Article by Trip X America

Project: Mongoose / Kakok Haiti Donation Project
About: Rebuilding a bike to then be sold and donate the proceeds to the Kakok Foundation in Haiti
Creator: Alessandro Garabaghi
Rating:

01/13/09
Would you believe than in the last two days, two packages from different people have arrived to support this project? Today, from Florida a pair of Azonic pedals arrived. As with the saddle this is another main contact point between a rider and his bike. These pedals have removable pins and are built to take a beating. The pedals will be a great addition to this project, giving much more grip than the old aluminum pedals the mongoose came with. With that I would like to thank Fabio from Florida for donating the Azonic pedals.
Remaining parts:
- Chain tensioner to convert to single speed
- Grips
- Chain / Cassette

01/12/09
The donation of the tubes and tires has instilled confidence in minds of the readers. Today a package arrived from Texas, containing a brand new WTB saddle. Saddles are one of the three main contact points of a rider to his bike. This saddle will replace the old mongoose saddle which is tore and cut up, giving the bike more comfortable ride. As I am still non weight bearing on my left leg I will not be able to post pictures of the bike with the new parts just yet. For now here are some pictures of saddle.
P.S. Thanks Dr3 for the saddle.

12/29/08
Only 2 days after starting this project, our first donation arrived. A user by the name of vilmap has donated a new pair of Bontrager Jones ACX tires and a pair of tubes. The feedback for this project has be amazing, and I can only hope it will continue to grow. Here is an updated list of some parts still needed:
- Saddle
- Grips
- Single speed conversion kit
- Bash guard
Anything else you feel could help improve this bike is greatly appreciated.

12/27/08
The “Mongoose IBOC Zero-G Project” started as I am confined to my bed due to a broken left tibia and fibula. I injured myself on Friday Dec. 19th 2008, snowboarding in Colorado. Bummed about the whole situation, and not being able to get out of bed, much less ride a bike, I decided I needed a project to occupy my time.

Sitting at my parents’ house I remembered my old mountain bike which had not been used since I was a teenager. The bike is a 1996 Mongoose IBOC Zero-G and has been kept indoors and seems to be in good condition. Looking up the bike on BikePedia.com I realize the bike itself is decent and with a little bit of love, and help from the biking community it could be reborn into something special. This led me to the idea of making the bike a single speed, cleaning it up a bit, and then selling it. I would then donate all of the proceeds to the Kakok Foundation in Haiti. Maybe it is the holiday spirit or maybe it is the fact that I have been taken care of by nurses and doctors for the last couple of weeks, but this project seems like a good idea.

So now off to the project, the goal of the “Mongoose IBOC Zero-G Project” is to make this classic mountain bike a single speed and put it into working conditions by replacing some small accessories. Once the bike is in good order we will put it up for sale and donate all the money from the to the Kakok Foundation in Haiti, which is founded by some close family friends.

What is needed from you?
Simple, your extra parts! Anything really, but here is a more specific list of what we are looking for to accomplish the project:
- Single Speed Chain Tensioner kit (DMR or similar)
- Single Speed Chain (KMC or similar)
- Chain ring bashguard (e.13 or similar)
- ODI lock on grips to replace the grip shift
- New saddle (anything to replace that gel seat)
Have other stuff you would like to donate, feel free to contact us, but we will only be taking what can be used and put on the bike, we are not doing this for our own benefit in anyway.

Once the bike is completed, we will be selling it on eBay and donating 100% of the profits to the foundation.

Interested in helping with this project? Or have parts to donate? Please contact me Alessandro Garabaghi