Cleaning my road bike......

[I like Skol]

After any wet ride it's washed with car shampoo and a sponge. ...............

A dirty bike is a slow bike. Red and blue bikes are fastest, especially when clean.

:Cuckoo:

Just ride it! If it gets too dirty then it starts to fall off and your all good again

 

[roadracerash1]

1. Car shampoo and your cleanest car sponge.
2. Wash off all the dirt off the frame.
3. If you need to clean your chain I usually put some chain cleaning fluid on it and leave for a while. (i personally use some good degreaser for the chain).
4. Use a chain cleaning tool (or a soft brush). And take all the gunk off.
5. I then use a wheel cleaner and remove the dirt off the tyres. (im a neat freak when it comes to my road bikes).
6. I use some car polish on my frame and use a microfiber cloth.
7. Lightly regrease the chain with some chain lube. I personally prefer GT-85. It leaves a really nice smell. Its surprising how little lube you need for the chain. You dont need to go mad with it. Oh I've noticed that WD-40 isn't a good chain lube. I'm sure its a degreaser.

 

[Browser]

Muc-off bike cleaner, citrus-based degreaser for the oily bits, very occasional wax with Simoniz, replace the rusty screws/bolts with stainless ones.

 

[Pauluk]

On a related note, I keep my bikes in a shed which is slightly damp. How do you prevent the shiny bits rusting?
Got a 6 year old mountain bike in their which gets regular use and cleaning, however, bolts and other shiny bits are a bit rusty looking now. Don't want my new Carrera TDF going the same way after a few years.

I change my bolts, screws and grub screws for stainless steel ones, they cost pennies from my local screw specialist.

 

[Ozzrahog]

I am into deatilning my car so want to kepp my bike to teh same standard so I am looking at the following cleaning

1. Wash non oily bits with good quality car shampoo 2 bucket method with microfibre mit
2. Seal paint work with wax
3. Chain/gears degrease and lube
4. Lube break levers, cables etc
5. Lube brake discs (ok joking about that HONEST!!!!)

Am I missing anything ? and what degreaser and lubes do you guys recommend?

 

[smutchin]

I don't clean my bikes nearly often enough, so when I do, I have to do it properly...

A couple of weekends ago, I gave my nice road bike a thorough clean. This meant stripping the bike down, removing the front and rear mechs, the cassette and chainset and giving them all a good soak in penetrating oil - it was the only thing I could find in the garage that was strong enough to get some of the gunk off.

Next time the weather is nice enough to take it out, I expect to be significantly faster...

d.

 

[cyberknight]

If its really mucky then its car wash stuff in a bucket using old cloths and an old toothbrush nd take the wheels out to clean inside the rear triangle/ forks, for a quick clean you cant beat baby wipes .

 

[musa]

If your mickle-ing your chain use wd40 first (sprayed on a cloth) rotate the pedals backwards and wrap cloth around chain to degrease. Then lube chain with chain oil or gt85 wipe excess.

NB: wd40 is a Water Dispellent

 

[Ozzrahog]

Didn't realise WD40 was a degreaser, always thought it was a lube (got a feeling I am opening a can of worms here!!)

 

[smutchin]

WD-40 is too thin to work well as a lubricant, but it is good for cleaning.

GT85 is also a good cleaner and is a bit better than WD-40 as a lube, but still a bit lightweight for my liking. I use GT85 or bogstandard generic "bike oil" from the LBS to lube moving parts like brake pivots, front and rear mech, but never GT85 for the chain - for that I use Finish Line.

d.

 

[Peteaud]

I am into deatilning my car so want to kepp my bike to teh same standard so I am looking at the following cleaning

1. Wash non oily bits with good quality car shampoo 2 bucket method with microfibre mit
2. Seal paint work with wax
3. Chain/gears degrease and lube
4. Lube break levers, cables etc
5. Lube brake discs (ok joking about that HONEST!!!!)

Am I missing anything ? and what degreaser and lubes do you guys recommend?

I use Zaino Z8 to finish but have also given it a coat of Dodo SN i the past.

Trim cleaner under the saddle is good (dont put it on the top tho)