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@PQR
Hello
now the summer is here I have got out the Mercian and so compared to my beater bike the difference in the resistance when peddling is quite amazing - the gearing is the same so I can only presume it is down to the parts on the bike - probably being gunked with winter crap. I was going to spend this weekend cleaning it up but was wondering about a few points to make it smoother and faster and wanted to check about the best way to do it.
The Chain - chain is in ok-ish condition apart from being filthy. After about a years use is it better to replace or clean it? For £10 I'm thinking replace
Pedals - the pedals seem to not be as smooth as they used to be - how easy is it to clean the bearings up? They are odyssey/bmx style pedals
Bottom bracket - cheap shimano un54 - is it false economy of scale to replace this perhaps once a year or best to invest in a better bb and then service it?
Wheels - front is sweet as a peach and about to stick a new one on the back and has been running fine.
Was there anything else I should do to get it back up to a decent level? Tyre pressure was the only other thing I can think of.
Thanks for pointers or any other ideas