Like flower pressing or weaving, biking is something many people reach for when it comes to hobbies. There are layers to this, though. Some people use their regular bikes and only bike for fun. Other people take this as a competitive adventure and make it their mission to explore every place on their road bikes.
Whether you’re a casual bike rider or an adventurous one, there’s one thing you should never skip. And that is taking care of your bike. If you want your trusty companion to be in top condition and stick with you for a long time, you’ll have to wash and maintain it properly.
Otherwise, the build-up and dirt can spread through the mechanisms and slow your bike down.
And then there’s also the problem of rusting. You can’t stop this, but you can slow down the spread if you clean your bike properly. But cleaning a bike is more than just rubbing liquid soap on the frame. You’ll have to think about other parts too. So how do you clean your bike?
Well, that’s what we’re here to tell you. Here is a step-by-step guide on properly cleaning your bike the easy way. You’ll have to follow this through and have a practically new bike.
Why Should You Clean Your Bike?
The first reason would be hygiene, as you can guess. Your bike and its accessories (the helmets included) need a good cleansing routine to ensure they aren’t becoming a trove for bacteria. But that’s not all.
Your bike also needs cleaning to keep its performance up. If you don’t clean your bike, the mud and all other dust build-ups will become harder to remove. This can ruin your bike’s frame, and if the build-up gets to the derailleurs, you’ll have a hard time ahead.
The dust build-up in your bike’s derailleurs can affect its performance. Your motorcycle can start stuttering when you ride, and the rusting can practically make it immobile. It would be incredibly harder to remove all of that because of how long those have been sitting there.
Another edge a regular cleaning can get you is problem spots. If you clean your bike regularly (or semi-regularly at least), you’ll be able to spot potential problems earlier. So you’ll have more time to fix them before they get out of hand.
To keep it short, cleaning your bike will help it stay in top condition and last longer. It will also help you detect problems sooner and give you more time to fix them.
How to Clean Your Bike: A Step-by-step Guide
Cleaning your bike is easier than it sounds. You’ll have to follow four steps: wash, dry, grease and clean. You can go the full DIY way or use a few extra tools to help you out with this.
What You’ll Need for Cleaning
You won’t need anything you’ll have to search far and wide for. Most things you already have at home will do, but you may need one or two things from the store.
- Old rags
- Cleaning brushes
- Bike cleanser (general cleanser might do but about anything corroding)
- Degreaser
- Chainkeeper
- Lubricants
- Water source (preferably with a hose and trigger-style head)
Let’s get to the cleaning part now.
Cleaning Your Bike
Step 1: Prepare the Space
Since you’ll be working with a lot of water and lubricants, it is better to have a separate space where you won’t have to worry about stains and anything else. Setting up a corner makes the job easier, even if you’re in your garage.
Put something like an oilcloth on the floor so the water doesn’t start running everywhere. Get your bike work stand to prop the bike up from the ground. If you don’t have a bike work stand, you can turn to a tight clothesline. You don’t have to do it, but it makes the cleaning easier because it keeps the bike up from the ground. Get your brushes, cleaning supplies and everything else, so you don’t have to leave for something every two minutes.
Detach the wheels and keep them in a separate place for cleaning. This will help you clean the frame and other parts better. Maintain the balance on the chain with a chain keeper.
Step 2: Wash the Frame
Start with the easiest part, the frame of your bike. Wipe it with a dry rag to remove loose dust and anything that doesn’t need thorough washing. For this part, get your bike cleanser and a scrub brush (or sponge). If you don’t have bike cleansers, you can make your own. Just squirt a generous dishwasher in two buckets of water, and you’re good.
Make sure your scrub brush is more on the soft side. Otherwise, you can end up with a discoloured frame. Dip it in the water and scrub away the dirt from the frame. Be as thorough as you can. Don’t leave corners or narrow parts just because you feel you can’t reach them.
Step 3: Degrease and Clean the Cogs
This part ensures your bike doesn’t fall off the performance scale. You’ll have to use a degreaser on your bike parts that keep it running. Derailleurs, drivetrain, chain– everything needs to be degreased. Always use a bike-specific degreaser, not generic ones like turpentine.
Use your degreaser on the derailleur and chain first. Then go for the drivetrain and then move to the chains. Degrease them and give them a good scrub but don’t be too hard. Use a bottle brush to make sure you’re reaching everywhere. If that feels too big, then go for a toothbrush.
Move on to the cassettes and chainrings of the bike once you’re done with these three. Use a gear brush to get the cassette cogs properly and gently scrub the debris.
Step 4: Wash Your Bike
Once you’re done scrubbing, it’s time to rinse it off. It works better if you have a water source with a hose and a trigger-style head, but that’s not mandatory. If you don’t have access to a hose, get a big bucket of clean water and something to pour it with.
Gently wash off the lather and everything else. Don’t make the water stream too strong; if you’re using a bucket, don’t just pour everything all at once. Take your time and properly wash everything off. You don’t want soap on your bike, especially around the cogs.
Step 5: Dry and Use Lubricants on the Tricky Parts
Dry your bike after washing everything off. You don’t have to go all the way through. Let it sit for 5 minutes and wipe everything with a dry rag. This way, water won’t trickle down when working with lubricants.
After drying, apply your lubricant around the derailleurs and drivetrain. Get all the cogs and then move on to the chain. Apply a good amount but don’t go overboard. If you feel you applied too much, wipe off the excess with a clean and dry rag.
Conclusion
And that’s how you clean your bike. Make sure to wash the wheels separately and give them enough time to dry off properly. You can do a test drive to see if the lubricant is working properly.
Source:
- https://www.cyclingweekly.com/video/how-to-clean-your-bike-221294#section-what-you-need-for-cleaning-your-bike
- https://www.bicycling.com/repair/a35386346/how-to-clean-bike/
- https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-clean-a-bike.html
- https://www.bikeradar.com/features/clean-your-bike-in-7-simple-steps/
