Mountain bike cleanliness
8
Mountain bike cleanliness, is it needed after every ride? I was curious to see who does it and to what frequency. I refuse to clean my bikes unless it's absolutely necessary. the trails are really muddy, so my bike will be caked in mudI would however clean and re-lube the drive chain after every other ride. I used to clean my bike when it was new as often as possible.

Every so often I may go out and the trails are really muddy, so my bike will be caked in mud. Now I never ever hose it down after a muddy ride as in my experience I found this to be a bad thing to do. When using a jet spray or garden hose, water tends to get into bearings and seals. Which can work out quite costly when replacements are needed. I let any mud dry and then flake it off after.

When I have the worst of the mud off my bike I then remove the wheels and put the bike on a bike stand. With a bowl full of soapy hot water and some rags I start washing the bike down, then dry it off. With the wheels I make sure the the rag is semi wet, ie: I ring the thing out! The reason why I remove the wheels is so that no soapy water gets on the brake disks!

If I have to clean my bike this way, it gets a good going over! The cranks, chain, seat stem and jockey wheels on the rear mech gets a good degrease and re-lube. I find this is all a bike needs apart from the usual checks for ware and tear...

So how, or do you clean yours??
20:18 | Posted in Category:

Comments

8 responses to "Mountain bike cleanliness"

  1. Funride On 13 July 2009 23:42

    I only use water and soap for cleaning bicycles (I don´t remember the name right now). I must admit I´m not as careful as you (because I almost never take the wheels or anything else for that matter) but I never had problems though. What I usually take a little longer to clean the chain to enlarge it`s life.

     
  2. ithinkyoulfindimperry On 14 July 2009 13:35

    ive cleaned mine once since the 4th of june and the dirt removed weighed 758g lol it would be pointless trying to keep it clean when i ride about 5 days a week

     
  3. paul c walton On 14 July 2009 18:29

    Blimey Perry you must be fit, riding that single speeder 5 days a week :-/

     
  4. paul c walton On 14 July 2009 18:31

    The chain is always my focus as it always makes the most noise when dirty Funride!

     
  5. ithinkyoulfindimperry On 14 July 2009 20:56

    not so sure about fit lol did do about 35 miles today . if i ever do bother to clean it its while dry so as not to push grit into bearings . once in a while ill need to take a tool to it so that particular area will get a quick wipe with a kitchen scourer . its long overdue a strip down , its technically my winter bike that i dont care about neglecting but i havnt finished another bike that will be used in this typically wet summer so im still using it . i never clean the chain . every few days i drip old engine oil between the outer plates and rollers with a syringe so it sinks in and keeps oil from outside

     
  6. allotments4you.com On 16 July 2009 23:00

    I wish he would clean up in the house the way he cleans up his bike!!!!!!!!

     
  7. skipratt On 19 July 2009 13:36

    What for? You'll only do it again!!!

     
  8. Skipper On 20 July 2009 00:54

    I'mm with you on letting the bike dry before cleaning, if any at all of the bike. Lube the chain and crank is the important part, the bike can take a bit of mud for sure!

     

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