29″ Redline Monocog Upgrades?
January 30th, 2006 by Tim GrahlI’m thinking about getting a Redline Monocog 29er when they’re available. Can I make this bike into a 1×8 or a 1×9? What kind of upgrades are possible with this bike?
– Steve
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You could always stick in an internal gear hub wheel.
But some have already suggested use of a chaintensioner with built-in gear hanger. DMR and On-One/Planet-X are known to make such devices, others may well exist.
anoter way about it would be a really cheap bolt-on derailer, Shimano makes them in Tourney and Acera version I think. Same system as used on my 10spd road bikes from the old days. (Semi-)horizonal dropout frames would not come with a derailer hanger, the hanger was on the derailer itself, and was mounted under the axle nut.
Popular upgrade will be a pair of Avid Mechanical disc brakes. They’re sold as caliper+rotor, and the required V levers are already on the bike. Wheels, frame and fork are disc-ready. Swapping rear wheels may not be as easy as with vertical dropouts, but some waved rotors are known to work well around such issues, the wheel can be removed without (partly or completely) taking off the rear brake caliper.
This may be a good time to set up an alert agent for a 26.8mm seatpost as the RL is supposed to take. Suspended perhaps, for epics?
For singlespeeding, wide and more swept handlebars are become more and more popular. Jones H-bars are the highest level. Titec is supposed to be working on an aluminum version. When it becomes available, you won’t miss it.
On-One Fleegle, On-One Mary, both nice singlespeed-ready handlebars. swept without the need for a longer stem, smart stuff.
You probably already have clipless pedals?
The Rl comes with beefy narrowish 2.3″ tires, though much wider doesn’t exist yet. Lighter and faster options do exist now though. A cheap WTB Nanoraptor steel as a rear will already save nice weight and roll quite a bit faster. On-One actually uses that combo on their bike.
Likely the stock tubes won’t be super light. Getting a pair of light but wide 26″ tubes might be a worthy upgrade. 26×2.3 should work. I like Geax 26×2.125 ones, similar to Specialized Turbo, also popular.
I always upgrade grips. My personal fav is the Dimension Cork grip. Closed ends, 28g for the set, and comfy. Cheapest grams you’ll lose apart from tubes/tires, and possibly a bigger effect on comfort. Grips are personal though.
Which brings me to seats. You may like the stock seat, but look out for a deal on your favorite one, or rip it off your old bike.
This help at all?
Greasey Comb Distribution has the Revell Bikes Chain tug/Mech Hanger. That and a nice SRAM setup you’ll be good to go.
isn’t the rear spacing on the monocog the BMX standard and wouldn’t this eliminate the possiblity of installing a cassette and derailleur? maybe end up with a three speed rear? and finally why upgrade something like the monocog? just take it for what it is and ride it!
on a side note i thought a while back that you could take old frames that you had broken the rear hanger off of(you know the ones before replaceable hangers)and use some shimano hone hubs that have the rear der. attached to the axle and put new life into an old bike.
Used to. 135mm for 2006. Ain’t that swell?
wunderbar!
Just use a saint hub and rear mech. Any horizontal frame is now geared friendly. Plus you can switch back and forth and not have that ugly hanger when you run single.
Wouldn’t that trick more than double the bike’s value?
I agree it’s the best solution, though.
To use a Saint setup you would either need to have a Saint compatible hub laced to the stock wheel or buy a complete Saint compatible wheel. Both not really cheap, and relacing can be a pain. Using a Chain Tug/Mech Hanger combo made by DMR, Revell, or Atomlab would provide you with a place to mount a derailer and allow you to use any brand/model you wish. If you want to go back to single speed just use the Chain Tugs that come with the complete bike. If you wanted to go really cheap just to try gears on it, you could even use a low end derailer with the built in hanger. Of these the nicer onces work with the Shimano Indexing System. When I get my Monocog I’m going to go with either the DMR or Revell Mech Hanger and a SRAM X7 setup. Should be pretty sweet.
I’ve been looking into this very thing.
I emailed on one they don’t have anything.
DMR seems to be the best way to add a hanger. But I don’t see how you get your wheel in and out of the dropout with that tug nut in there. What if you get a flat?
Saint is way cool, Hone is even cool (ligher cheaper) this seems to me to be the best solution. You would have to rebuild the rear wheel with the hone hub. But that is such a good design it would probably be worth it.
When you pull the rear wheel off just remove the driverside nut and leave the tug/hanger with the bike. Shouldn’t effect removing the wheel after that.
If you really want to convert back and forth, you could buy an SE Racing BM Flyer, which is a geared frame (cable stops, IS disk tabs) and wheelset (rear cassette hub) set up as an SS out of the box (one cog + spacers, chain tensioner).
They’ve been available for a while…any Performance shop can order them for you. Since the factory (Fuji?) is still shipping 2005 models you shouldn’t have to pay more than $400…you might even get $350 if you’re suave.
The DMR/ + others chain tugnut/hanger option is an awesome idea. I had never seen those and was going to go with the saint or sturmey archer 8s internal/disc compatable hub. Where can you get the tugnut wholesale, who distributes them?
I know BTI USA distributes DMR’s stuff, Greasy Comb Distribution handles Revell. Not sure off the top of my head who does Atomlab.
Steve, In answer to your question. Yes, running 1×8 or 9 would be no problem with the new paragon sliders (genius). With that setup, also think about running a chain guide,…syncros is makin some new ones that look bitchin. I run a setup like this on my 26er, works great.
I’m sure you can do all of these mods, and I understand upgrading cranks/stems/pedals/tirs/wheels/etc., but why buy a monocog if you want a geared bike. The monocog is cheap enough that I bought one (29er) and was able to keep my geared MB (TREK 6000). I like the Redline better and have hardly ridden my other bike since. I’m even considering selling the TREK, but I don’t like the idea of selling one of my bikes as I am happy with the TREK (with several mods). Give the SS a chance before you go creating a monster. SS will improve your riding and change things up a bit.
Redline also makes the D440 29er (1X8) or the D460 29er, D640 (26″), or the D660 29er which are 1X9s. I’ve heard all these are great bikes at a great price point. Unless, of course, you already have the parts or would like to be able to convert back and forth…