TTri-Flow sent Cole and I each a huge box of their products to test out- I decided I should show my mtb some love. It's been... umm...yeah- that long. It needed some attention- probably a complete overhaul, but for today, I just wanted to get the chain ring/chain/cogs cleaned and lubed, and I also wanted to switch out my pedals for a pair of Crank Bros. Eggbeaters I got on the cheap via Ebay.

Starting out, I took the back tire off and moved the chain out of the way. Then I took the huge can of Rapid Clean dry degreaser/cleaner and started blasting away. Instantly, years (I know...) of oily, dirty, sludge began to disappear. I soaked everything liberally and let it sit for a few minutes. I came back and it was fairly clean, but there was still some build-up. I blasted it again and this time scrubbed lightly with the right tools and BAM! Almost good as new! Well, alright- it's ten years old and it looks like it, but it's clean- and it all happened quick!

I grabbed my big can of Superior Lubricant only to find the cap was busted off. Balls. So I grabbed for the medium sized can. Popped the top and it was good to go. Put in the little straw and lubed all the right spots with precision.

So I'm only ridin' slightly dirty, but that took care of a little noise and gave some new and much needed life to my old gears...

The pedals were pretty stuck, but thanks to Swobo's track wrench, I only busted one knuckle, and not that bad- which is pretty good for me. I'm clumsy, and not very mechanically inclined. I blame it on left-handedness. My dad was a carpenter... but that's a whole 'nother story. Since those pedals had been on since...well, since Cole's dad bought the bike a long, long time ago, I used a thin layer of Tri-Flow's synthetic grease on the threads and the Eggbeaters went in like butter, and I'm ready to hit the trails!

-Brandon