Get the gunk off. Rinse bike from top down. Of course, how often you clean your bike will depend upon how much mileage you put on your bicycle. Avoid stiff brushes, steel wool, or cleaners containing abrasives or chemical compounds. This careful cleaning meant you get as much miles out of the expensive chain as you can. Now I clean, dry and lube my bikes after every wet ride and they are as good as new. Tip: Arm-type vehicle bike racks can work great in a pinch for holding bikes in the air for cleaning. How to clean and lube your bike chain Keeping your bike chain clean and lubed is the best way to extend the life of your drivetrain, keep your bike shifting smoothly, and save money in the long run. Our guide below shows you what we believe is the best method to clean and lube your chain. I always carry a bottle of detailing spray, shield cleaner, cleaning rags, okay diape Tedious, but true. Here are ten top tips to keep your bike in tip top shape: 1. Lubing the chain is absolutely critical to extend the life of your drivetrain and keep your bike as quiet and smooth as possible. Bikes pick up all kinds of dirt, dust, and debris from the road and trail. The advice we give to every new bicycle buyer is to regularly "clean and lubricate your chain." Clean your bike chain and drivetrain like a pro I hear time and again people saying they don’t have the spare time or the right facilities to clean their bikes properly. This only lead to a rusty unloved bike. In the past, I was lazy and would leave my bike dirty/wet in the garage. I usaully wait until its a warm day (high 30s low 40s) and clean it in my garage. Here's how. Use a degreaser and some paper cloth, making sure you fully clean away all the old grease before proceeding. 3 Focus on the Drivetrain: Now that your bike’s nice and dirt-free it’s time to do a deep clean on the chain and re-lubricate it. It now takes me about 30 minutes to wash and dry my bike. Welcome to Bicycle Cleaning and Maintenance 101. The Foul: You saddle up, hammer out a brisk 30, and rack the bike until next ride. Use a wet sponge and mild detergent. Some people think I'm a little obcessed with a clean motorcycle. Watch the salt and road grime wash down the drain. The chain is almost always in motion and under constant tension, bearing against other parts in the drive train. How often should I clean the bike? Tools you need: Clothes; Chain cleaner spray. We’ll show you some best ways to clean your bike cassette; from here you can choose the one that suitable for you. If it's been thru mud it's best to clean before it dries. It depends a lot in what conditions you ride, and how well & often you clean your bike. If there is one thing you can do to prolong the life of your bike, it is keeping it clean. This can significantly decrease the wear and tear on all of the bike's parts. How To Clean A Bike Cassette. Of all the parts that make up a bicycle, the drive chain is among those that receive the most wear. I clean my bike quite often & have never had a problem removing any grease or dirt with the Pledge. The following 5 Tips provide some basic pointers for cleaning your chain, properly applying lubrication, and other ways to … This is a thorough bike wash that includes degreasing your drivetrain. The chain is at the heart of the bike, says Rob McCreedie of Juice Lubes, and it's vital to keep it clean and well lubed through winter Clean and lube your chain as often as possible (Pic: Media24) When lubricating your bike, really all you have to look for is the moving parts, where metal pieces move against one another. Print. Use compressed air if available, but do not blast bearings directly. In practice, you can't reasonably clean the chain on the bicycle. You may need to use a sponge to get tough grit off. 2, In Winter/after wet rides I give my bike a good clean. Use a light lubricant such as CL-1 on the chain, pulley wheels, cables, and pivots points. David Fiedler. Follow this quick and painless routine for cleaning your bike after a wet ride to keep it looking and working like new: 1. How to Clean a Bike Chain. Check your wheels Throughout the season is the ideal opportunity to check your wheels are up to scratch, particularly if you’ve ridden a … The aluminium parts of your bike may corrode from contact with dirt, mud, or road salt. Every bike needs a little tender loving care to ensure you get a smooth ride. Keeping your bike clean protects your investment by enhancing the life of your bike’s various parts as well as protecting its paint and ride quality. Modified on: Fri, 22 May, 2020 at 5:19 PM. Good repair stands allow rotating the bike 360 degrees, too, for inspecting all frame surfaces. Keeping your chain clean and lubricated makes for a better-running, more efficient bike, and prolongs the life of your sprockets and chainrings as well as the chain itself. I take an empty bottle of wind shield washer fluid and fill it up with very hot soapy water. The chain is a key component of your bike’s drivetrain system, and keeping it clean and in a good condition can prolong the life of the drivetrain and enhance your bike’s shifting performance. So, how exactly do you go about doing this? I do not always clean my bike as often in the winter as I do in the summer. Allow the bike to dry after rinsing. Lube. And the best part is, you can do it all at home with the right supplies and some basic knowledge. It always frustrates me. The maintenance schedule for a bike can vary somewhat on how often it's ridden and what condition it's in to begin with. Take a close look at the bearings, the … This way, you need to separate the wheel of your bike from the bike and then clean the cassette. And how often is "regularly?" There are several on-the-bike chain cleaning machines but all they do is making a huge mess where you clean the chain, so they cannot be considered "reasonable". Now clean the tub! As you ride, lube makes its way to the outside of your chain, where it acts as a magnet for dust, dirt, and grime. Shop bike cleaning. Process Of Cleaning: The water, oil and other foreign substances on the road can leave some pretty gross residue on your bike frame and components. The chain is also open and exposed to any elements that can damage it, including water and dirt. Clean the wheels after riding through any of these substances. Here our Great Britain Cycling Team mechanic guides you through the routine. This is the most important step after washing your bike any time of year. Get in the habit of removing wheels when bike cleaning. Use a light, specially-formulated bike lubricant and not any old junk that you find in your garage. And if it’s left this way, it can affect the way your bike performs. If it's a dry ride and the bike doesn't look dusty then it can go a few rides between cleans but keep the chain oiled. I take an old kitchen sponge too. The weekly clean-up represents perhaps 150 + miles of cycling per week. The following steps are what I consider my “weekly” and “monthly” cleaning or maintenance. Due to the corrosive nature of sweat, we recommend wiping down the bike after every use. Do remove the wheels. Rinse again with clean water, dry the bike with a clean rag and re-lube the chain and your tired-looking bike will be well on the way to looking like a new machine. This can significantly decrease the wear and tear on all of the bike's parts. You do this by slowly turning the pedals backward to move the chain a section at a time so you can clean it by either spraying on the solvent as you wipe down the chain with an old rag or by wiping down the chain with a rag that is saturated with the solvent. I do the hubs, then each spoke, then the rims. A clean bike is a happy bike. It’s kind of amazing what you find stuck beneath the down tube. If it's winter and you're roads are salty wash it often and oil it appropriately. Bike Cleaner spray. You must remove the chain. If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the Halfords Bikehut Mini Cleaning Kit. With your bike in position, apply solvent (something like WD-40 or isopropyl alcohol) to the chain. Due to the corrosive nature of sweat, we recommend wiping down the bike after every use. Bikes that are ridden off-road or in the rain will need a little more TLC than one that ventures over the Brooklyn Bridge once per month. Moreover, periodic cleaning of the bike chain can help prevent rust, delay chain wear, and boost pedaling efficiency. Method 1. You can mix and match bike cleaning products, but the simplest thing is to buy is a bike cleaning kit. Let the bike drip dry before you bring it back through the house. Cleaning and lubricating your bike chain is an essential but often neglected maintenance routine. Wipe the chain clean and dry with a rag. Keep it clean. To give your bike a decent clean you will need: - A working garden hose or supply of clean water - A bucket - Bike wash / cleaner- Degreaser - Selection of clean brushes and a sponge - Chain cleaning tool (optional) - Rags- Protect and shine spray- GT85 / WD40 or similar - Lube (wet, dry or ceramic) Ultimate bike cleaning The bike can be wiped with a damp rag using soap and water and no corrosive cleaning agents should be used. 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