How to Clean Your Bike
Well folks Spring is here and the trails could be muddy – even in the relatively dry climate where I live. Last Saturday I went out on my morning bike ride with something that looked like mist… By the time I had done 30-minutes into my ride, water was dripping consistently from my helmet and my riding clothes were wet. Surprise, so were the trails. Mud was going everywhere on my bike…
So what do you do once the ride is over and you are back at your place?
The answer – several things:
- Rinse the whole bike — this will help to get mud and gunk from the road off your bike and away from potentially damaging the finish on your bike. Rinse it with your hose on a relatively gentle setting so you do not drive dirt into the various bearings and joints on the bike
- Then get a soapy sponge or rag and wipe down the various moving components and chain. Rinse well and dry with another rag. Apply lubricant on the chain, rear and front derailleur
- Check the disk brakes or pads for dirt and grit that may have embedded itself in the components and surfaces.
- Use a brushes set (example shown below) to scrub moving parts and ensure dirt has been removed from the moving components as if that dirt stays there as you ride it will act as a sandpaper….potentially damage the components.
- Once you have washed the bike, you need to apply lubricant on the moving parts – cassette, derailleurs, chain…
you are now ready for the next bike ride…Enjoy!