The Dolo in the (semi) wild - Mongoose Dolomite (Hitch, etc.)
Got it.
Assembled.
First ride.
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(sorry the stem is 180 out, I have back problems)
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~edit: starting an index, to help people find key info in this long,
and often cluttered, thread
*******************************************************************
===========================================================
If you see a post in this thread that you think would benefit others if it's indexed
here, then please PM me the link to that post.
===========================================================
Firstly...
Updated Feb 5, 2019, to change forum links from page based to post based addressing (even though the forum search returns page based links that don't work...:madman
Got it.
Assembled.
First ride.
(sorry the stem is 180 out, I have back problems)
*******************************************************************
~edit: starting an index, to help people find key info in this long,
and often cluttered, thread
*******************************************************************
===========================================================
If you see a post in this thread that you think would benefit others if it's indexed
here, then please PM me the link to that post.
===========================================================
Firstly...
Secondly...
We shouldn't have to say this, but for safety and optimizing the longevity of the parts (or in some cases, just so it will ride), check, grease and adjust everything before you first ride it. Typical culprits are Bottom Bracket, Front Hub, Rear Hub, Head Set, Brakes.
- Dolo, first impressions
- Dolo measurements post
- Dolo tire pressure PSI starting numbers
- Start of list of tires people have put on a Dolo
Recommended Upgrades
- Bottom Bracket: $10 YST BSA Cup & Bearings, with seal to spindle shaft
- Optimum ZERO BEARING TORQUE - you want this for the BB & hub bearings
zero torque, yet with zero play:
- Late Discovery: ALTERNATE TO YST BB UPGRADE
Better choice for heavy riders.
Best choice if you've bent your BB spindle.
Someone figured out that although the cartridge BB bearings are too narrow to work with the stock crank arms, there is a cartridge bearing (or two?) that will work with curved crank arms. Look in the last pages of this thread to see what parts work.
Note: someone was doing this and discovered that their BB shell width wasn't 100 mm, but 110 mm. Measure.
The YST is less drag to pedal when set to zero-torque, but I'm pretty sure the cartridge is better against contaminants as it uses sealed bearings, instead of the YST's simple rubber seal. - Freewheel with a granny gear:
Shimano Megarange: 13-34T or 14-34T
But they're "Alpine" gearing; they swap out their 28T for the 34T, so there's a big gap to the granny. - custom stack of a 34T megarange
Allows you to put a 28T back in, for having a 28T and for smoother gear progression across the range.
- Alternate to a custom stacked 34T megarange freewheel
7 speed vs. 8 speed freewheel
Allegedly the Sunrace and others that fit are inferior quality to the Shimano (softer metal? bearings don't last as long?), but... the 8 speed has the same physical spacing between the gears, so the stock derailer can access 7 of the 8, so it's a straight swap in (subject to chain length for larger gears)
13-15-17-19-22-25-28-34T usable 15-34T or a 11,13,15,18,21,24,28,34T usable 13-34T and some others.
Gear Inch Chart with Eight Speed Freewheel
- Triple Mtb chain-ring:
Pretty much essential for trail riding, or have hills, or other than packed snow on the flat or packed sand on the flat.
22-32-42T, typically manually selected by moving the chain to the 22T for hills/trails/snow/sand or 32T for road.
Then if you find yourself changing a lot, then look to adding a front derailer.
- better tubes: roll easier, lighter too
- better tires:
120 tpi tires roll easier, better grip, lighter tooStart of list of tires people have put on a Dolo
Huge improvement to the quality & enjoyment of your ride.
On-one floaters seem to be the most popular of the less-expensive all-purpose fat tires.
Coloured on-one floaters on a Dolo - Easy to knock 7+ lbs. off the Dolo's weight with new tires & DH tubes.
- trigger shifter:
- Better brakes (like the Avid BB7)
And larger rotor size recommended for anything other than cruising use on flat terrain, or for clydes. Why larger rotors for your fat bike. - Better brake levers (Avid Speed Dial levers are a nice indulgence ($14 to $40 depending on source), but overkill)
- Better seat, different bars
- Rim Cutouts:
Limited benefit, but if you like the colour of rim tape showing through rim cutouts...
A number of examples throughout the thread, or look in the Beast Modification thread. - Round cutouts (easiest):
offset holes (between nipple holes on each side) template positioning - See staggered offset round cutouts on stock Dolo rims
- Single ring of cutouts down the center of the rim (looks nicer) and for a few posts below it
Note: PAY ATTENTION to how he cuts the holes!!!
- Cutouts done poorly, you'll ruin your rims, or hurt yourself when it fails.
- triple chainring with front derailer (and a DIY fender)
- and front derailer revisted
- front derailer, lever shifter
- $15 full frame bag (large Ibera) on Dolo (of course the medium Ibera bag fits too, but it doesn't clear a bottle nor a cage on the down tube)
- BMX bars
- Trekking Bar, adjustable stem
- shorter-stem-flip, including some ideas on adjusting stance & cockpit
Updated Feb 5, 2019, to change forum links from page based to post based addressing (even though the forum search returns page based links that don't work...:madman
