Modding the Mongoose Part 3

The Mongoose in April 2007 with it's previous modifications. (Click for larger view)

Once I'd got the bike almost where I wanted it, I started to run into more problems. Therefore it was time to get sensible and put the bike back as close to possible as a light weight touring bike. I'd still leave a few modifications that are my personal preference, but this is the final story and the resultant changes. You can read Part Two and see some photographs of the detailed set up.

Firstly with the aero bar and extra bar setup for a handlebar bag under the aero bars, I was having all sorts of problems with the rat's nest of cabling up under the handlebars. The gear cables were rubbing and jamming on mounting bolts for the various attachments around the handlebar area.

Secondly the handlebar bag was too small, and accessing it when straddling the bike was a problem. My tool bottle was also stored in the rear rack top bag which was putting a fair bit of weight high up on the bike. The air Zound air bottle was taking up valuable space, plus it was awfully close to the front mudguard.

I also needed to clear the rear rack top for placing my tent and thermarest mattress on as they don't fit into the large panniers, being too long. This was necessary as I was planning on touring without the BOB trailer.

I also had problems with the BOB trailer fouling the rear mudguard. Mud and sand also collected up under the rear mudguard and used to drop directly down onto the rear gear cluster. So I had several niggling problems, but first I had to solve the problem of what to do with the friction shifters.

The Mongoose Randonneur back to it's near stock set up.

Friction shifters now fitted to the stem.

Firstly I got hold of one of those brackets for mounting a water bottle to your handlebars. I removed the plate that the cage bolts to and placed a piece of old bar end over the protrusion and stuck a rubber bar end plug in the top with a screw to hold it in place. The screw goes into the original hole where the cage plate was bolted to. I then mounted this fabrication to the stem and shifted the friction shifters onto it, as pictured above.

I had also noticed that when unloaded, the bike was still front heavy, so some of the extras had to go. Firstly I removed the neck extender as this was quite hefty, and I felt that I no longer needed the handlebars so high. I then removed the air horn, aero bars, the handlebar bag and it's mounting bar that I had fabricated in previous parts. The lights also came off as they are quick release and can be mounted only when I need to use them.

I then mounted the full sized Deuter handlebar bag that I had from a previous bike. This bag has a pull out rain jacket and can easily be accessed while straddling the bike. Luckily the gear cables cleared the bag with a bit of sideways persuasion.

The Deuter handlebar bag. It's now a lot cleaner and lighter on the front of the bike.

Next I put the bell and the Panoram V12 computer speedo back on in places where they would fit. The front of the bike is now a lot lighter and also a lot cleaner. Most of the light weight stuff from the rear rack top bag and tribag went into the handlebar bag. The Tribag had to go because I could no longer fit it to the bike because the bolts for the neck were now in the way.

Next thing to go was the front mudguard as I no longer had room. I removed the cheap plastic cage that I had cut the bottom out of for the air horn to sit in. I had an Australian made Velocity water cage that has adjustable mounts, so I forced the mounts up as far as they would go. I bolted this into the third cage mounting bolt holes and then dropped my tool bottle into it.

This now had plenty of clearance to the front wheel and put a fair bit of weight way down low on the bike.

Tool bottle mounted in a Velocity water cage.

Next I turned my attention to the rear of the bike. I like to keep part of the rear mudguard on to keep sand from flicking into the front derailleur and cabling. It also keeps sand and water out of the back of my shoes. The simplest option here was to cut the mudguard in half and only mount the front half. This also solved the problem of my rear gear cabling getting caught on the rear mudguard mounts when the BOB trailer was attached. I also removed the BOB trailer skewer and replaced it with the original.

The rear mudguard after cutting the back half off.

All that was left now was to find a place for the rest of the bits that were in the rear rack top bag. This was mainly a spare tube and other small bits an pieces. Most of the heavy stuff went into the tool bottle. I had an old under seat bag laying around, so I put it back into service and it now holds the spare tube and a puncture kit.

The bag sits under the seat and holds my spare tube and puncture kit.

As I now longer plan on using the BOB trailer on this bike, I was able to shift the rear rack lower. I forced it down it's mountings as far as I could get it without it hitting the frame. I also discovered whilst doing this that the kickstand that the bike shop had fitted when the bike was new had worn through the electrical tape and was etching holes in the paintwork.

As the bike still falls over with the kickstand, I removed it and cleaned up the paint damage with some finger nail polish. The bike is now a lot lighter and only time will tell how it goes on a full tour. The plan is to run with four panniers.

I have recently discovered that I can get my tent and mattress into the rear panniers, so I should be touring with four panniers and the handlebar bag. This should make the bike a lot lighter and less cumbersome. Only time will tell....

Since writing this article I discovered that I was getting knee pain because the seat had moved down. After putting it back up, I found that the handlebars were too low for my liking, so the neck extender has been fitted back on.