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The importance of keeping your bike clean
The importance of keeping your bike clean probably won't be the first thing on your mind when you're back from a long ride mucky and ravenous, with only carbs and a shower on your mind.
If only you could take your bike into the shower with you were the cubicle bigger.
It's good practice to keep clean your bike regularly
Keeping your bike clean not only makes it gleam, it also means that it will keep running efficiently and smoothly, and this could save you money in the long run, although it’s still good practice to get your bike serviced at Sprockets Cycles regularly.
Keeping your bike clean only takes 15 minutes or so each time once you get into your stride.
Regardless of of whether it's a mountain bike, e-bike, road bike, any build-up of dirt will wheedle its way through moving parts in time and it's as important to clean your bike after a wet ride as it is a dry, dusty one.
It’s tempting to put off a clean until your next ride but a stitch in time saves nine, because if the dirt is allowed to fester, you could be looking at seized up components, clunky gears and noisy brakes.
Keeping your bike clean: the essentials
Bike wash essentials you'll need include a workstand ideally, and water and a bucket, garden hose or jet was/pressure washer will all do the trick.
Then you’ll need brushes, a cassette chain cleaning tool or chain cleaning sponge, degreaser, bike wash fluid, chain lube, rag, chamois leather. We've got all that you'll need in stock at Sprockets Cycles.
Cleaning your bike in a few easy steps
Rinse the frame
Use your hose, or bucket and sponge to wet the bike and remove the majority of the mud and grime that's taken up residence.
Stand well back if you're using a jet or pressure washer and remember to turn down the intensity so that you don't force water into the bearings.
Spray the bike cleaner along the main tubes and really mucky areas and please don't use just any old cleaner or washing up liquid or you might damage the frame.
Clean the drivetrain
You can use a chain cleaning device or apply the degreaser and use a brush. You’ll need the brush for the cassette in any case.
Make sure you have a specific brush for your drivetrain, and please don’t use it on any other part of the bike, particularly the brakes. Cross-contaminating your braking surface with chain filth is not good and could compromise them.
Clean the brakes
Wipe your discs or rim brake surface down and spray some degreaser into a clean paper towel and wipe around the rotors too.
Brush clean
The brushes combined with the detergent will loosen most of the remaining dirt from your bike. Remember the undersides and awkward bits that also need attention. An old rag can be good for threading behind tight areas like the crankset and front derailleur.
Pay attention to moving parts and use a smaller brush to get into narrower spaces.
Rinse
Use fresh water to rinse off the bike and spin the wheels to rinse all the detergent out of the tread and revisit with the brush if not.
Dry
Grab your workstand, mount the bike onto it and use an old dishcloth or chamois leather to dry your bike.
Avoiding the braking surfaces, give it a polish with silicone spray and then rub it with a paper towel or soft cloth. As well as bring it up with a lovely shine, it’ll also reduce the amount of muck that will stick to it next time.
Lube
Apply lube to the chain while turning the pedals and please read the instructions so that you don't apply too much. If the bike is not in a workstand, you’ll need to turn the pedals backwards.
Use a moisture dispersant lube on your derailleur pivots, again, avoiding your braking surfaces.
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