My mono9 is here!!

1/21/08
I GOT IT! My new Redline mono9 showed up on my front porch last Thursday. I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get it out and start putting it together.

With some awesome help from my two little ones we had it together in no time! The bike had been pre-assembled from the bike shop so there where only a few things to put together and it was done.

The weather here turned cold quick. The temperature last weekend was in the 70’s, this weekend we had a low of 10 degrees. So I really didn’t get a chance to ride, but I did manage to get a quick loop around my block during a slight snow shower. The bike felt and handled great and the power and quickness of the single speed could still be felt. The SRAM shifters where even smoother than the other bikes I had tested so I am so happy!

Till next time! Keep riding!

Redline Mono9 (Now the D460)

1/09/08
It’s been awhile since I posted. Getting through Christmas and all with the kids is pretty demanding. Found something on the Internet that might be a potential buy. My first real jump to deciding that a 29er is the kind of bike that I am interested in buying was when I first heard about Redline’s decision to make a steel rigid 29er with a 1X9 gears. I was sold immediately on that bike and then I saw the Mono9 and I have looking for reviews and rider opinions ever since.

Christmas shopping!?!?!

So I was doing some Christmas shopping today and guess what…I happened across a local bike shop that in the past I knew carried Jamis and GT bikes. So I went in to see if by chance they would have the new Exile or a Peace9r but instead they had a two Redlines! One was the Monocog and the other was a Monocog Flight! In all it’s Blue glory. The only problem was it was 17” and I defiantly don’t want to go down that road again. The shop guy did let me take it for a spin though. It wasn’t as quick as the Monocog, but I am sure that is because of the 16t cog. Once I got it going though it was smooth and fast. I did take it off a few curbs and yes it is rigid! The shop owner pumped up the tires pretty good so that may have had some reason for the harshness. I am still not 100% sold on the flight. The shop will get some GT’s and the Exile in January so I will be back to check them out. Still though, I did like that bike!

Choices, choices, choices!!!

My choices for 29ers has been pretty simple, make sure you are getting a quality bike, keep it cheap, and a bike that can provide lots of options. With that in mind these are the bikes I have been considering;

1. Redline Monocog Flight and Monocog 29er
2. Salsa El Mariachi
3. KHS Solo One SE
4. Kona Unit 2-9
5. Jamis Exile 29er

All these bikes are great and they all offer different thing for each model. Here is a list of bikes that I have test ridden this year.
Redline Monocog
Salsa El Mariachi (1x9)
KHS Solo One
Specialized Rockhopper Comp
I would like to find a Monocog Flight, Exile and even a GT Pearce9er before I make my finial decision.
I will break it down how each ride felt using one word in order;
Right
Crisp
Quick
Slow
Anyway that’s about it for now.

Ready for a Redline 29er

So my long wait of over two years of deciding on a new mountain bike is almost over. The last several years I have been watching the mountain bike advance in technology and mostly options. There is a mountain bike for everyone now a days. If only the rest of the world would get a mountain bike or even any bike would be great. I currently have a Specialized Hardrock AX from 1997. It has been an awesome bike and it has really out performed itself over the last year. But I am ready and I think my old hardrock is ready for a break. After riding and racing for the last six years I gotten use to my hardtail and I don't think I am ready for a full suspension bike yet. Maybe when I turn 50. I have also been interested in all the opinions on steel frames. Since my hardrock is aluminum I really don't want to buy I bike I already own. Sure I can upgrade on wait, components and front shocks but it will basically ride and behave like my current bike. I have ridden some friend’s bike and there is not much difference between the two. Then last year the 29er rage really kind of took off. More coverage of the bikes and more companies producing these bikes too. The biggest things that drive my to a 29er is;

• Steel frames
• Rigid forks
• Large wheels for better rolling
• Bike set-ups and options
• My size (6')
• The area I live in
• The look

I have always been drawn to Redline. From my younger years when I was into Freestyle BMX and BMX Racing, Redline was what you wanted! (I WANTED) So I was very excited to see how much they where putting into developing 29er mountain bikes.
I have ridden several different bikes and I have been most impressed with the single speeds and from what I have seen on the trails and races they are all that they are suppose to be. Which also brings up the other plus when it comes to 29er along with single speeds. They really seem to go hand in hand. Which leads my back to my decision on getting a Redline Monocog Flight 29er!