Hi
I found this site by Googling my bike.
I bought a Marin Eldridge Grade 1994 brand new for (IIRC) about £800. It was my third mountain bike, after a POS Raleigh and a reasonable Diamond Back.
I managed to destroy both previous bikes.
I loved the bike and rode it everywhere. I did a lot of Mountain Biking, long range off road endurance rides mainly, but a lot of off road in general.
The bike was reliable, strong, light, responsive. A thing of beauty.
I left the UK in 1999 and emigrated to Australia, I bought the bike with me.
I put on some slick tyres and used it to commute I also used it for a few triathlons.
We got married had kids and I put a child seat on the back.
About 2006 I stopped riding it and hung it up in the garage. Occasionally getting it out for rides with my children to the park.
Earlier this year I got back into cycling so I thought "will get new shiny mtb and get out into the hills"
So I ended up buying a new Giant XTC 2011 model (a beautiful bike) I took it out a lot, gave it a good chance, but it's just not the same.
Nothing wrong with the bike, but it's just not my Marin.
When I sit on my Marin it just becomes another part of me, you know that feeling?
Anyway so I have decided to restore my Marin and this seems like a good place to document it.
I took it down at the weekend and degreased/lubed the chain.
The shifters were not working, so I opened them up and lubed them with RocknRoll chain lube and they are working again (but probably need replaced)
So, were off... :twisted: