bike cleaning tips from a protour mechanic

[Lister Farrar]

This is one of the better descriptions of cleaning I've read. New stuff I learned was trimming the brush (D'oh! How long have I been teasing dirt with a longer brush?), having the degreaser handy in a cut-down bottle in the frame cage (how much have I spilt on the ground outside my house?) , and using a compressor to blow it dry before lubing.

Can anyone recommend one that's cheap and portable? (Would be nice if it ran a nail gun too.)

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/12/ ... ade_152351

I usually just hose the bike down (avoiding the bearing seals) in winter to get the grit off (2 min max), bounce it to shake the water off, lube the chain wet (after each wet ride) and oil pivots and cable entry points every couple weeks (4 min).

[sylvan]

I usually just hose the bike down

Yeah. Me, too.

(avoiding the bearing seals)

Oh. Where the heck are those? Like in the wheels?

[Lister Farrar]

(avoiding the bearing seals)

Oh. Where the heck are those? Like in the wheels?

Yes. Where hub axles enter the hubs, the bottom bracket axle enters the bottom bracket, the centers of the derailleur pulleys, headset seals (these face down below the races (the bits that say the maker) so water doesn't sit on them), and both sides of the freehub (spoke and dropout). I aim the hose straight down on the cassette though, and spin the pedals backwards.

Not to be confused with these:
http://wiki.bssd.org/index.php/File:Aakaspottedseal.jpg

[EricS]

Gavin taught me a few tips for a quick post ride cleaning:

Remove all components from the frame
Seperate all cogs.
Place the drive train in the dish washer with organic citrus and olive oil bike wash from Italy
After washing the wheels and frame, rinse with distilled and deionized water, dry with organic cotton.
Wax all surfaces with hand squeezed Brazilian carnuba wax.
Polish hubs with Campagnolo Electric Mink-fur Hub Polisher
Hot wax the chain
Rebuild
Place a dab of rose water behind each brake hood.

During the winter, this quick clean may not be thorough enough, see Gavin for a copy of his Full Clean Book. There is a particularly nice recipe on page 421 for homemade rear shifter cable lube.

[Roland]

This is the best article I've read on chain cleaning: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

[BearPope Recruit]

Gavin taught me a few tips for a quick post ride cleaning:

Remove all components from the frame
Seperate all cogs.
Place the drive train in the dish washer with organic citrus and olive oil bike wash from Italy
After washing the wheels and frame, rinse with distilled and deionized water, dry with organic cotton.
Wax all surfaces with hand squeezed Brazilian carnuba wax.
Polish hubs with Campagnolo Electric Mink-fur Hub Polisher
Hot wax the chain
Rebuild
Place a dab of rose water behind each brake hood.

Tough standards set for the inaugural shiniest bike award... what will it take to win a coveted Toblerone in 2011?

[wonger]

what will it take to win a coveted Toblerone in 2011?

Clean my bike and I'll buy you a toblerone!

[Brian S]

Gavin taught me a few tips for a quick post ride cleaning:


Wax all surfaces with hand squeezed Brazilian carnuba wax.

Really?? I just shave my legs in the summer.

[gav_eaton]

Gavin taught me a few tips for a quick post ride cleaning:


Wax all surfaces with hand squeezed Brazilian carnuba wax.

Really?? I just shave my legs in the summer.

No no Brian - you must wax the bike and body year round! Nothing beats a hot wax in winter...

[4827north]

Gavin taught me a few tips for a quick post ride cleaning:

Remove all components from the frame
Seperate all cogs.
Place the drive train in the dish washer with organic citrus and olive oil bike wash from Italy
After washing the wheels and frame, rinse with distilled and deionized water, dry with organic cotton.
Wax all surfaces with hand squeezed Brazilian carnuba wax.
Polish hubs with Campagnolo Electric Mink-fur Hub Polisher
Hot wax the chain
Rebuild
Place a dab of rose water behind each brake hood.

During the winter, this quick clean may not be thorough enough, see Gavin for a copy of his Full Clean Book. There is a particularly nice recipe on page 421 for homemade rear shifter cable lube.

Dang, I keep forgetting the rose water. Gavin, time to publish your "Keeping Your Bike Clean for Dummies"