Did I make the right choice?

[mightyquin]

Back to cycling after a few years and not at all knowledgable about bikes, I was interested in the Mongoose Maurice (the orange 'n black one) which is on sale at Evans for £260, but while waiting to get a look at one I bid/won a Kona Paddy Wagon '08 on ebay, reasonable condition with mavic wheels and a carbon fork/seatpost.

Someone told me I should've got the new Mongoose and now I'm wondering..... while the Mongoose is still in stock I could re-sell the Kona. I do like the funky looks of the Mongoose, but isn't the Kona a more 'serious' bike? It's almost certainly less likely to attract theives too as it looks very understated.

 

[Roadrunner78]

I'd rather have the Kona.

 

[Rob3rt]

If the Kona is the Paddy Wagon with the Mavic Ellipse wheels, the wheels alone are worth about 360-380 new. Mongoose Maurice is a f*cking hipster shitheap. I'd tell your mate to stop pushing his hipster tendencies upon your better judgement.

You bought a very nice bike, enjoy it.

 

[mightyquin]

Cheers for the reassurance! I felt I'd made the right choice but I don't know too much about the finer points of bikes, although I'm learning..... I went for the Kona on the basis that it's a more expensive bike (without the upgrades) so it should be the better buy as long as it wasn't knackered (which it isn't).

I've seen the latest Mongoose - looked nice enough and it's light, but the tyres would need replacing immediately and the paint finish wasn't too good on some parts, like a light overspray.

 

[colinr]

What Rob said. The Kona is far better
It doesn't have Mavic Ellipses though, looks like Miche something or others, but still worth a bit.

 

[Rob3rt]

Depends on the version Colin, there is a Kona Paddywagon with Mavic Ellipse wheels, its called the Grandwagon sometimes, basically its a Paddywagon frame with better specced components. Do you have pics MightyQuin?

 

[colinr]

Psst. Over here.

 

[henryst]

I'm with the rest: some people like to buy bikes that look cool and theres nothing wrong with that (I do it!) but if you're interested in quality over style then you've definitely gone in the right direction. I ride a Charge Plug with narrow riser bars and Halo aerorage wheels of differing colours front and back and a gold chain. Some may call me a hipster but the way I see it, we all ride and buy/build for different reasons and its no-ones business but our own. Enjoy your bike!!

 

[mightyquin]

Sorry - Colin is right, Miche Pista wheels, they were fitted by the previous owner along with the other 'upgrades'.

The Charge Plug was another bike I looked at, very nice as well. I was drawn mainly by the looks of some of the bikes, i.e. the Maurice. Nothing wrong in being a hipster or a wannabe hipster IMO!

I'm smartening up the Kona a bit, new grey saddle fitted and just bought some new black/grey fizik bar tape. I'm liking the subtle look that it's taking on. I'll have to upload a new pic soon.

 

[totallyfixed]

I was going to say WTF is a Mongoose Maurice but I googled it. Isn't that what those courier types ride with no brakes. Good decision.

 

[Riding in Circles]

If it is the bike you wanted then it was the right choice, only the sheeple buy what their "mates" tell them to buy.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Sorry - Colin is right, Miche Pista wheels, they were fitted by the previous owner along with the other 'upgrades'.

The Charge Plug was another bike I looked at, very nice as well. I was drawn mainly by the looks of some of the bikes, i.e. the Maurice. Nothing wrong in being a hipster or a wannabe hipster IMO!

I'm smartening up the Kona a bit, new grey saddle fitted and just bought some new black/grey fizik bar tape. I'm liking the subtle look that it's taking on. I'll have to upload a new pic soon.

I am Spartacus.

I like the hipster vibe though I'm too old and fat and provincial to pull it off anywhere but in the provinces.

PS please take the sad pedal reflector platforms off and enjoy unadulterated SPuD's

PPS you made the right choice.

 

[mightyquin]

Well spotted on the pedals - I need to get a pair of cycling shoes first! I read about the Lidl ones but tried a few stores near me, none in stock.

That hat's very hipster

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Well spotted on the pedals - I need to get a pair of cycling shoes first! I read about the Lidl ones but tried a few stores near me, none in stock.

That hat's very hipster

not as hipster as the cardigan

try some dhb shoes from wiggle.

 

[colinr]

I'm too busy dropping people to worry about whether they think I've a hipster bike or not

The dhb M1s are good, but since moving to some fancy shimano ones, I wouldn't go back.
If you're going clipless, you want to be buying a sprocket and lockring and flipping that wheel round. Become one with the bike and all that