes. | | Bottom Line: | Great frame! I can't vouch for the stock complete bike because I bought this frame/fork only in 1999 and built it up from there. With solid components this bike is unstoppable (until the rider runs out of gas!) The BMX size rear severely limits your options for rear hubs but I was able to find Shimano DX hubs and they are the smoothest, quietest hubs I've found. I tried a Phil Wood 110mm but I put the DX back because it plain ol' outperforms the Phil Wood. I've raced this bike at the Sea Otter Classic twice (once as a hardtail and once as rigid) and it performed perfectly (the rider, me, was the limiting factor in those races.) I've ridden several hundred miles on the Fort Ord/Sea Otter Classic trails (their only four miles from my house) and this bike has delivered a great ride every time. 4 Flamin' Chilis overall because of the rear spacing (bump this to 5 if Redline has upgraded to 135mm. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
bigpoppabear
a Weekend Warrior
from Louisiana
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Frame geometry, frame material, stock tires (Kenda Karmas) | | Weaknesses: | Headset, bottom bracket, freehub | | Similar Products Used: | My last singlespeed was a Schwinn Stingray. A couple geared hardtails not worth mentioning. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except Selle Italia Flite saddle, Crank Bros. Eggbeaters, Cane Creek S2 headset, Shimano bottom bracket, and Mavic/Shimano wheelset on order. | | Bottom Line: | Headset and bottom bracket creaked from the first shakedown ride on flat pavement. Freehub started skipping after first month has gone the way of the dodo with last ride.
Frame geometry is perfect for my riding style. The steel makes for a very forgiving ride. The 32:16 stock gearing is a good all-around gear for where and how I ride, although for racing a 14T cog may be in order. This bike climbs like a goat on steroids. The stock tires hook up in loose, hard, mud, corners, and on climbs.
Basically be prepared to upgrade any and all bearings pretty much out of the box or build up a frameset.
4 flamin value poos b/c it is a decent value even replacing bearings. 4 flamin overall poos b/c the bike is great once the upgrades are made. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin Norwood
a Cross Country Rider
from Columbia, South Carolina
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$550.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike shop | | Strengths: | The price was a factor for me being out of work at the time didnt help. | | Weaknesses: | I'd have to say the cranks I need to up grade them ASAP!
the stock tires suck! | | Bike Setup: | 04 Mono-cog with a Manitou SX fork & Specialized Enduro tires 2.25's otherwise stock for now. | | Bottom Line: | I love it this is my first SS & no matter what I buy I'll never get rid of the bike unless the frame breaks.
I want another geared bike later down the road but this bike rocks for training with. It handles very well & it tough has a tank!! over all a VERY solid bike!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Xavier
a Weekend Warrior
from Mililani, HI, USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$450.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikewerx - Mililani | | Strengths: | Plain, simple and hella fun to ride.
Redline shipped this to my local bike shop in very impressive time. | | Weaknesses: | Nada. | | Similar Products Used: | Old School BMX - The Shizzle from the good ol' days. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Too new to tweak. | | Bottom Line: | Gears are for girls (and boys who talk with a lisp).
I got this bike after reading numerous reviews and spending hours of research. All I wanted was a simple bike that wouldn't fail after a few rides or require constant shop maintenance. The Monocog is what fit my criterion. This site along with a few others helped me with my decision making.
Mahalo to Jason @ Bikewerx for hooking me up and assembling my new MTB as soon as it arrived. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Belmont, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Water Dog Lake | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Through a friend | | Strengths: | Incredible feel. Never in my 10 years of riding avidly have i ever felt something this good. | | Weaknesses: | Kinda Heavy. But those are my wheels. | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | 19" Monocog. PIG headset. Thomson stem and seatpost. ACS Claws. Raceface cranks. Syncros FR wheels. | | Bottom Line: | For a good all around bike good for just about anything the redline monocog will knock your socks off.
Best thing is jumping with it on the jumps the neighborhood kids have set up. They think it's the coolest looking thing ever. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ean
a Cross Country Rider
from Truckee, CA USA
Date Reviewed: August 28, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Great price. I know a lot of people think it's heavy but my 17" is 25.5 pounds - stock (other than clipless pedals). That's light as far as I concernced with a steel bike that's only $450 brand new. | | Weaknesses: | The headset - mine has a tiny amount of slop. The headtube and fork are straight and the cups are set so the heaset is the only thing I can blame, but I can get a new one for $20. Also the brakes, but for $200 I can't complain too much. | | Similar Products Used: | A custom Nuke Proof (no longer made) that I converted to SS but I was way too stiff for the rocky trail I ride. | | Bike Setup: | Stock other than the SPD pedal. | | Bottom Line: | This bike absolutely rocks for the price. It could cost $800 brand new and I'd be happy (as long as the headset didn't have slop).
I'd also suggest a 17 or 18 tooth rear freewheel for riding in any areas with steep technical sections or with steep sustained long climb (we have both where I ride).
I took it out for a 30 mile ride yesterday and I was able to complete it in about the same time I can on my full suspension bike - it only lost out big time in the flats where you can only go so far.
I am now a SS convert. I can climb faster than almost anyone as long as I can push the gear.
I thought the rigid setup would need a suspension fork but I like the feel of the rigid setup since the steel gives a little. It rails corners in a very predictable manner, has quick steering, and is great to jump - as long as you don't come up short or go too long and land in the flats.
I would also suggest a little more aggressive tire than the stock Kenda's if you live in areas with dust/steep terrain where bigger stiff knobs would help.
Everyone should try a SS bike. Yeah it's harder but that's the point and it will climb like a mountain goat after a triple espresso as long as you can push the gear. Get your anarobic on and feel the sweet pain that only a SS can give! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Gilroy
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Wilder Ranch, Santa Cruz | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Cost, at $150 for the frameset brand new, how much cheaper can you get for a good quality steel frame | | Weaknesses: | Frame and fork are heavy. Frame is 5.5 lbs. In the winter, watch out for the rust. | | Bike Setup: | Fox Float Fork 100mm
XT cranks
32/20 gearing | | Bottom Line: | Built it up from left over parts I had. Low cost, low maintenance bike. It was tough at first but once you changed your riding style, it makes you a better, stronger rider. I wanted a 4" fork up front as with the rigid, it was too hard a ride over the technical terrain we ride. Now I ride it more than my full susp. and my road bike. Once jumping back on my FS and road bike, I was a much faster and stronger rider. You go anerobic a lot, but it teaches you to push your limits and hold it there for longer periods of time. Best of all, after the ride, clean up the chain, lube it and you're ready for your next ride. The most reliable bike I ever owned. Went with a 20 tooth cog and a 32 ring up front as my knees couldn't turn over the steeper long climbs we go on. Jumping back on my FS made me faster descending as I picked better lines and climbed faster as I am stronger as a result of SS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stoney
a Downhiller
from fairfax, va
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$240.00 | | Purchased At: | pro deal! love working at a shop | | Strengths: | every thing. | | Weaknesses: | nothing so far | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | funn skinny rl seat, mant. r7, mallet c pedals, slime tubes and liner, cinder tires | | Bottom Line: | i fell in love on the first ride! i'am a free rider who wanted a beater. pro dealed from sbs. not my beater anymore. i love it! made me switch back to hard tail(dropped my 6" for a fr hard tail). i loved the rigid feeling. made me feel like i was on a bmx bike in the woods. so much fun to climb. i can smoke my friends on geared bikes up the steep stuff. use it commute also, takes 5min. off( i live 2 miles down hill from work). i just put a r7 on it( sick deal couldn't pass up) and it rides even better. a lil bit faster on the down hills. bottom line one hell of a bike all round! i'am a mech. and this thing rocks it is so simple. every one should ride ss! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rome
a Cross Country Rider
from Everett, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Whoopsie Woodle-Galbraith MT | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$169.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | Singlespeed! Horizontal dropouts. No chainslap. Cool flat green paint. 135mm rear axle spacing! Affordable entry into the SS arena. Fun. Did I mention singlespeed? | | Weaknesses: | HEAVY. Chromoly steel will rust. I have some rust on the V-brake bosses, and I am running disc brakes. The rigid fork is pretty heavy too. I guess I have been spoiled running titanium and aluminum frames for the past 8 years. | | Similar Products Used: | 2000 Access Titanium frame reborn as SS. 2005 Access Aluminum frame setup as SS. Both with Surly Singleator. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 RL Monocog frame and fork. Weyless shorty XC stem, Chris King Rasta Nothreadset, Titanium XC riser bar, Avid 2.0 brake levers, ODI Ruffian lock on grips with Brooklyn Machine Works Pimp barend caps, FSA aluminum seatpost, Forte racing saddle, Powertools chromoly square taper BB, Raceface North Shore crank 32 with Raceface bashring, KMC BMX chain, 16 tooth cog, pair of Surly Tugg-nuts, Supergo (RIP) Method XC wheelset with sweet Vuelta burnt orange Excalibur XC rims laced in, Slime presta tubes, Specialized Rhythm 2.3 tires. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great. It is my first true SS frame that I have owned since my 16" wheeled kiddie bike I had when I was 4 years old. I have ridden this bike at Hannah Park in JAX, in Panama, and in Manzanillo Mexico. For those who are interested in returning to your cycling roots, this is an affordable route. I might have to get my V-brake bosses ground off and the frame repainted though, since I have no plans to ever go back to rim brakes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doggity
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Fe, New Mexico Republic
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Guadalupe rail trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$449.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | The core is bombproof. | | Weaknesses: | It can be a pig to push up long hills. The stock brakes are adequate, but not great. Avid 7's are what I'd recommend. IT'S ONLY GOT ONE FREAKIN' SPEED. (This may be a strength). | | Similar Products Used: | This is my 1st SS MTB. | | Bike Setup: | Had rear hub replaced with Surly SS hub, with dual ACS Claws freewheels-18T and 20T. Stock Kenda tires replaced with Specialized Armadillos...highly recommended! | | Bottom Line: | This is just a brief addendum to my review below. I feel a little bad now about dissing the stock cassette hub. THOUGHT it was failing, because it was making a clanking noise under load. Surprise! My new Surly hub does the same thing...who KNOWS? Ah well...I like the dual freewheel setup better anyway. I've found that just going with 18T in the rear, as opposed to the stock 32/16, is a huge relief, and a very good 'all around' gear ratio for commuting in a hilly city, and/or trail riding. The 20T is useful mainly for technical, which I don't do that much of. Every time I get on this bike, my body screams "Oh, NO....not THIS pig again! WHY do you insist on TORMENTING me with this thing?" (It's used to my roadie.) By the end of the ride, it's lapping it up, saying "More, more..." This bike ain't the most practical, but it DOES bring out the kid in one. It'll never replace my roadie, but it's a nice change. This is THE most bombproof bike I've ever ridden...TRY and break this bike! Riding 25 miles on this bike is about as much a workout as 50 miles on my roadie, so if you're rushed for time.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
johnnyb
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairfax, Cali
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$440.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bikes | | Strengths: | The best deal in mountain bikes right now. Ridiculously cheap for a complete bike. Nice chain tensioners, wheels, crank and pedals. | | Weaknesses: | The stock headset is a deadset from the start, the Tektro brake levers do their job but can hang up the ferrule in the lever or something like that. A bit heavy, but you don't notice it. | | Similar Products Used: | Monocog 26er, Rumble w/Fox RLC, Giant VT1 | | Bike Setup: | Rigid 17-inch frame, Chris King headset, Avid BB5s, extra Surly 18 tooth | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the Monocog 29er, since there isn't a category for it yet in the 29er section.
The bike is a sweet, sweet ride and I can't get over the 29er feeling when you are rippiing faster (at least it feels that way) on your favorite trails. This is my second singlespeed and second bike from Redline. Redline has made another great product for every rider. Totally affordable. Their friendly and concientous customer service is the best. I had a creaking frame issue that they resolved immediately and within two weeks I was back on the bike.
The steel frame and long fork length, combined with the Exiwolf tires hook up on the trail amazingly well. Pick a line, hold on and the big tires plow through the little stuff. I've ridden full suspension for a few years on the same trails that I take the 29er on now and though the rides are different they are both fun. There is just a flat out squishy-lively feel in the handling and I haven't had any problems with the rigid fork, but you can see the flex. This is not a freeride bike! The headtube is pretty short on a 17 inch bike, I hope it can take the pounding.
The stock gearing of 32-20 is pretty spot on for a climbing setup. I added an 18-tooth gear on the cassete hub easily with a spacer. This simple bike will surprise anyone with the rideability and fun you get. Buy one if you can, you won't regret it.
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Submitted by
mootsgearhead
a Cross Country Rider
from dallas concrete jungle
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | bluebonnet bikes my shop | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | hope hubs, mavic 819 rims, easton carbon bars, avid v brakes, michelin tires, thomson post, titec stem, monocog frame. 26 pounds as it stands. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is the best bike for the money hands down, you can leave as it is, or just plain pimp it out and still be in love. Never thought I would be riding a singlespeed but this bike has converted me. I'm even thinkin about changin my moots ybb to a ss. Bottom line is the monocog has made me a better rider I pick the best lines and I flow like you wouldn't beleive, and it's gratifying dropping a friend riding on a Orbea Alma. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephen
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong frame, decent components for the price, horizontal dropouts, rigid fork, and superb handling. Lots of bang for the buck. | | Weaknesses: | Stock saddle is phenomenally uncomfortable. | | Similar Products Used: | Surly 1X1, On One Inbred, various converted geared bikes. | | Bike Setup: | 19" frame, with stock fork, wheels, seatpost, cranks, BB, and headset. 90mm Salsa lip-lock stem, Bontrager CrMo Crow Bar, ODI Rogue lock-ons, Time ATACS, Avid SD7 brakes, and WTB Speed V saddle. | | Bottom Line: | I wanted to get into singlespeeding and preferred to start with a complete bike that features hotizontal dropouts and a steel frame. The fit of the 19" works great for me as an added bonus. The original idea was to use it as a no-frills, solid commuter in hope of saving my rather expensive geared bike from thieves. To my surprise, I've had so much fun riding the Redline that the geared bike has been collecting a fair amount of dust and may be sold soon. The 72^ head tube angle of the Monocog is steeper than the average mountain bike, but its handling reminds me of my old, much missed Bontrager frame. I smile whenever I ride this bike, even in the rain, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another if something happens to this one. Buy this bike if you are looking for a complete singlespeed with a rigid fork, horizontal dropouts, a relatively low price, decent components, excellent handling, and a steel frame. Stay away if you don't like steel frames for any reason, and prefer to own and ride the lightest bike available. The components are easy to upgrade if the spec puts off potential buyers, and the low price tag compared to a Surly or On One leaves a fair bit of extra cash for such. Try one and see for yourself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doggity
a Weekend Warrior
from Santa Fe NM USA
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Guadalupe Rail station to Lamy | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$449.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Absolutely bombproof frame, fork, and rims. All the other components are at least OK, except the cassette rear hub (see below). Terminally cool retro look-it looks a lot like a MTB your WWII era grandfather would've ridden, if you can imagine such a thing-especially with the brown sidewalled Armadillo tires I'm using. Even the saddle has surprised me-it's comfortable! The reviewer who likened this bike to a Willy's Jeep nailed it. Climbs unbelievably well. Just stand on it, put your weight into it, watch it skitter up those hills....long as they're not TOO long! It'll climb long as you can push it. | | Weaknesses: | The freewheel/cassette hub is REALLY marginal. Mine's already failing, and it's been less than a month. I'm going to pay to put in a decent hub, one that I easily change out the freewheel myself.
Plus...can we get REAL here? This thing is heavy as all sin, at least to me (I ride a roadbike). It is an absolute PIG to push up city streets that happen to be going up hills, which we have a LOT of around here in Santa Fe. Not being able to gear down is blowing out my knees. You have to stand on it a LOT. I would NOT recommend it as a commuter, unless you live where it's fairly flat. Then you'd probably want to gear it up a bit. I'm going to try gearing it DOWN...I'm replacing the cheapo 16T cassette with a proper hub and 20 teeth freewheel. | | Similar Products Used: | This is my 1st SS MTB. I used to ride a fixie track bike a long time ago, which is probably why my knees are shot now. | | Bike Setup: | All stock for now, except Armadillo tires. The Kenda tires that it comes with are decent, but no match for all the cholla cactus spikes out here. I'm throwing in something like a Surly or Phil Wood rear hub if I keep it, and an ACS Claws freewheel. | | Bottom Line: | The core is GOOD, and STRONG, and imminently upgradable.
The bike is a BLAST to ride as is. But as your only bike?
Maybe if you're 21 years old, and are in phemonenal shape. It is at least twice as hard to ride as a regular mountain bike if you're trying to push it up long or very steep hills, and probably 4 times as hard as a roadie on long grades...what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. If you can survive the 1st month with this bike, it WILL make you a stronger rider! You WILL go anaerobic on a regular basis, pushing this thing around. Ah well...as you stop, gasping to catch your breath, you'll catch a lot of nature that the other riders are missing. You got patellar chondromalacia, or any other knee condition, think carefully. The price is of course very good to get it out the door, but if you start upgrading, you've spent as much as you would on a decent geared bike. But if you just want to see if single speeding is for you, it's hard to see how you could go wrong, long as you've got good knees:) Enjoy the burn. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manor Dweller
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz ,CA ,USA
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: |
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$ 419.99
