basic cleaning?

[li10up]

This is great advice! Thanks so much! I wonder if I am over lubing my hybrid? After muddy rides, I hose it off (no pressure) hold a rag to the chain to clean off gunk, re-lube, and wipe off the excess. Is there such a thing as too much lube? Another question - my road bike has a matte finish - is it still a good thing to use pledge? I assume pledge wipes are what you all are using.Trish

I just spray some pledge on a clean, soft cloth and use that.

[Jolt]

On a related note, what's the best way to clean a chain that has picked up a lot of sand/grit? During the winter the city spreads sand on the roads when there's snow and ice, and then this stuff often doesn't get swept up in the spring. This results in riding through a lot of sand and gravel, and I have noticed (when putting it back on the other day after it got thrown off the chainring when shifting to the lowest gear in front) that my chain is rather gritty which is probably not such a good thing. What's a good, easy way to get most of the sand out?

[stacie13]

Ooh! What a great thread! Just what I needed to know to keep my bike happy.

[aicabsolut]

My FSA crankset is really really finicky. I just cannot get it to shift into the big ring properly (despite lots of playing with the cables and FD) if the chain is not clean and well lubed. Since I live in an apartment and don't have access to a hose and whatnot, I use a cleaning lube like R&R Gold or ProLink. I use it after every long ride (short rides or races, I may just add another light application of ProLink and a quick wipe, depending on what the next ride will be like). My chainrings are much happier.

I wipe off the frame regularly. I give it a sponge bath with auto soap occasionally if it's been out in gross stuff. Then I spray on BikeLust so the next quick wipe down will be easier.

[Scarlet]

Oh my god,

i am so ashamed

i have had my older bike for 3 years and did not wash nor clean it once, went out in all weathers too, i did put a bit of "lube" or something I bought from the bike shop,on the chain once!!!!
I will have to make a point of caring for my bikes now I have read this

is it all really essential or have i just been lucky??????

happy polishing everyone

Scarlet x

[Kalidurga]

is it all really essential or have i just been lucky??????

Like so many other questions, this one's really subjective. To some people, having a clean, properly tuned & lubed bike is as essential as breathing. To others, maybe not so much.

What is a fact is that keeping your bike's moving parts clean, lubed and tuned will make those parts work much more smoothly, and most likely extend the life of the bike. It's up to the individual owner to weigh how essential that is against the time and effort involved.

And Raven... Thank you for making me feel better about my grubby little car