basic cleaning?

[Darby361]

So, I understand once every month or so I need to do a thorough cleaning (remove chain). But what do you recommend for an after-every-ride kind of cleaning? My hybrid I hose down if it has seen mud, but how about my new road bike?
Trish

[maillotpois]

I don't necessarily remove the chain as often as once a month unless you've been riding in rain and grit. Basically, if it has been dry, your cleaning yuold include using a rag and degreaser to clean the chain (cup the chain in the rag and pedal backwards - keep rotating the part of the rag you are using until it is somewhat less black and gunky on the rag). Then lube the chain wel, allow it to sit for 30 minutes and wipe it dry with a clean rag.

Cleaning other parts of the bike is simple - you can use the degreaser or simple green or whatever, and just remove visible gunk.

Pay attention to where the cables are routed below your bottom bracket. A lot of times sports drinks leaking from bottle tops or other gunk gets in there and things won't shift as well.

You're making me feel like I should go clean my bike...

[JLZimrmn]

So how often should I clean my bike? Once a week?

[li10up]

You never need to remove your chain to clean it. It only needs to be removed if you are replacing it. I'd recommend looking at your bike at the end of each ride. Wipe it down with a wet rag if it got dirty. Only hose it with NO pressure if it is REALLY dirty. Wipe with Pledge when done to protect the finish. I read an article recently, I think it was Bicycling Magazine, that said to just put a lot of lube on the chain. It will work out the gunk without stripping away the lube within the links. Just wipe down the chain really good afterwards. Clean the rear cassette with a brush and degreaser when you see gunk building up on it. That's my recommendation.

[Grog]

So how often should I clean my bike? Once a week?

It depends on how much you ride, in what condition, etc.

[indysteel]

Assuming I'm riding in relatively clean, dry conditions, I wipe my chain off and relube it every few hundred miles. I clean it with degreaser or a chain cleaner every thousand miles or so. The point that Bicycling Magazine made is that you run the risk of overcleaning a chain if you take it off the bike in that you remove the grease between the pins. Once that's gone, there's no way to replace it. The magazine also pointed out that the newer lubes on the market are actually self cleaning in that they force dirt and grit out of the links. By using one of these lubes and periodically wiping the chain off, I think you should be good to go.

If and when you do use a degreaser, remember to rinse it off the chain and components as best you can with water. Degreasers and cleaners are themselves abrasive.

[Kalidurga]

I started using a self-cleaning lube last summer (RockNRoll Gold) and gradually stopped using a degreaser on my chain. At the beginning of this year, I had a new chain installed and it's never been touched by degreaser, only lube. So far, it's been running nice and smooth and I've spent way less time cleaning it.

As far as when to clean: I listen to my bike as I'm riding. If the chain seems to make any squeaking noises, it's time to lube. I also look at my bike when I get home. I usually take a rag and freewheel the chain through it a few times to take off any dust or light gunk. If the frame's dirty, I wipe it off. If the components (brakes, derailleurs, etc) have dust or gunk in them, I'll wipe them more carefully and use a bit of lube on pivot points.

If the bike's muddy or the components are gunky, I'll take both wheels off and do the following:
- Wipe down the frame with rags and cleaning solution (Pedro's Bike Lust, Pledge and Armour All wipes are all quick'n'easy possibilities).
- Take a rag and "shoe-shine" between each of the rear cogs.
- Run a cotton ball moistened with rubbing alcohol around the rims of my wheels, being careful to avoid the tires.
- Use a spray degreaser (Finish Line, White Lightning, etc) on the brakes (not the pads), derailleurs, etc., then wipe the degreaser off thoroughly.
- Put the rear wheel back on and use my RockNRoll lube to clean/lube the chain. Tip: With any lube, self-cleaning or not, wipe it off until you think you've wiped too much. The more that's left on the chain, the more gunk it'll pick up.
- Apply lube to the other components.

Since I ride both on- and off-road, sometimes I need to clean every week, other times I can go a month on just a single lube treatment. It all depends on the type of riding I've been doing, weather conditions, etc. Last summer, I had plans to try to wash my frame in my bathtub, but I've found that I really haven't needed to resort to that.

Basically what it comes down to is: Just pay attention to your baby and it'll tell you when it needs to be taken care of.

[RoadRaven]

Um... I clean my bike about once a month - just a gentle wash with warm soapy water and rags and a toothbrush...

I cleaned my car last in... ummmmm... about 2004 I think... maybe 2005...

[RoadRaven]

YW, Kali...

[wildstreaktn]

Hey Raven,
I'm with you,girl!My bikes are always spotless and babied mechanically,but I could probably grow corn in the dirt on my car!! My friends and family marvel about how anal I am about my bikes and how casual I am about the cleanliness of my car;although in my defense,I will say the car is also babied mechanically!

[Melalvai]

The cleaning question is a puzzling one to me too.
I finally took my bike to a shop and said "Please show me how to clean it."

The one trick I could never figure out from reading was how to clean the cogs. I don't know if I can explain it any better, I should probably take a picture of it. I've heard it described as flossing between the cogs or earlier in this thread as a shoe shine.
First, find a shop rag that has a nice hem. I 'acquired' a couple from the local pizza shop which uses them as cloth napkins. The hem is nice because it keeps threads from catching on the teeth.
Slide the edge of the rag between two cogs, one hand on each corner of that side, and floss back & forth. Don't fold or bunch up the rag, it won't fit.
You do have to shift to move the chain out of your way to get all the cogs.

I also wondered how often, and discovered that question answered itself: When it isn't shifting smoothly. When I've been out on the trail or out in the rain--but usually those events make it not shift smoothly. I just got fenders on, and noticed the difference right away.

My biggest newbie mistake was not wiping away the excess lube. That makes it dirtier than if you'd never cleaned & lubed it! Some of these lubes are a combination of oil & water or alcohol, which thins it so that the oil works its way into the chain, but you should give it time to do that and for the water/alcohol to evaporate before you wipe off the excess. It is easy to wipe off the excess (same as wiping it down before you lube). Take your shop rag, hold the sides of the chain gently, and spin the pedals so the chain slides through the rag.

This is one of the few things I can do myself and I love doing it because I feel so empowered.