Cleaning 101

Your bike is a precision machine. It's your weekend fun - your weekday transportation - your friend. Your bike deserves a little time, some TLC and a gentle touch to make it run smoother and last longer!

Start with a bucket filled with warm water and a biodegradable dishwashing soap. Aside from rags and some elbow grease, other supplies to have handy include a Park Tool Gear Clean Brush, a Cyclone Chain cleaner, a bottle of Finish Line Ecotech and some Boeshield T-9 lubricant.  

Start by cleaning the dirtiest parts of the bike - usually the drive train. Finish Line Ecotech is a good degreaser for cassettes and pulleys. Most chain manufacturers don't endorse cleaning chains with solvents.  In fact, just wiping your chain regularly with a clean cloth is the best choice. Then, replace as needed per manufacturer's suggestion (check for wear every 1,000 miles with a Park Chain Checker).  If you do want to clean your chain, try a Park Cyclone chain cleaner. Fill it with soapy water and clamp it around the chain. Just back pedal the bike until the entire chain makes it's way through the bath.

Continue with drive train cleaning by using your gear clean brush to comb grime out of the cassette. Use the brush end to tackle derailleurs and pulleys. Using a degreaser is fine, but be careful not to drip solvent into hub or bottom bracket bearings. For a thorough cleaning, remove the wheels from the bike. Lean them so the cogs face the ground. This minimizes the amount of solvent that drips in the hubs.

Once the drive train and wheels are sparkling, move on to the rest of the frame. Use a rag or sponge with your soapy water to clean the tubes, handlebars and underside of the saddle. 

For your final rinse, it's fine to use a garden hose, but skip the high-pressure nozzle and just drizzle water over the bike from top to bottom. Use rags to gently dry the bike. Compressed air is fine if you have it, but be cautious - don't blast bearings directly.

Finish your project by lubricating your chain, pulley wheels, cables and pivot points with Boeshield T-9.

Cleaning your bike regularly makes it run smooth and last long. It also allows you to inspect your bike - looking for frame cracks, worn pulleys, bent chainrings, worn rims or other inconsistencies that can minimize your bike's performance.

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