Cleaning Your Bike

Beth_S

I'm totally asking this for a "friend," because I, of course, am an expert at repairing and cleaning my own bike. Yeah. Real roadies don't trust their rides to mechanics, right? And Rich totally wouldn't punch my in the ovaries if he saw my road bike right now. No siree.

If I were to put together a supply list for cleaning my bikes and keeping them in good shape for the season, what would be on it? Keep in mind, I am a city dweller, and all bike wrenching and cleaning happens in my apartment. (no garage, no hoses). One bike is steel, the other is carbon fiber.

Nemo Brauch

Well, here is  my process FWIW.  I do all of this inside, no buckets or hoses needed.  If the bike gets REALLY dirty (like after a ride in the rain), then the hose really is necessary.  But otherwise, if you keep it clean, you don't need to be messy.

Equipment:

Clean Rags

Paper Towels

Simple Green Mix (50% water/ 50% SG)

Lemon Pledge (yes, I said Lemon Pledge!)

Water

Old Toothbrush

Tuperware Container

After Every ride (takes maybe 5 minutes if you've started with a clean bike to begin with).

• Bike gets propped up on the trainer or bike stand (which has an old towel underneath it for dirt)
• Wipe down the frame of the bike using Lemon Pledge and a clean rag (I generally use the same "frame" rag several times).  The Pledge sorta waxes the bike and helps it stay clean and/or clean up easily.  Make sure you get underneath the botton bracket and between the forks and the wheels- that's where most of the road grime collects. 
• Wipe down the tires with a a paper towel that has been dampened with plain water
• Wipe down the brakes & deraileur with a paper towel that has been dampened with plain water
• Run the chain backwards through a clean rag to wipe off the grime.  Use the same rage to wipe down the derailleur pullies, rear cassette (just a quick wipe down here- not a major overhaul) and the front chainring.

Once a week (usually after my long ride on Sunday- adds another 10 min)

• In addition to the above steps I add the following:
• Spray Simple Green Mix on the rear cassette and use a toothbrush to give it a good cleaning
• Use Simple Green Mix on the rag when cleaning the chain and front Chainring
• Use the toothbrush on the chain  & front chainring to give it a scrub
• Re-lube the chain
• Lube the moving parts of the derailleur and brakes

Once a month (usually on Sunday afternoon- I frankly find this relaxing, but I'm weird!)

• Remove the cassette from the wheel & drop it in a tupperware bin of Green Simple Mix
• Remove the chain from the bike & drop it in a tupperware bin of Green Simple Mix
• Use a clean rag, toothbrush, & paper towels to clean & dry the cassette & chain
• Put it all back together (don't forget to greese the cassette hub) and then re-lube the chain
  
   

Kitboo

Beth: One of my favorite subjects...Cleaning bikes!
1. Lots of old cotton rags, t-shirts. To clean the deepest recesses of my cassette, I tear them into strips and floss.
2. Chain cleaner---I like the Park Tool one.
3. Orange bike degreaser---great for the chain cleaner. Also for wiping down greasy parts like cassettes. You can flush it down the sink without environmental worries (no baby polar bears will die!). It won't make you dizzy in an enclosed apartment.
4. Simple green. To clean the rest of the bike. It's okay to use on carbon.
5. Old toothbrushes. To clean out grime/goo from derailleurs and cassettes. You can buy an $$$ bike brush kit, but I recycle my old toothbrushes.
6. Chain lube. Lots of different kinds for each condition that you ride in.
7. Lube for moving parts of the drivetrain. I like TriFlow.

TracyWood

 Great Info! Thanks

Thanks for starting this thread for your..... err friend Beth.

I also need to watch the videos on bike maintenance

Beth_S

Awesome!

Kitima -- Tell me more about chain lube.

Any suggestions for a top five list of bike maintenance videos?

 

Nemo Brauch

 My favorites:

Terry Bicycles (laugh if you want boyz- this is good instruction that is easy to follow)

http://www.terrybicycles.com/videos

 

Bike Tutor

http://bicycletutor.com/

 

And Park Tools (no video, but good instruction)

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=85

krisf

Nemo- Will you adopt my bikes? Ok, so only for 10 mins after rides, Saturdays and one Sunday a month?

I thought I was fairly good but you just put me to shame!

tuckerm

I am supposed to clean my bike? And what is this lube stuff you are talking about? I am certainly remiss in my bike care. Thanks for the links Nemo and list.

Cary Blanco

I use Pedro's Oranj Peelz or Finish Line Super Bike Wash, never tried the Simple Green - on my list.

Careful with the ripped T-shirts, you can end up with loose threads in your drivetrain.

And yes, I find it relaxing too. At Casa de Blanco, bike cleaning goes hand in hand with post ride beer consumption. Just sayin'

Chris G

 Not sure if cleaning my bikes is relaxing, more in the if you take care of them they will take care of you category.  I clean the crap off the frame when it is bad enough for me to actually notice or whenever I ride in crap weather.  I will occasionally wipe down and lube the chain but usually I just take the chain and the cassette off and drop them in a container of 50/50 simple green for a while and then wipe everything off, lube and put it back together.  Having a wipperman link in the chain is key for this, works way better than trying to clean the stuff while it is still on the bike.

Kitboo

Beth: Chain lube...There are 3 basic types:
1. Dry lubes: They typically go on wet and set up dry. By setting up dry, it does not attract dirt/dust. Alot of these dry lubes can contain Teflon. These lubes are great for riding in dry and/or dusty conditions. They don't hold up well in wet conditions. My favorite for the road/tri bike is Finish Line Dry.
2. Wet lubes: Oily lube that goes on wet and stays wet. These are great for wet, muddy (for mtb) conditions. Because it stays wet, it will attract alot of dust. My favorite (when I lived and rode in Seattle) is Dumond Tech.
3. Wax lubes: These go on wet and dry in a hard wax. Some of the fancy ones contain nano particles of ceramic. Apparently, these lubes are for folks who don't want to clean their chain. They require frequent application and don't last long in wet conditions. I've never used one as I really enjoy cleaning my bike. (Weird, I know.)

For lubing the moving parts of the drive train, I like a dry lube. My favorite is Triflow Superior Dry Lubricant.

Beth_S

Thanks, All! I have ordered all the lube and cleaning supplies, for, um, my friend.

Posted By Kitima Boonvisudhi on 31 Mar 2010 08:25 AM

Beth: Chain lube...There are 3 basic types:

1. Dry lubes: They typically go on wet and set up dry. By setting up dry, it does not attract dirt/dust. Alot of these dry lubes can contain Teflon. These lubes are great for riding in dry and/or dusty conditions. They don't hold up well in wet conditions. My favorite for the road/tri bike is Finish Line Dry.

2. Wet lubes: Oily lube that goes on wet and stays wet. These are great for wet, muddy (for mtb) conditions. Because it stays wet, it will attract alot of dust. My favorite (when I lived and rode in Seattle) is Dumond Tech.

3. Wax lubes: These go on wet and dry in a hard wax. Some of the fancy ones contain nano particles of ceramic. Apparently, these lubes are for folks who don't want to clean their chain. They require frequent application and don't last long in wet conditions. I've never used one as I really enjoy cleaning my bike. (Weird, I know.)



For lubing the moving parts of the drive train, I like a dry lube. My favorite is Triflow Superior Dry Lubricant.

 

Nemo Brauch

I think perhaps we'll need to schedule Mani/Pedi's AND Bike Cleaning for CowGirl Camp!

Al Truscott

Notice the gender difference in the responses? Living in a land of constant wetness, I ignore frame cleaning, lube the chain when it squeaks, and make sure the gears sparkle only when I'm heading out to a major race. But then, I'm a guy ...