Washing your road or mountain bike after riding can be a pain, but giving it a quick clean can help to keep it in good working order, make components last longer and save you money.
Cleaning your bike regularly helps prevent build-up of dirt and grease that would otherwise chew through your moving mechanical parts – especially your drive train. Washing your bike after riding in muddy or wet conditions is even more important.
Related: Buyer's guide to bike cleaning products
Check out the video, with our quick step-by-step guide below.
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Video: How to clean your bike quickly
How to clean your bike quickly
What you’ll need to wash your bike
- Bucket and sponge or hosepipe
- Degreaser
- Bike wash fluid (preferably biodegradable)
- Brushes
- Paper cloth
- Chainlube
- Chain cleaning device
If you’re in a real hurry following a wet ride, you can just spray your drivetrain with water displacing lube to purge water from your chain and avoid rustiness before a thorough wash.
Clean chain
Use a chain cleaning device along with degreaser to remove built up grime, mud and oil from the chain. Simply use as directed. If you don’t have a chain cleaning tool, aerosol degreaser and a brush will work with a bit of elbow grease.
If there’s loads of oily grime on the cassette and jockey wheels, use degreaser and scrub these before continuing.
Related: How to clean and lube your chain - video
Clean discs
If you have disc brakes, now’s a good time to spray some degreaser onto paper towels and give them a wipe down to remove and drivetrain grease.
Wet bike and spray on bike wash
Wet the bike with a hose or bucket and sponge. If you’re using a pressure washer, be sure to stay well back to avoid ruining your bearings. Spray the whole bike with bike wash and leave to settle as per manufacturers instructions.
Brush down
Start at the top and agitate any remaining muck from the bike with brushes. Pay special attention to moving parts such as gears and brakes.
Rinse
Rinse the bike with fresh water, then check to make sure you’ve shifted all the grime off the bike, brushing again before rinsing where necessary.
Buff
Use a leather chamois to soak up excess water then shine up the bike’s frame with PTFE spray or silicone bike polish, being sure to avoid braking surfaces. Buff with a paper towel or soft cloth. This will also help prevent mud sticking when next out riding.
Lube
Finally lube the chain, wiping off any excess and spray any steel components with PTFE lube, again avoiding braking surfaces.
via BikeRadar.com http://ift.tt/1vF4vAW
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