Mango DO.GG 1X review

Northern Ireland’s Mango has cut a distinctive swathe with its bikes over the last few years, never knowingly understated when it comes to a flash or two of colour.

Our test bike’s green with black rims is actually one of its more subtle colourways – just check out Mango’s website for more.

The DO.GG has hydraulic disc brakes and features a chromoly steel frame. It comes with a mix-and-match approach to spec.

In fact, there are drivetrain and shifting components from so many different manufacturers that it would be hard to call the Frankenstein setup a ‘groupset’.

But is this apparent kit mishmash a monster or the result of successful surgery?

Mango DO.GG 1X spec details

Clarks may be at the less expensive end of the market, but its hydraulic stoppers proved excellent in testing, with a light action and more than enough power in hand.

Descending our local hills, I was happy to ride at over 30mph knowing the brakes would stop me safely and quickly without the need to grab a fistful of brake lever.

They're considerably better than rim brakes and mechanical disc brakes, and I believe they’re a real boon to rider safety.

Mango has gone for a single-ring 1x drivetrain for its new bike, pairing a 40-tooth FSA Vero Pro narrow-wide chainset with a nine-speed Microshift 11-34 cassette. It’s a surprisingly handy gear range, though there are limitations.

As with the Fairfax, there’s a chance you’ll spin out if you’re a wannabe Mark Cavendish – at a cadence of 100rpm, you’ll be a shade under 31mph.

The greater limitation is at the other end of the spectrum, where the 40x34 pairing delivers a 31in bottom gear.

For urban riding in predominantly flat terrain – as a commuter bike, the Mango’s natural home – this wasn’t an issue. However, it will make steep or long hills very challenging propositions.

Mango DO.GG 1X geometry

Mango DO.GG 1X ride impressions

The Mango’s ride has the zing and liveliness you’d expect from a steel frame. It’s great for nipping through city traffic, with the really quite upright riding position providing excellent visibility.

The combination of the steel frame and fork, and 32mm Continental tyres, is great at smoothing rough road surfaces. It proved equally good over the light gravel of the Two Tunnels route and the rougher semi-surfaced Kennet & Avon canal towpath in the south west of England.

With clearance for 45mm tyres, you could use this quite confidently for mixed-surface riding, though the limited bottom gear and upright riding position means we’re not talking gravel bike here.

There’s enough stiffness from the frameset for short, sharp efforts through city streets and the great braking helps on descents, but this isn’t really a bike for life in the hills, at least not steeper ones.

I unshipped the chain once, but that was when I hit a puddle that turned out to be a deep pothole when riding at a decent pace. It didn’t happen during day-to-day riding.

The Mango’s nine-speed Microshift gear levers and rear derailleur worked without issue.

I’m guessing one of the reasons Microshift components are turning up with a bit more regularity these days is Shimano has been suffering from supply issues. However, don’t be put off, Microshift’s components have always worked very well in my experience.

Mango DO.GG 1X bottom line

I really enjoyed riding the new Mango for its real zing and liveliness, but the DO.GG probably has more limited ambitions than other bikes with similar intentions.

You’re not going to take this touring and when you hit the big hills it will hurt, but for shooting through city streets and tackling canal towpaths, it’s an absolute blast.