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Redline Monocog
March 23rd, 2005 by Tim GrahlThe Redline Monocog was my first experience with a singlespeed bike. When Mike and I found out that we were getting one, I quickly called the first shot to review it. I love trying new and different things and the idea of riding a rigid singlespeed on the local trails sounded like good times to me. I have been riding the Monocog a couple months now and this is my review so far. As I continue to ride it, and Mike gets some saddle time on her, we will add updates to it.
The stock crankset is a RPM 32t X Alloy 175mm with an ACS Main Drive Freewheel 16t cassette. The 32t and 16t stands for the number of teeth on the crankset and cassette. The 32:16 design is very popular on singlespeed bikes; however it is a pretty brutal gear for off road rides with a lot of climbing. This set up is the equivalent to riding in the high twos on most geared bikes. I have ridden it on the roads and at a local trail called Blackwater Creek which stays relatively flat with just a few climbs dispersed throughout the ride. This is the perfect kind of off road riding for the Monocog.
The frame is steel with disc brake tabs and comes only in matte blue with a pretty cool looking design on the tob tube. Most of the bars and miscellaneous parts on the Monocog are a mix of Ritchey and Redline parts. Along with the crankset and cassette, the bottom bracket is VP. The brakes are Tekro and the Alex rims come stock with Kenda Karma 26? x 1.95? tires. It also comes with a chain stay protector that I pulled off pretty quick. Probably not the greatest for muddy conditions.
The only mechanical problem I had was the seat post bent a little bit after the second ride. I didn�t notice this until a couple days later when I pulled the bike out at the trail head getting ready for another ride. Since I was already there I figured it would be fine and went ahead and rode on it. Not the smartest move as near the end of the ride it bent again a lot more and made it pretty uncomfortable and dangerous to ride. I like riding with a high seat so I had the post right on the line to indicate the highest it should be. I weigh in at about 190 and that was enough to bend the seat post. The guys at Redline were cool about it though and they had the warranty part in my hand five days after I let them know about it. The new seat post has held up great under the pressure.
The Monocog is flat out fun to ride and perfect for training rides if you are trying to build up your endurance. I feel like my pedaling is more constant on the singlespeed setup where as the geared set allows me to sit back and rest a lot more. The ride is completely different in that you have to learn when to use your energy efficiently and climbing is a much larger task when you can�t just kick it down to granny gear and hamster wheel your way to the top. The rigid forks also help to make the ride faster in that your handling is a lot better. Often times on quick turns, especially on a descent, your forks will compress as you take the turn and that takes extra balance and energy to keep your wheel pointed in the right direction. The rigid forks obviously don�t have that problem which means you take turns easier and quicker.
The combination of the singlespeed setup and rigid forks provides a much faster and controlled ride. Instead of kicking back to granny gear and riding easy, you are forced to stay in a faster gear and continually pedal which creates a much faster pace of riding and a better workout on the legs.
Riding the Monocog takes some getting used to if you usually ride a bike with shocks on the front fork. The negative reinforcement of having my boys slapped around everytime I went over a rut, rock, root or whatever on the trail quickly taught me to pull my butt off the seat at these obstacles. However the added handling I mentioned allowed me to take portions of the trails that I had always biffed on before. There is a particular downhill and rocky stretch of trail that I had never been able to conquer in the past without bailing. I made it no problem my first try on the Monocog.
All around the Redline Monocog is a good bike. Some of the parts beg to be upgraded however at the $400 price tag you are getting a great bike for the money. If you are looking to get a singlespeed bike on the Blue Collar budget, I would definitely recommend this as a good option. Be sure to check out the Redline website and the full specs on the Monocog.
Also, be sure to check out all our posts on the Monocog.
Nice Bike! Only 4 bills, huh? Pretty decent I’d say. I also noticed that I experienced many of the same benefits from my time on my singlespeed Karate Monkey. Only big wheels roll over stuff even better! One thing that you might want to mention is that this bike, at this price, is a killer bargain when you compare it to piecing a single speed together from an old gearie bike. And way better, too!
are the hubs on the mono cog compatible for discs,frame has tabs for disc,but it does not say if hubs are disc ready?
Get the new 29 inch wheels, der so sick. love riding my monocog. I win races all the time with it. I recommend this bike to EVERYONE. but when you get it, you might consider getting disc brakes. Maybe some sick Hayes.
Just bought a barely used Monocog (26″) for $200. The flat pedals had been changed to entry level SPDs by the previous owner but other than that the bike was completely stock.
The ride was great for a bike that’s $450 brand new. The frame is torsionally rigid enough to climb out of the saddle (which is absolutely necessary for a single speed) but compliant enough not to kill your ass when you’re seated. The bike was also decently light for such a cheap bike - my 17″ is 26 lbs. with pedals.
The bike with stock 32-16 gearing would climb all but the steepest of my usual trails. Though on one climb that is over 1000′ tall on which I use my granny gear on I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I didn’t and I know this bike will improve my strenght and stamina like no geared bike could.
The only complaints I have is the brakes are wimpy and the tires need bigger knobs to hook up. Fortunately the bike has front and rear disk tabs plus disk ready hubs though a LX level v-brake would probably do the trick. Also, the frame and fork have big clearance (at least a 2.3 tire would fit - probably a 2.5) but I would suggest a tire with tall, grippy, and stiff middle lugs to hook up in soft dirt because you need all of the traction you can get climbing out of the saddle in a 32-16 gear ratio.
I just got my ‘06 Monocog and all I can say is nothing beats a single-speed.
Big Ups to Redline who delivered this bike hella quick and to Jason @ Bikewerx Mililani for putting my baby together as soon as it arrived.
I pieced together a single speed from spare chunks of crapped out bikes around my apt. complex- heavy, seafoam green, about a 3:1… I ride the s**t out of it- and yes- you do work harder on a single gear. Saw a guy with a redline at the train station- he loves his monocog and has come to see the light of single speed cycling. Gears are for tourists..he he he…
We ordered 2 Monocogs from Redline, a 26 and a 29, both 17 in frames. We were sold on it on the test ride………..I cant wait to get it!!!!!!!!
I got my Monocog 15 inch 2 months ago. This is the best bike I have very owned.
It’s brown, 2007 model and whereever I go people ask about it. Looks damn cool and rides like a champ. City and off-road. A pleasure to ride. While mine was being built, another cat came into the store, saw it and ordered a 17 inch and now the store has 3rd 17 inch on the floor. I put a RaceFace bashguard on the chainring and it looks sweet. Thanks Redline, you rule.
How does the Redline compare to a Trek Soho S single speed? Anyone got experience with both”? Thanks.