What is your mountain bike cleaning routine?
Discussion
What do you do after a really muddy ride?
I usually hose off the frame and drivetrain to get rid of big bits of mud.
Get the wheels out and give the pads a quick clean so they dont make a horrible Grundy noise.
The pick all the muck out of the cassette and chainrings, wd40 on the chain and drag it through some cloth to get it nice and clean. General wd40 on chainrings and cassette then re-lube the chain and I'm done.
I still get problems with slipping gears and crunchy changes after this though.
Do you guys do anything different?
Just got a new bike and want to do it properly from the start. Last bike probably went a whole winter without being cleaned a few years ago before I realised you're supposed to take care of a bike!
I usually hose off the frame and drivetrain to get rid of big bits of mud.
Get the wheels out and give the pads a quick clean so they dont make a horrible Grundy noise.
The pick all the muck out of the cassette and chainrings, wd40 on the chain and drag it through some cloth to get it nice and clean. General wd40 on chainrings and cassette then re-lube the chain and I'm done.
I still get problems with slipping gears and crunchy changes after this though.
Do you guys do anything different?
Just got a new bike and want to do it properly from the start. Last bike probably went a whole winter without being cleaned a few years ago before I realised you're supposed to take care of a bike!
Expect a huge volume of conflicting advice from ‘do nothing’ to a complete strip down and re-build!!!
If it has been a particularly grubby ride, I do the following;
> Quick hose off to get the lose stuff washed away
> Wheels off, clean the wheel rims and hubs with muc-off and I have an old dish washing brush I use on the cassette
> Soak the frame and forks with Pedro’s green foaming wash, then a quick wash off with a brush thingy that attaches itself to the end of a hose
> Clean off the rear derailleur and jockey wheels with muc-off
> Remove the chain and dump it in a pot of petrol
> Quick dry down with a chamois
> Give the frame, bars, stem, seatpost rims, hubs etc a wipe over with Muc-off protect and shine (leaves a slightly grease sheen on things but makes it easier to clean in the future)
> Give the pads a quick rub with some emery cloth
> Wheels back on and give all exposed moving bits a dab of Purple Extreme bike lube
> Give the chain a good wash off with the hose, re-fit it and lube up with Purple Extreme
I have friends who have commented that my bikes don’t look as if they have been ridden, they have – and usually quite hard! Given how expensive components are I think its worth the ½ hour at the end of a ride to give my bikes the once over and make sure they are ready for the next ride! Otherwise the temptation is t jump back on them and ride them covered in dried crap – nothing like a bit of sand in your bearings to half their life!
Every couple of months I will spend a bit more effort on them and re-grease the pedal bearings, headset etc.
I learnt my lesson re jet washers a couple of years ago when I had to replace a BB that failed due to being run dry - a direct result of me washing the grease out! Jet washers are fine as long as you keep them away from your hubs, BB etc....
If it has been a particularly grubby ride, I do the following;
> Quick hose off to get the lose stuff washed away
> Wheels off, clean the wheel rims and hubs with muc-off and I have an old dish washing brush I use on the cassette
> Soak the frame and forks with Pedro’s green foaming wash, then a quick wash off with a brush thingy that attaches itself to the end of a hose
> Clean off the rear derailleur and jockey wheels with muc-off
> Remove the chain and dump it in a pot of petrol
> Quick dry down with a chamois
> Give the frame, bars, stem, seatpost rims, hubs etc a wipe over with Muc-off protect and shine (leaves a slightly grease sheen on things but makes it easier to clean in the future)
> Give the pads a quick rub with some emery cloth
> Wheels back on and give all exposed moving bits a dab of Purple Extreme bike lube
> Give the chain a good wash off with the hose, re-fit it and lube up with Purple Extreme
I have friends who have commented that my bikes don’t look as if they have been ridden, they have – and usually quite hard! Given how expensive components are I think its worth the ½ hour at the end of a ride to give my bikes the once over and make sure they are ready for the next ride! Otherwise the temptation is t jump back on them and ride them covered in dried crap – nothing like a bit of sand in your bearings to half their life!
Every couple of months I will spend a bit more effort on them and re-grease the pedal bearings, headset etc.
I learnt my lesson re jet washers a couple of years ago when I had to replace a BB that failed due to being run dry - a direct result of me washing the grease out! Jet washers are fine as long as you keep them away from your hubs, BB etc....
Hose off the filth. Then degrease lightly let dwell for a bit then rinse. Remove wheels remove chain (powerlinks are the best invention on a bike in years). Leave chain to soak in a pop bottle of turps for a while. Get the cassette off and soak in a small bucket of turps. Enough to cover it. Hose off bike and clean wheels and dry off discs finish off discs with a wipe of IPA to degrease. Return to chain and cassette and scrub out any left over crud rinse through with some fresh turps and dry off with a lint free microfiber lol. Now reassemble bits and finish line the s
t out of the chain. Ensure all shiny bits are dry so no surface rust can start. Stand back. Light your pipe and admire your handiwork.
t out of the chain. Ensure all shiny bits are dry so no surface rust can start. Stand back. Light your pipe and admire your handiwork. Wheels off
Frame upside down and watering can to get all the big crud off
Muc off
Sponge with soapy water
Orange Degreaser on chain ring and chain
Wheels sponged clean and left to dry
chamois-dry frame and wheels
re-lube chain and ring and drag chain through old cloth to get rid of the excess lube
Wheels back on
Bike back upright and quick dry-wipe over to get rid of excess lube that may have dripped off the chain
Frame upside down and watering can to get all the big crud off
Muc off
Sponge with soapy water
Orange Degreaser on chain ring and chain
Wheels sponged clean and left to dry
chamois-dry frame and wheels
re-lube chain and ring and drag chain through old cloth to get rid of the excess lube
Wheels back on
Bike back upright and quick dry-wipe over to get rid of excess lube that may have dripped off the chain
I take mine about in my boot, so unless some scrote has stolen it (Cwmcarn) I generally use the centre wash if I'm hitting the trails - I find if you can give it a hose down whilst it's all still wet it'll wash off without Pedros (my personal choice of bike cleaner).
Have to admit, if it's not spotless I might give it another go when I get home, I rarely spray on the cleaner, I find it works better diluted in a bucket of warm water and used with a sponge.
Give it a good rinse. Leaving cleaner on won't hurt, but it fades anodised things I find - the blue / red knobs on the top of Fox forks especially!
If the weather is dry I leave it out to dry for an hour, lube the chain, and if I've got time use bike spray. I don't spray it on though, I ALWAYS manage to get some of the mist on the discs. I spray it onto a cloth and wipe it over - comes out like new and makes cleaning it easier next time - usually a hose will do it (see above).
Unless you're mental a jetwash wont do it any harm, I've seen guys trying to get hubs, cassets, and chainsets clean as new by hitting them was tonnes of water from a point-blank jetwash, that's just asking for trouble.
Have to admit, if it's not spotless I might give it another go when I get home, I rarely spray on the cleaner, I find it works better diluted in a bucket of warm water and used with a sponge.
Give it a good rinse. Leaving cleaner on won't hurt, but it fades anodised things I find - the blue / red knobs on the top of Fox forks especially!
If the weather is dry I leave it out to dry for an hour, lube the chain, and if I've got time use bike spray. I don't spray it on though, I ALWAYS manage to get some of the mist on the discs. I spray it onto a cloth and wipe it over - comes out like new and makes cleaning it easier next time - usually a hose will do it (see above).
Unless you're mental a jetwash wont do it any harm, I've seen guys trying to get hubs, cassets, and chainsets clean as new by hitting them was tonnes of water from a point-blank jetwash, that's just asking for trouble.
1 PST said:
ccr32 said:
I know I'll get flamed for this, but I don't care...
Muc Off and a Jet Wash. Followed by a liberal lubing, of course.
Ditto!!, then followed by a nice pint of cold Stella!!!Muc Off and a Jet Wash. Followed by a liberal lubing, of course.
Then stand and tut at bike. If this does not miraculously get it cleaner then I'll use Hope s
tshifter and a fairly high pressure mains hose.I'm told the soil on the Chase is some of the most abrasive in the country - much to the consternation of drivetrain and suspension manufacturers who see both my LBS's sending an inordinate number of parts back under warranty as a result - so I really ought to clean the chain properly each ride, but I just cannot always be arsed, especially if I'm cold and wet...
I have one of those Park chain cleaning tools (1992 vintage - are the new ones any better?) but always seem to end up with degreaser all over my hands and arms, which is not ideal for baby soft skin.
MadDad said:
Expect a huge volume of conflicting advice from ‘do nothing’ to a complete strip down and re-build!!!
If it has been a particularly grubby ride, I do the following;
> Quick hose off to get the lose stuff washed away
> Wheels off, clean the wheel rims and hubs with muc-off and I have an old dish washing brush I use on the cassette
> Soak the frame and forks with Pedro’s green foaming wash, then a quick wash off with a brush thingy that attaches itself to the end of a hose
> Clean off the rear derailleur and jockey wheels with muc-off
> Remove the chain and dump it in a pot of petrol
> Quick dry down with a chamois
> Give the frame, bars, stem, seatpost rims, hubs etc a wipe over with Muc-off protect and shine (leaves a slightly grease sheen on things but makes it easier to clean in the future)
> Give the pads a quick rub with some emery cloth
> Wheels back on and give all exposed moving bits a dab of Purple Extreme bike lube
> Give the chain a good wash off with the hose, re-fit it and lube up with Purple Extreme
I have friends who have commented that my bikes don’t look as if they have been ridden, they have – and usually quite hard! Given how expensive components are I think its worth the ½ hour at the end of a ride to give my bikes the once over and make sure they are ready for the next ride! Otherwise the temptation is t jump back on them and ride them covered in dried crap – nothing like a bit of sand in your bearings to half their life!
Every couple of months I will spend a bit more effort on them and re-grease the pedal bearings, headset etc.
I learnt my lesson re jet washers a couple of years ago when I had to replace a BB that failed due to being run dry - a direct result of me washing the grease out! Jet washers are fine as long as you keep them away from your hubs, BB etc....
Just saved that on my phone, really useful tips.If it has been a particularly grubby ride, I do the following;
> Quick hose off to get the lose stuff washed away
> Wheels off, clean the wheel rims and hubs with muc-off and I have an old dish washing brush I use on the cassette
> Soak the frame and forks with Pedro’s green foaming wash, then a quick wash off with a brush thingy that attaches itself to the end of a hose
> Clean off the rear derailleur and jockey wheels with muc-off
> Remove the chain and dump it in a pot of petrol
> Quick dry down with a chamois
> Give the frame, bars, stem, seatpost rims, hubs etc a wipe over with Muc-off protect and shine (leaves a slightly grease sheen on things but makes it easier to clean in the future)
> Give the pads a quick rub with some emery cloth
> Wheels back on and give all exposed moving bits a dab of Purple Extreme bike lube
> Give the chain a good wash off with the hose, re-fit it and lube up with Purple Extreme
I have friends who have commented that my bikes don’t look as if they have been ridden, they have – and usually quite hard! Given how expensive components are I think its worth the ½ hour at the end of a ride to give my bikes the once over and make sure they are ready for the next ride! Otherwise the temptation is t jump back on them and ride them covered in dried crap – nothing like a bit of sand in your bearings to half their life!
Every couple of months I will spend a bit more effort on them and re-grease the pedal bearings, headset etc.
I learnt my lesson re jet washers a couple of years ago when I had to replace a BB that failed due to being run dry - a direct result of me washing the grease out! Jet washers are fine as long as you keep them away from your hubs, BB etc....
Cleaning mud off is a waste of time unless you're putting the bike in the back of your car or it lives in your house and you need to avoid the wrath of SWMBO.
I do change the semi-bath oil on the forks/lube the air can regularly, clean brake pistons, check gear indexing and that bolts are tight etc. Costs virtually nothing, doesn't take too long but keeps everything tip top. Nothing worse than finding a problem when you're 12 miles from home and it's pissing it down!
I do change the semi-bath oil on the forks/lube the air can regularly, clean brake pistons, check gear indexing and that bolts are tight etc. Costs virtually nothing, doesn't take too long but keeps everything tip top. Nothing worse than finding a problem when you're 12 miles from home and it's pissing it down!
Edited by budgie smuggler on Friday 9th March 14:34
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff