Welcome to the 2007 Mongoose® magalog.
Yes, we have come out with a magalog to help
introduce so much of the unique, crazy, and
cool things that Mongoose® continues to do to
this day. It seems that throughout the history of
Mongoose®, all 30 plus years, people have been
telling us what we can’t do. And every year we
take those comments and turn them on their ear.
Two years ago we introduced an all-mountain
full suspension platform in the Black Diamonds
that felt and rode just as good up the hill as
down. We took a 26" mountain bike, blended it
with a BMX bike, and designed the most original
and utilitarian park bike ever in the Ritual. And
now we have introduced a coffee commuter
bike, the Sabrosa, that would be just as happy at
a mountain bike race as it would be on the bike
path to work in the morning.
But you can learn more about the Sabrosa,
Eric Carter and more in this magalog. Like any
magazine that responds to its readers, we have
worked to answer the desires of our Mongoose®
riders with a women’s specific Teocali frame or
integrating our FreeDrive suspension into a 24
hour race-ready cross country rig, called the
Canaan. Sit down, enjoy yourself, and find out
more about Mongoose® by turning the page. We
have 30 years of history to back us up – but
we aren’t afraid to take on our critics to keep
pushing the bar forward in the future.
WHEELS: WTB Speed Disc XL Rims w/ 32h h Thru-Axle Disc Hubs, Kenda Nevegal FR 2.5” Tires w/ Stick-E Rubber & Pinch Flat Protection
COCKPIT: Easton EA50 31.8mm Bar & Vice Stem, Titec Knockscoper I-Beam Telescoping Post & SDG Bel Air ST Saddle
Interview by Stephen
Balsley
Eric Carter called up a shop in the summer of
2006 and asked if he could come out and ride
with them the following Monday. The shop
owner, not believing that it was really Eric
Carter, argued with him, asking who it really
was. It seems the owner thought one of his
friends was prank calling the store. As Eric
said, “He was like ‘Who is this really?’ And
I had to convince him by saying ‘This really
is Eric Carter’.” It’s those kinds of stories
that demonstrate why Eric’s one of the most
beloved, popular and celebrated mountain
bikers ever. We sat down to ask him a couple
of questions before a hot summer ride to see
what makes him tick.
A world champion 4X racer and the 2006
U.S. National Mountain Cross Champion,
Eric Carter has been dominating the downhill
slopes of major UCI events for years. Racing
on his Mongoose® signature bikes, the Eric
Carter Downhill (the EC-D) and the Eric
Carter Mountain Cross bike (the EC-X), Eric
worked his way back from an early-season
injury in 2006 to once again hit several
podiums since, including the US National
Championships. EC worked very closely
®
with Mongoose
to develop his frames to
meet his demand. Something that we know
every rider will respect.
SB: What was the first race you ever won?
EC: The first race I ever entered. Seriously. I was 8
years old and I entered a local race in the Regional
SoCal Cycling League on a borrowed bike. I was so
intimidated by the starting gate and the entrance – that
I braked all the way to the bottom of the hill. But then
I passed everyone. I guess that is kind of like my style
now. I might not be the first one out of the gate, but I
ride hard and pick good lines to make sure I can pass
guys. I was a wound up and determined little 8 year
-old who really didn’t want to lose.
SB: What three people would you most like to go on
a ride with?
EC: Man, that’s a tough question. I would definitely
have to pick my grandfather because he passed when I
was 10 years old and I never really got to have a grown
up conversation with him. He was a smart guy who
worked in the Pentagon and for the military for years,
and I don’t know if he ever really got the chance to
ride. I guess I would have to pick my dad for the same
reason. He never really got to ride either, and I know
that’s something I look forward to most in the world
is heading out to ride with my son in a couple of years.
The third guy would have to be Doug Jicha. I use to
race BMX with him in the day, but he passed away from
Hodgskin’s Disease about 10 years ago. And I just miss
the guy. If I had a chance to ride with him one more
time, that would be cool.
SB: This past year, you started the MONGOOSE Tribe
of riders. What’s it all about?
EC: The Tribe was an idea that was kind of created out
of a desire to have a gathering of like minded, fun, riders.
To take a group of people with common interests and
really get them out their together and ride. I mean, the
guys in the Tribe aren’t all pro riders, they are more the
salt of the sport kind of Sport and Expert class riders
that really live this lifestyle. I believe so much in my
signature bike and I really wanted to help get more
guys out there riding. I was having so much fun at the
party, that I wanted to bring some other guys along. It
really is a great experience.
M: Tell us about your best day on a bike that was not
a race.
EC: I can’t narrow it down beyond two rides. Sorry.
But these were both pretty epic. One of them has to be
the 2000 RockShox Fork Demo when a group of local
riders in Moab took me out into the desert and showed
me a really cool dinosaur fossil. It wasn’t just a couple
of bones, this was like the whole spine just hanging
out there. That was pretty amazing. And the other one
has to be my first Kernville Fat Tire Festival. Another
ride that was really epic trails, but it was my first time
really getting into mountain biking. It really showed
me the lifestyle with guys out camping next to the river
and drinking some beer with friends. That really got
me into the whole lifestyle.
SB: What is the best advice you could give to someone
just starting out in 4 cross or downhill?
EC: Two things. Have fun. Don’t take it so seriously
that you forget why you are out there. I see too many
guys with really cool bikes and expensive kits who
are out there to win, and they forget to have fun.
It’s not only about winning, it’s about riding. And
the other thing to do just that, have a good time on
your bike. You can make tons of lifelong friends riding
bikes. I don’t think there is anything cooler than that.
BRAKES: Avid Juicy 7 Hydraulic Disc w/ Speed Dial Adjust, 180/160mm Rotors
WHEELS: WTB Laser Disc Trail Rims w/ WTB Laser Disc 20mm Thru Axle F & QR R Disc
Hubs, Kenda Nevegal DTC 2.35" F & 2.1" R Kevlar Bead Tires
COCKPIT: Easton EA70 31.8mm Bar & Vice Stem, Kore I-Beam Race I-Beam Post &
Enduro I-Beam Saddle
Teocali™ Elite Women’s
FRAME: MONGOOSE Freedrive All Mountain 6061 Aluminum w/ Zero Stack Headset,
Forged Dropouts & Disc Mount, Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, Adjustable 4.75/5.75"
Travel, Shorter Top Tube Length
FORK/SHOCK: RockShox Pike 409 w/ Motion Control, Low Speed Compression to Lock,
20mm Maxle Thru-Axle Dropouts, 95-140mm U-Turn Adjustable Travel; RockShox MC
3.1 Air Shock w/ Adjustable Motino Control & Rebound
DRIVETRAIN: 27-Speed w/ Shimano XT Rear & LX Front Derailleurs, LX RapidFire
Shifters; Truvativ Firex 2-Pc Crankset w/ External Bearings
BRAKES: Hayes HFX9 Hydraulic Disc, 180/160mm Rotors, Short Reach Levers
WHEELS: WTB Speed Disc All Mountain Rims w/ WTB Disc Hubs, Kenda Nevegal DTC
2.35" F & 2.1" R Kevlar Bead Tires
COCKPIT: Easton EA30 31.8mm Bar & Vice Stem, MONGOOSE Double Bolt Post & WTB
Deva Comp Women’s-Specific Saddle
100% Chick: After the steller reaction of
everyone to our special make up Pink Diamond
freeride bike last year, we decided to re-spec
a Teocali for all of the women that demand
a fast all-mountain full suspension bike. The
100% Chick decal calls out a bike that features
components and geometry designed for those
women who want to rip. Nothing wrong with
riding like a girl. Especially when this bike
helps you pass the boys.
Teocali™ Elite
FRAME: MONGOOSE Freedrive All Mountain 6061 Aluminum w/ Zero Stack Headset, Forged
Dropouts & Disc Mount, Replaceable Derailleur Hanger, Adjustable 4.75/5.75" Travel
FORK/SHOCK: RockShox Pike 409 w/ Motion Control, Low Speed Compression to Lock,
20mm Maxle Thru-Axle Dropouts, 95-140mm U-Turn Adjustable Travel; RockShox MC 3.1
Air Shock w/ Adjustable Motino Control & Rebound
DRIVETRAIN:27-Speedw/ShimanoXT Rear & LX Front Derailleurs, LX RapidFire Shifters;TruvativFirex2-PcCrankset w/ External Bearings
Easton Monkey Lite SL Lo Rise Handlebar & EA70 Stem, Kore I-Beam Elite Carbon Post &
The story…
CANAAN is the location of the world’s fi rst 24-hour
mountain
bike team relay race. This wicked course
consisted of wet root and mud covered rock
descents where riders were heard to pray for the
fi re-road climbs so they could recover. The event
could be summed up as an outlet for hardcore
mountain bike enthusiasts to test themselves (and
their equipment) and spawned a generation of
riders always searching for how far they could go.
The 24 Hours of CANAAN capped out at 500 teams
which typically only a few were pro level. In
of
honor of this place that started the ultra distance
love affair with dirt, Mongoose
®
has set out to
design the ride that can suit the pro but is also
keeping the everyday rider in mind.....
Custom-tuned
FreeDrive design with emphasis on
good pedaling yet compliant traction. 100mm of
travel front and rear (not too much, not too little)
keying in on effi ciency and control. The engineers
at Mongoose can massage the FreeDrive system
to suit any conditions, and in the case of the
CANAAN,
they’ve maximized traction for climbs
and enhanced control for fl ats and downhills.
for rock solid handling at high speed and steep descents. This handling also makes the bike more
stable at the end of an endurance fest when your
senses are getting hazy.
Shooting
for that harmony between hardcore
frame strength yet light-weight construction, the
CANAAN resounds with both the weight geek and
back country freak. All pivot locations use a
the
common 5 mm allen wrench and easily sourced
bearings from any local bike store. Dual disc
specifi c design…all conditions reliable braking
that goes the distance.
Canaan™ Elite
FRAME: All New MONGOOSE Butted Aluminum Freedrive XCEndurow/3.9"(100mm)Travel
FORK/SHOCK: Fox F100RL, Air Spring, Adjustable Rebound&Lockout,100mmTravel;FoxRP3