Cleaning it!

[Xiorell]

Might seem like a really obvious thing but, I wanna give my bike a clean/wash.

I wanted to check first that there's not any products I should avoid using to do so, before I attack it with the classic soapy water + sponge combination?

 

[rockyraccoon]

Baby wipes do incredible job. Avoid detergent and make sure to lubricated everything after wash

 

[johnr]

Fenwyk's (?) foaming degreaser works miracles if the drive chain is really dirty and greasy - you can get it from Evans

 

[Fast_Mark]

+1 for baby wipes, and for the chain I usually give it a good going over with white spirit and then a good helping of finishline.

FWIW GT85 makes a great polish too and the Teflon makes it harder for the crap to stick to the bike.

 

[Paulus]

Avoid washing up liquid, it contains salt which is bad for various moving parts such as the chain, sprockets, cables etc.

 

[sabian92]

WD40 is pretty good for getting rid of grime, just don't, whatever you do, get it on the brakes or rims. You'll know what the inside of an ambulance looks like very soon if you do.

 

[funnymummy]

I got a 'Muc Off' kit for Christmas, a good hose down & spray with the cleaner, leave to work for about 5mins then rinse off, remember to relube the moving bits!!
I live by the sea so very salty especailly when it damp, I try to do this after every ride or at lesat as soon as is possible (like next morning if get home after dark)
Once a week i'll run the chain through the degreaser gagdet
Don't forget to do your rims/blocks too or you'll get a gritty build up, makes barking dodgy!

 

[ian turner]

Don't forget to do your rims/blocks too
or you'll get a gritty build up, makes barking dodgy

There is never a time when barking is acceptable while cycling !!!!!(See the thread about being chased by dogs)

 

[funnymummy]

I'm barking mad, apart from when i'm raving!

 

[pepecat]

+ 1 for the baby wipes... tried them for the first time today after the bike shop man left oily prints all over my nice white frame.....and they're fab! Pity they don't take the oil off the white bar tape too.

 

[screenman]

TFR and jet wash, + a bit of lube after. I cannot see any difference between a jet wash and riding in the rain, if you use it properly of course.

 

[Bicycle]

For the painted bits I'm afraid I use carwash shampoo and a bucket of warm water. I always have. I don't know whether it's good or bad. It cleans the bike.

For the oily bits I use diesel fuel.... or other degreasing products that are lying around.

To lube, I use an aerosol thingy the name of which I forget... but it's jolly good. It's called synth lube something-or-other...

My only bike-cleaning luxury is one of those little chain-cleaning devices you clip around the lower run of the chain... a sort of transparent perspex box full of gears and brushes... then you pedal and watch it clean the chain.

I fill that with diesel (or Gunk or Jizer or similar) and then rinse in water and then dry and then lube.

Do not take any of the above advice; I've just re-read it and I realise I have no idea what I'm doing....

 

[ramses]

I find oxy wipes are pretty incredible at getting anything off.

I use these for quick cleans, but you can't beat a proper wash down, and for that I use the muc off kit. Works good for me.

 

[Xiorell]

OK so few ideas there for the painted bits

What about the greasy parts? Should I be cleaning the chain of oil and re-applying often?
What about like the rear derailer? Should I be cleaning then regreasing that all the time?

 

[Muddy Ground]

Your chain should always look pretty clean; if it doesn't, then sort it. Oil it, wipe off pretty much all of the oil with a rag - the oil only needs to be inside the rollers after all. Excess oil on the outside does nowt but collect crap. Sounds sad, but I only ever apply a single drop of oil to each roller, run the whole lot around for a bit, then wipe it all off. I'd suggest investing in a really good quality chain.

You can get spray on degreasers from Sainsbury's - good for cleaning the sprockets, but don't go mad.

The rear mech is bomb proof really; just wipe it down with the baby wipes.

www.muddyground.com