Winter cleaning/maintenance routine

[JoshM]

Hi all,

I'm a new commuter/cyclist. I know just about enough to know that it's important to keep your bike clean and well maintained, especially in the winter with the salt covered roads.

How do you look after your bike in the winter? Can you suggest what I should be doing to keep my bike in tip top condition?

 

[Citius]

Clean it when dirty. Lube it when required. That's about it really.

 

[Dayvo]

Plenty of advice on youtube.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_-n00KJCc

 

[MichaelW2]

Clean and wax the frame for max dirt-shedding.
Grease or anti-seize all metal-metal static interfaces (seatpost, stem, pedals, bolts).
On new bikes, the main bearings should all be OK but sometimes they have very little grease. In annual service, I prefer to overpack grease to keep dirt out.
water can collect in the bottom bracket.
Derailleurs usually need de-crudding after a couple of months of winter riding. It is a horrible messy job for a cold, damp day.

 

[lpretro1]

Wipe all the cacky off BEFORE you lube and don't just lube over it. Dry bike off after a wet ride & relube - don't put it away wet

 

[swee'pea99]

I lube the chain when it starts going brown, and I clean my bike every year. <smug smiley>

 

[Drago]

I clean my bike after every ride and have it vacuum shrink wrapped and stored in a temperature and humidity controlled Swiss bank vault.

 

[JoshM]

I clean my bike after every ride and have it vacuum shrink wrapped and stored in a temperature and humidity controlled Swiss bank vault.

Is the Swiss vault in Switzerland, or will a UK based bank suffice?

@lpretro1 - thanks that was exactly the sort of advice I was looking for.

 

[MattDB]

My washing practices have got worse over the years but I used to:

Have a watering can ready to rinse down drive train when I got back from my commute.

Once a week I'd take off my wheels give the rims a good wash with soap and water, wash the pads to make sure there's nothing gritty in them.

Until recently I'd been degreasing the chain, cassette, chainrings and derailleurs and giving the frame a good soapy wash but now I favour dry cloths (my socks deemed unwearable by my missus) and wiping everything thoroughly, giving the chain a really good going over (latex gloves very useful).

After everything is dry...

Re-greasing: derailleurs at moving joints with grease gun then wipe off excess, re-oiling chain (I'm currently using 3 in 1) then wipe off most with a cloth. Drop off oil on v brake callipers (carefully). Spray gt80 on brake handles and shifters and under the rubber covers over the hub adjuster bolts once in a while. Then a tiny drop of oil on other screws bolts around the place.

Think that's about it.

 

[RCITGuy]

If my bike "looks dirty" then I spray it down with Fenwicks cleaner and a brush if need be, hose it all off then spray the crap out of the moving parts with GT85..
So far, so good..

PS, cover your brake disks completely when spraying lubricants, otherwise you might as well leave your brakes at home :-)

 

[vickster]

Once the bike is starting to get dirty, flog it on eBay and get a new one buy, ride a bit, repeat

 

[JoshM]

My washing practices have got worse over the years but I used to:

Have a watering can ready to rinse down drive train when I got back from my commute.

Once a week I'd take off my wheels give the rims a good wash with soap and water, wash the pads to make sure there's nothing gritty in them.

Until recently I'd been degreasing the chain, cassette, chainrings and derailleurs and giving the frame a good soapy wash but now I favour dry cloths (my socks deemed unwearable by my missus) and wiping everything thoroughly, giving the chain a really good going over (latex gloves very useful).

After everything is dry...

Re-greasing: derailleurs at moving joints with grease gun then wipe off excess, re-oiling chain (I'm currently using 3 in 1) then wipe off most with a cloth. Drop off oil on v brake callipers (carefully). Spray gt80 on brake handles and shifters and under the rubber covers over the hub adjuster bolts once in a while. Then a tiny drop of oil on other screws bolts around the place.

Think that's about it.

Wow that's amazing. I even think I know what you're talking about! Thank you so much, again that was exactly what I hoping for