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A Clean Bike is a Happy Bike

One of the most asked questions after a bike purchase is, "How do I keep my bike clean?". The bicycle has lots of moving parts and also has bearings which need to be protected while the other parts are cleaned. Here is how we do it at KGS Bikes. This may sound like a huge list, but it can be done in 15 minutes with practice, and will dramatically extend the life of the bike.

First, the list of tools and supplies shows that we invest a little in good products, and they last a long time:

  1. Bike Stand: We use a Park PRS-20, but a bike stand can be as inexpensive as a friend holding the bike, to a pro repair stand. The cranks need to be able to be turned to clean the chain, and the wheels need to be removed, so it is a good investment to get a proper stand.
  2. Chain cleaning: We use a Park chain cleaner with Simple Green used full-strength. If one has a "Super Link" they can remove the chain for cleaning as well. This is very important.
  3. Brushes: While we use the Park cleaning brushes, a good set of dishwashing brushes works well. If you borrow them from the kitchen, they may not be returnable!
  4. Soap: Simple Green works very well. It is used full strength on the chain, and diluted 10:1 for the rest of the bike. It must be rinsed very well.
  5. Water: We use a garden hose with a spray head. This way the water can be directed to the parts that need rinsing, and the wheel bearings, bottom bracket and headset areas can be cleaned without directly spraying water into the bearings.
  6. Towels: We have a shop rag for washing the bike with the soapy solution and a big, used, bath towel to dry the bike.
  7. Touch-Up: We use Meguiar's Quick Detailer spray to clean off the bike after rides, between washings.
  8. Lube: We use Purple Extreme for the chain and moving parts after the bike is clean.
  9. Wax: A high quality car wax works great after washing, and we do this about twice a year.

Once we have our supplies gathered on the driveway, we wash the bike in the following order:

  1. We take the seat bag off the seat and the front wheel, and mount the bike on the repair stand.
  2. Using the Park Chain Cleaner with the full strength soap, we attach the chain cleaner and run the cranks backwards for a couple of minutes. This gets all the grunge off the chain, and if one washes the bike once a month and wipes the chain regularly, is a simple process. The first cleaning may take much longer if the bike has never been washed!
  3. We then take the soft brushes and use the 10:1 Simple Green solution and get the rest of the bike clean. Keep the brushes wet by dipping them into the soap solution very often! Wash the derailleurs, chainrings, water bottle cages, brake calipers, cassette, rims, and tires.
  4. Remove the rear wheel and wash inside the chainstays and inside the brake calipers. Do likewise with the fork.
  5. Next get the shop rag and using lots of soap solution wash down the frame.
  6. Finally take the rag and do a final cleaning on the chain, holding the lower run of chain and turning the cranks backwards. Be careful to keep the chain on the front chainrings, and if the chain wants to "wad up" this step may need to be done with the rear wheel still on the bike!

Once the bike and wheels are really clean, it is time for the most important step: rinsing. Simple Green is aggressive towards aluminum, and we spend a full 3-5 minutes rinsing the bike and wheels. Let's start with the wheels:

  1. Use lots of water on the rim and tire. This will allow a great tire inspection after the wheel is dry, to see if any major cuts have occurred, or if glass is embedded in the tread.
  2. Rinse the cassette and hub by keeping the water spray parallel to the cogs. This means that you do not spray water directly into the hub spindle, on either side! Just get the soap off the cogs and hub, and the bearings will take care of themselves!
  3. Set the wheels aside and let them drip dry while you are rinsing off the rest of the bike.

Rinse the bike completely. Here are the steps:

  1. Rinse the chain very well. We hold the hose parallel to the chainrings and spray into the front derailleur, and into the jockey pulleys while moving the cranks. We get all the soap out of the derailleurs and chain.
  2. Next, rinse off the brakes, crank and pedals. Don't spray water directly into the bottom bracket. Keep the water spray parallel to the chainrings when in the bottom bracket area!
  3. Do a light final rinse on the whole bike, from top to bottom. Don't spray directly into the headset.
  4. Put the rear wheel back on, and let dry prior to lube.

Dry the bike, chain and wheels, and have a nice cool drink (your choice here!). We then lube the chain with Purple Extreme after it has dried a couple of hours. We lube it one link at a time, and also put two drops on each moving part of the derailleurs, brake calipers, and the cable adjusters on the frame and on the brakes. We inspect the tires and cables for wear, maybe put some wax on the frame, and look at the seat bag to see if the CO2 cartridges are full or empty and if the tubes are ok.

 

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Kevin Saunders