Well, for personal reasons, I am giving up MTBing until this coming Spring (maybe). Unfortunately, I am just not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I am selling my MTB on CL, which, I bought on CL back in June for $60. I am hoping to get what I bought it for, but I am not sure I will. As for me working on the brakes, it didn't turn out quite how I expected it would. It is funny, because it is just one little step (pulling the cable taught to get good leverage on the lever itself) does not seem to be working out for me. So, I have just given up, mainly, because I do not have the time to do it, nor the space, so I will simply sell the bike without the brakes done, or a seat, as I am taking back the seat that I put on it to Performance Bike (thank the Goddess they have one hell of a return policy). It will also have one Blackburn MTB pedal on the right, and the standard pedal on the left, but I will include the other Blackburn MTB pedal to the buyer.

All in all, I put new shifters on it which only cost me $20, but with my whole brake debacle, I estimate I have spent about $80 - this includes the cables (I f'd up about six - don't ask), the housing, crims/caps, and the Park Tool Cable Housing Cutter (which will come in handy for my commuter, as will all my other tools and my extra brake cable/housing stuff that I have and am keeping for future use).

Anyway, I guess the old adage is true - "Practice makes perfect." I look at it as a good lesson in bike mechanics for the future!

I am saving up my money in order to buy a better MTB in the Spring (maybe), as I, honestly, believe that I made a mistake buying my MTB (even though I named him Lanny - LOL). It was an impulse buy, but hey, I learned my lesson!

I'll be around the forums every once in a while, and when I am ready to buy my new MTB, I will be back for all the good advice here!

Thanks!