I’m not one to show off about my endless achievements but this one takes the biscuit: I fixed a bike pedal all by myself! It had become “crunchy” (that’s the actual technical term) – rather than spinning freely and easily in its socket it became stiff and well, crunchy.
It was pointed out by the mechanic who serviced the bike, just after he had opted to do nothing about it. Like every lazy Western consumer I thought “Sod I’ll have to replace them,” only to remember that that would cost £100 I would rather not spend. Actually, it would have cost £165 because I would have bought Dura Ace pedals for my Cannondale then passed down its Ultregra pedals. At least then there is an overall improvement even if it’s at a fair old price.
Prior though I thought I would bravely attempt to solve the problem myself. No small job: I had to buy a spanner set (if you’re thinking “how did you not already have one?” it’s fair question) and specialist grease. I then took the pedal apart and basically played with it like a chimp for an hour, cleaning as I went. I don’t quite know how but I restored it’s free spinning original state. God loves a trier! 🙂
Dr Martin James 