Mongoose and DSG Team Up To Supply America With Budget Entry-Level MTBs With a Kick

Well, Mongoose is still very much alive today and supplies North America's budget-oriented riders with entry-level bicycles designed to be there years after the actual purchase. That said, a recent collaboration between Mongoose and Dick's Sporting Goods (DSG) has brought with it two MTBs that future riders can grab for as little as $550. Since the average Joe isn't looking to spend a whole lot on a bicycle, let's start with the cheapest option of the two, the Switchback Comp.

Now, whenever I talk about a bicycle, I like to start off by taking a closer look at the frame. For the Comp, Mongoose has chosen to build upon a T1 aluminum frame with a rather decent geometry and features. For example, I liked the way Mongoose lined up the seat stay line with that of the top tube and even reinforced the conjunction of the two right in front of the seat post. Internal cable routing is thrown in as well, but from what I can spot, the head tube's not tapered, so keep your riding light and with both wheels on the ground at all times.

While it may be rather difficult to get a feel for a bike from behind a smart device's screen, I can point out that the head tube is sitting at 66.5 degrees no matter the frame size, the seat tube is at 73.5 degrees, and the chainstay length varies between 44.5 cm and 46 cm. Reach is also important here and will range between 39 cm and 47 cm.

A couple of other components that need to be pointed out are things like the suspension fork with its 100 mm (3.9 in) of travel, the Microshift shifters, and a 7-speed Sunrace cassette. Once a Prowheel crankset with two speeds is thrown on, 14 speeds will be available to new riders to play around with. Everything else is from a brand I've never heard of, Xposure, a brand that's been around since 1994. Mongoose brings in some of their own proprietary gear, such as the saddle and pedals.

The next beast on the list is none other than Switchback Expert, a $700 option that can be considered a step up from the Comp. This time around, the same aluminum frame is in place but with a slightly different geometry. The same head tube angle is there, but the seat tube has been shifted to 75 degrees, and the seat stays shortened just a little bit.

More differences can also be spotted when we dive deeper into the components Mongoose decided to strap to this bugger. According to DSG's website, the only place you can buy these two bikes, the Expert is rocking a suspension fork from Suntour, again sporting 100 mm (3.9 in) of travel. This is made possible because this version comes with a tapered head tube, so you can abuse it a tad more than the Comp. Regarding the drivetrain and braking abilities, the Expert rocks a 1x8 Microshift Acolyte drivetrain setup, and to help you control this alloy steed, a pair of hydraulic disc brakes are clamping down on a set of 160 mm (6.3 in) rotors.

The Comp, on the other hand, is rocking mechanical brakes. Personally, I'd go for some hydraulics, but then again, for the rider level these bikes are intended, mechanical brakes will do just fine. Some, as abilities develop, may need to go for stronger brakes. Hopefully, you reach a level where you can comprehend why people would ever drop over $3,000 on a bicycle.

While exploring the images in the gallery, I also discovered that these two bikes have some mounting holes tattered here and there on the frame. For example, there's a designated place for a water bottle, but at the rear of these babies, it appears as though they might be able to hold up a pannier rack.

If that's true, then you aren't just buying an MTB to take out around the local trails on Saturday, but rather a bicycle that can be an aid in countless scenarios, including heading out to grab some groceries or to the office. Heck, even bike-packing trips might be an option here if that's your kind of game.

Now, I understand that it may be rather difficult to get a feel for these two bicycles directly from where you're standing, but the neat thing about this collaboration is that you can find these babies in the over 650 DSG stores around the nation. Oh, and most likely, they'll have a tester standing by, so take it out for a spin and get ready to go home with a new bicycle.