Gave my Apollo local hack MTB some much-needed attention. The front brakes didn't feel right and had a sloppy feel, so I investigated and discovered both the canti pivot Allen screws were working loose, allowing the cantis to move on their spigots. Out came the Allen key and grease pot and they were taken off, lubed, and put back on tight.
Next, fit some secondhand Zefal plastic MTB mudguards that I got from a scrap donor bike. Wondered why the rear one was taped to the rear reflector bracket, and discovered it was because someone had lost the proper mounting bracket. Drilled a couple of 6mm holes in the mudguared and secured it with cable ties.
Finally, I fit a funky coloured metal water bottle cage taken from another abandoned Apollo. Three jobs, three successes....
Ok, now to the final job of the day - replace the L/H pedal which had a chunk missing from it, was splitting open, and just on the point of disintegrating.... Except that the thing was seized into the crank and even my usual generous amount of brute force failed to shift it. No problem, I'll swap the L/H crank from the donor bike. Oh, no you won't, the thread was half stripped so I dared not use full force on the extractor tool. Had to settle for "just enough" force and then beat the crank arm into submission with a big hammer until it came loose. Job done, and crank arm swapped. Go for test ride and something feels slightly odd.... Then I discover the "new" crank arm is 165mm whereas the original drive side one is 170mm. So out comes the extractor tool again and I end up swapping the drive side one to get a matched pair of arms, but now have an odd pair of pedals instead. Then of course the saddle needs adjusting because the cranks are shorter.....Finally, after much faffing around, I actually manage to go for a 20 mile ride.
Now I know why - Mrs73 has bought them all! 
 Friggin eejit.
Gotta order new eyebolts on Monday then.
