Your road bike is having some problems. You can’t recognize the strong appearance of the bike, because of layers of mud and dirt for a long time. There must be some way to regain confidence. If you are looking for ways to wash bicycles on Google, that will show up a series of instructions. But…. What is the best advice? Join ASAMA to visit the master bike repairers in the world. They will help you answer the question: "How to clean your road bike as a pro?"
@Rohan Dubash - Doctor D
With bicycles, nothing is better than the feeling of a smooth and well-maintained transmission. The transmission problem is not only in the comfort of cycling a bike or the clean appearance, but also the friction - the number one enemy of bikers. In fact, when you cycle a bike with a super dirty chain, or have worn it from a 300km road before, it will not affect the air resistance. But ... you've wasted a lot of energy!
Several studies show that transmission are dirty and worn will lose the effectiveness of cycling, causing you to lose more power. With a short distance you will not feel anything apart from feeling of a bit heavier pedal. But with a longer distance, you have to cycle 1000 paces? Certainly one thing you will not feel comfortable at all. Don't waste your energy just because you "forgot" to wash your bike!
@Nick Walling, Bike mechanic GB and Wiggins team.
Let’s clean and check each part of the bike in order. You will find some problems such as: loose spoke, warped rim, trail brake block, tires with sharp iron objects ... So you have to check the tires often. I like to use Scotch Brite dishwasher, which has a hard face to gently clean the tread. It makes it easy to remove objects that are plugged into the tires.
If you always let your road bike get dirty, not only does the transmission make you waste your energy, but you also have to waste time removing and replacing parts such as cables, tires, brakes. Instead of spending time and money on complex repairs, take the time to clean the bike properly. While cleaning the bike, you can also check the parts to avoid unexpected incidents while cycling on the road.
Using the right cleaning products not only makes it easier to clean bicycles and also saves your time. It seems that no one multiple product can solve all problems at the same time. So you have to invest in some major products. There are many types of bike cleaning products on the market, find out the main effects of each product to choose the suitable product for your road bike.
Degreaser: you can use Park Tool Citrus Chainbrite, Finish Line EcoTech2 or Juice Lubes Citrus Degreaser. These are cleansing products have a strong chemical that eliminates very fast greases. However, we recommend that you should only use it to clean the hardest parts of the transmission. For general products like Muc-Off, Finish Line Super Bike Wash, it can be used to handle dirt on frames, brake calipers or the like.
When washing a bike, you will definitely dirty many things around. And these stains are hard to clean. So prepare a place where you can display everything. Don't clean your bike in a beautiful kitchen or yard, you'll regret it.
The brush will help you clean every detail. You can use paint brushes or take advantage of an old toothbrush. Don't throw away your T-shirts, they're perfect wipes. While the bike repair masters also use wipes from the old shirt, you don't need to spend the cost of buying good wipes.
@Rohan Dubash - Doctor D
I completely removed the bike to be able to clean more thoroughly. For those who have a habit of cycling daily, it is recommended to do at least once a year. Parts such as bearings of the bottom bracket, rear brake block, lower bearings of the headset may have been " disaster". Saddle cushions and headset can also be damaged by long-term moisture.
If you have spent much money to buy your beloved bike, then take the time to take care of the bike properly. It’s worth it for you to invest more in the detachment tool, soak clusters into the cleaning solvent. You should buy an extra set of hex wrenches (Allen keys) to open the chain or crankset. Do not use kerosene, your bike will be worse if you use kerosene or the like to clean the bike. Buy specialized bicycle cleaning products.
Walling seems to disagree completely with Dubash.
@Nick Walling, Bike mechanic GB and Wiggins team.
I don’t completely remove my road bike unless they were too dirty or deeply corroded. I do not think that continuously disassembling a bike will be good for joints, especially chains. Therefore, I usually only remove the rear wheels to easily soak the chain.
With bike wash products, Walling and Dubash have the same opinion. We should not use normal industrial cleaning but should use specialized types of bicycles. People often buy kerosene or detergents for motor and car to save. However, incorrect use will damage the paint or anodized layer.
Walling has a tip that uses old water bottles, cuts off the top and uses it to store bike bleach. After that, you can use paint brushes to sweep up the dirty areas. This is the first thing to do when cleaning a bike. Don't overdo the bleach near bearings or disc brakes, your bike will quickly go to repair store after 2 months!
After cleaning the transmission, both you and the bike are dirty. We will come to the later stage: brushing
@Rohan Dubash - Doctor D
You should not use pressure sprays to wash bikes like car washes. They don't care about the life of the bike or its components. You must understand that they have probably washed dozens of bikes before having dinner, so they try to get it done quickly. Using a pressure spray is not good for your bike.
@Nick Walling, GB bike mechanic and Wiggins team
I do not object to washing a car with a pressure hose, but I will never use it. You have to know what you are doing with your bike. Better yet, use a large bucket with plenty of soap.
I always use two different sponge. One sponge used and don't care how it was oiled and the other when it clean. I started washing from the front of the bike to the saddle, frames…. Doing so, water and soap will flow from high to low, the bike will be cleaner.
Both experts recommend that we pay close attention to the disc brake and brake arm. Need to clean small trenches, keep them clean. If there is a lot of dirt, it will quickly wear out.
According to experts, this is an important operation for bike wash like a pro. Let's see how they advise:
@Nick Walling, GB bike mechanic and Wiggins team
Let’s wipe the bike dry with a soft cloth. You lift the bike and drop it down gently similar to the bike was jolted. You turn back crank to remove water on the transmission completely.
@Rohan Dubash - Doctor D
With transmission, you should lubricate moderately. People are often obsessed with giving lots of lubricating oil. You just need enough, neat, clean. While using we will check it more often.
Walling also advocates moderate lubrication. Oil should be bare, dry and checked regularly. It will make the bike less sticky. In general, you will spend more time, but in return, the bike will be less worn out.
You should use drip lubricants and put the chain rotates at the smallest cluster. This will keep the oil from spilling onto the disc brake and when move around the bend, chain is also smoother. After checking, use a dry cloth to wipe off excess oil. The oil inside will block friction. But if excess, it will thick with dust.