Get home from the ride, bike covered in clarts so I hose the bike down but what next?
What tips and advice have you got for cleaning the bike and on going maintence 'cos at the momment my cleaning techniques seem to be pretty poor as I am picking up lots of "niggles" eg chain snapping, gears jumping etc.
Cheers
Is your bike dishwasher safe?
I hose the bike down and give it a rub over with a soft brush and some car shampoo, (there's nothing worse than trying to do maintenance on a dirty bike), next I bounce the bike up and down a few times, this shakes the water off and tells me if there are any loose bits about to fall off. If there are no rattles I oil the chain and put the bike away.
Jet wash. WD40. Job done.
Degrease my chain and running gear with chain cleaner tool.
Then use car shampoo and a sponge on the frame staying away from headsets and hubs etc.
Then hand splash water to get rid of suds.
Dry off with shammy. Relube chain and check frame for damage etc.
Personally would never use a jetwash or hose unless you want to kill your bearings...
Sorry, that was said in jest.
I do sometimes use a jetwash if it's really filthy, otherwise hosepipe, Fenwicks bike cleaner & selection of sponges & brushes from Wilko's.
Then lube up before putting it away. If I can I'll leave it out to dry first though
You may find [url= http://steveukmtb.wordpress.com/basic-cleaning-and-maintenance-guide/ ]this guide[/url] useful.
Goldenwaonder-you'd be suprised how many ppl would believe you and go jet washing lol.
I also Gt85 my frame after it's dry-watch the brakes etc as I find cleaning a dirty bike is easier and nice shine left.
Also I find the toughest part is getting of the rear and doing it in the cold weather... 😉
I love these imaginary bike cleaning routines...
Realistic routine; get home half-pissed after a day out on bike and post-ride recovery beers, shove bike in shed.
Some time later, get bike out of shed, flake off chunks of dried mud, oil chain and mtfu.
😛
A full wash is sponge and brushes with soapy water. Stuff like Muc Off is IMHO a waste of time and bad for the environment. Quick wash after coming back at midnight is a quick spray with the hose.
Either way, I run the disks and chain through a dry rag so they don't get rusty where they touch other parts - pads for the disks and sprockets for the chain. Also turn upside down to get water out of the seat tube. All in takes less than 5 mins
Jet wash. WD40. Job done.
Woops, that's what I do 😳
Rinse off with a 'gentle' hose. Put bike in shed. Remove chain, dry it on radiator wrapped in kitchen towel.
Job done
i dont use a jet wash as there too powerful but if you get a hosepipe with one of those selective endings so you can choose which water power to use that's fine, get some muc-off spray it on leave it few mins rinse off and rub off any grime left over, rinse it down, dry it off, and lube chain for next ride 🙂
If I'm pickled when I get home,it gets dumped in the garage unwashed and I climb into bed un-showered.Yeuch!
Usually, it's hosed down,cleaned properly,dried off,and a quick squirt of silicone spray. If it looks shit,generally it is.
Rinse, coat the chain and mechs in Muc Off chain cleaner, leave it for a fe minutes, some hot water in the chain cleaner and thne a good go at the chain. Finally a bit of Fenwicks and then turtle wash n wax and a wash, let it dry off a bit the good coating of GT85 on moving parts, wipe off excess. Give it a hug goodbye and then demand that the mrs makes me some food
turn bike upside down,
Liberally apply:
[img] http://www.juicelubes.co.uk/all-products/images/35 [/img]
to chain etc,
wait a few min...
spray with:
[img] 
[/img]
lube with
[img] http://www.juicelubes.co.uk/all-products/images/149 [/img]
put bike away.
