Cleaning the Bike?!

[Bike Writer]

I clean my bike depending on where it's been ridden. If I've stayed on paths and other paved surfaces it can be a couple of hundred miles between cleanings. If I've been on a muddy dirt road it's right after I come back home.

By cleaning I mean with soap and water to the frame and components. Complete degreasing and relube of the chain and drivetrain is about 200 miles or so, again depending on where it's been and frequency of dirt road rides.

I like the technique from Owlie, good job!

[Jordyne]

Thank you all so much! I guess I need to do this asap! hah

[Kiwi Stoker]

Use carwash with wax on the frame- leaves a wax finish to protect the paint. Use degreaser (citrus ones are best, don't use car degreasers- to harsh) on the chain, wheel rims, cranks and any tough spots of grease on the frame.

We do ours outside either on grass or on concrete with the bike on a repair stand or leaning against a wall. A Chain cleaner machine (plastic body which clips over the chain) is great as you pour the degreaser into the body and use less than pouring it all over the chain.

[Jordyne]

Hey All,

I clean her! I even waxed her and she looks purddyy! Thanks for all the advice.
One question- I don't have degreaser, so I just scrubbed and chain/cassette and then lubed it up. Now that I've put maybe 100 miles on it, do I need to add lube again to the chain? How often do you lube just the chain? And must I get degreaser or can I add lube to a dirty chain? I don't have time to wash the bike every week.

[Teena]

Just kidding... if it's really icky, dirty or muddy, I clean after a ride or two. If the bike doesn't look dirty, I don't clean it. I barely have time to clean myself, let alone the bike!
Having said that, I can tell you it's been hundreds of miles since Gracie has had a bath.
I do lube the chain about every 100 miles give or take, depending on weather and road conditions, but I have never degreased the chain on any of my bikes. Not against it, just never thought they needed it.
I take her out into the yard and clip her into the Park Tool bike stand and wash with Dawn dish soap and a bucket of warm water, using a sponge on a handle for the frame and wheels, and a stiff brush for oily, gunky parts. I rinse with a gentle spray from the garden hose. I suppose I could do it in the bathtub if it was really cold or rainy outside.
I was thinking about getting one of those skinny brushes to go between the cogs of the cassette, but I was cleaning out the basement last week and found we already have one - never been used!
Enjoy your clean ride!

[Tri Girl]

BTW- I use Simple Green and it works just as well (and it's a teeny bit more environmentally friendly than specific chain degreasers).

I have a trainer, but never use it for cleaning. I go to the grass out back by our shed and lean it against the wall to clean.