| A clean bicycle will be a well tuned bicycle and will | | | | Use some luke warm water, a sponge and plain old |
| serve you much better than a greasy, grimy bike that | | | | dishwashing detergent to clean your wheels. Sponge |
| you rarely have time to wash. Everything on your bike | | | | off the tires, rims and spokes while being careful not to |
| is open and easily attacked by dirt and grime and if | | | | get the detergent into the bearings. Rinse it carefully |
| you do not regularly clean it off, you risk not only losing | | | | and dry the wheels off manually with a towel. |
| performance, but endangering yourself with shoddily | | | | Cleaning Chain rings |
| performing parts. | | | | First, take the chain rings off of the crank - this might |
| Cleaning Chains | | | | require a special tool - and place them in a tub or sink. |
| The most complex and actively moving part on your | | | | Cover them with degreaser and brush them |
| bicycle is its chain. It is here you should devote the | | | | thoroughly. Rinse them afterwards and give them time |
| most attention regularly, cleaning every time you go | | | | to drip dry and then take a towel lightly to them to |
| out. There are options to buy expensive, all-in-one | | | | finish the job. |
| chain cleaners, but you rarely need those if you have a | | | | Cleaning the Frame |
| good cleaning routine already in place. | | | | You will need a lot of additional help for the frame |
| First, make sure you have a chain that is easily | | | | cleaning. Don't take a pressure washer to your frame |
| removed for cleaning - a Wippermann or Sachs | | | | because it looks easy - you will only get stuck |
| preferably. The Wippermann in particular is stainless | | | | replacing shocks or other parts because of it. Clean |
| steel, immune to the effects of rust and corrosion. You | | | | the frame carefully and by hand and look for any |
| still need to clean it regularly, but it will not succumb | | | | other indications that you might need to clean other |
| quite as easily to small problems that other chains | | | | parts of the bike - such as the pulleys. |
| might. | | | | Finishing Up |
| After removing the chain, place it in a tub and cover it | | | | When you are finished, check over every part for any |
| in self cleaning lubricant. Use a basic degreaser if the | | | | signs of wear or damage, including chipped paint, dings |
| chain is especially dirty and scrub it clean. You should | | | | or cracking. Now, lubricate your bike thoroughly with |
| do this every time your chain or bicycle gets wet or | | | | the right viscosity of lubricant for each moving part and |
| dusty. | | | | ensure everything is well placed and put back together |
| Cleaning Cassettes | | | | properly. |
| Place degreaser on a toothbrush and clean these | | | | If you regularly wash and lubricate your bicycle, it will |
| thoroughly with the brush. Get inside every little crevice | | | | run like a brand new machine every time you take it |
| you can find. However, do not spray the cassette | | | | out of your garage. Make sure you follow the right |
| directly as it will get the degreaser into the bearings | | | | steps provided for your specific bicycle in its manual |
| and remove the grease that you actually want to be | | | | and that you take it to a professional shop if any |
| there. Afterwards, rinse lightly and let it dry. | | | | major work needs to be done. |
| Cleaning Wheels | | | | |