Washing and cleaning your bike prevents the build-up of dirt, grease and grit. These can severely shorten the life of components and damage a bike's performance. Remember that new dirt sticks more easily to old dirt, so regular cleaning saves time later on.

 

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Clean 1

 

 

1) Fill a bucket with warm water. Stand your bike upright, spray the bike cleaner onto the frame and use the sponge to remove the worst of the dirt.

Clean 2
2) The chainrings, gear cassette, jockey wheels and chain all need to be
degreased. The chain should be left until last but wiped with a rag before you begin, to remove caked-on dirt. Dip the chain brush in neat degreaser and scrub the components clean. Rinse with water squeezed from the sponge. When cleaning the chain grab it with your free hand to get the maximum purchase. Wipe the chain with a rag.

Clean 3
3) Now turn your attention to the wheels - spray them with the bike cleaner and thoroughly brush the braking area of the rims, as embedded grit and grease can reduce braking efficiency.Use the bottle brush or toothbrush to really work the dirt out from hard-to-reach areas, remembering to check the underside of the frame tubes.You may need to lift the grit off your bike with a sponge or rag but make sure you don't leave pieces of material behind, as you will be storing up trouble for the brakes and gears.

Clean 4


4) Dry off the bike immediately with rags or the chamois leather to avoid smears appearing on the frame. This is the time to apply bike polish if desired. Made from silicone, this product helps to shine the frame and repels water and dust.


Clean 5
5) Perform a full lubricant routine. Take the spray lube and, using the tube attachment,direct plenty onto the chain and all degreased areas. The best way to lube the chain is to hold the spray still above the area of the chain covering the gear cassette and backpedal with your other hand to pass the chain through the spray. Any surplus lube will run down the cassette and over the jockey wheels rather than over the rest of the bike.This is particularly important if you have disk brakes as getting lube on the rotors is to be avoided. If this happens, clean the rotors with surgical spirit. In wet months you should apply a thicker bottled lube to the chain.



Clean 6

 



6) The other areas you should lubricate are V and cantilever brake pivots and cables, both front and rear gear mechanisms, brake lever pivots and gear cables. Remove the outer cables from their stops and spray lube down them if conditions have been muddy or wet.