Seems like I'm all over this thread lately, but the season is really getting started again...

Last night I pushed the Denali over 1500 miles.

But today's update is really more about the Sovereign...

I decided to overhaul the main drive components since I don't think I've done much more than lightly clean and oil them over the winter. The bike has 334 miles on it now.

Got a TON of grease and grime off the derailleurs, chain, cranks, and freewheel.

You may remember me saying earlier that I had problems with the stock freewheel seizing up. A shot of oil into it freed it up enough to ride on without problems, but it's bearings were always noisy.

Today, after cleaning, I found that the bearings were much worse...it sounded as though things were binding and very gritty internally, like it was ripping itself apart. It was extremely noisy, and while I was hoping to ride it tomorrow, there's no way I was going to ride it like this...

Tried more oil, didn't work. Figured I was looking at a replacement but I figured I might as well have a look in there and see what's going on.

Wish I'd done it sooner. Tons of tiny little bearings in the freewheel but it's super easy to clean and repack with fresh grease, like any other serviceable bearing on the bike. Now it glides completely smoothly and silently, so it looks like it'll be good for 25-45 miles tomorrow morning, depending on how I feel.
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