Caring for your bike.

fleetzz

I am not new to biking, but never really learned how to take care of my bike. I always pretty much ignored it. However, I have been reading some online about cleaning, lubricating, etc.

I noticed that there is quite a bit of sandy materials in my gears, and the lubrication (I probably used too much) really didn't do anything to remove the sand. It is in my chain as well. What is the best way to get rid of this sand?

Is it okay to wash the gears and chain with soap and water and spray the crud out as long as I lube in when it is done? Any great ideas?

Thanks.

ghost15026

I don't suppose there is a big issue with Dawn or some type of basic dish detergent but there are debatably better solutions. All these wonderful companies like to convince us we need a "special" biking version of everything these days. Marked up 4000%. The problem is knowing when we're being robbed. Dawn is pretty famous for not leaving a residue. I'll just give you my routine.

White Lightning (brand) makes a chain degreaser sold at Wal-Mart (in a spray can, bicycle section, next to bike lube). Since I use White Lightning bicycle lube already I usually grab a can of the White Lightning degreaser. Spray the degreaser on the chain and the grime flows off. I also grab a pack of generic baby wipes at the store if none are available at home. Baby wipes are awesome for bike cleaning. Costs maybe $12-13 for everything.

Hose the chain down as it passes over the rear cassette as you freewheel. I clean both chain and cassette. Afterwards, I hold the chain between two baby wipes and crank the bike to clean the stubborn grease off the chain, pulley sprockets, cassette, and other parts. If all goes well, I keep all my finger tips. Baby wipes are also useful to clean up the greasy "mist" that gets thrown off the chain onto the bike frame.

I take a break, let the solvent dry off.

I re-apply a good silicon lube (White Lightning or Finish Line) *only* to the chain links. I start at my chain's Powerlink (different looking chain link, easy for me to spot) and put one drop on each rivet area from above. I freewheel slowly as to not throw lube off and work it into the chain. Let it dry, clean up the area. Come back out later, take a few dry paper towels, and hold the chain while I freewheel and clean off the excess lube.

The chain rivets/barrels are what allow the chain to flex and do its job. The only other part that *might* use lube would be the rivets anchoring the two pulley sprockets. I don't lube the cassette since the real moving parts are in the sealed hub. Looks better that way too.

Be sure to wipe down your rear wheel and braking surfaces afterwards.

fleetzz

thanks, going to the store soon!

sufferlandrian

I skip the detergents and just hose the cassette and chain with a gentle spray. I spin the chain and use paper towels to dry and clean the stubborn grit off. Once that is done I come back with a petroleum chain lube and put a drop per link and spin that in. I come back and use paper towels to wipe chain while I spin the chain. Fresh lube takes off an amazing amount of dirt and grit and leaves the chain looking pretty new again without all the detergents that can ruin the links. Once a year I have the Bike Shop check the chain for wear and use a solvent bath to clean it. I usually end up replacing the chain every couple of years.

TheBigYin

not particularly green, but I have a 2L pet bottle half full of Derv which I keep one of the 2 chains from the winter bike in. Every couple of weeks (or 500 miles - whichevers sooner) I remove the chain from the bike, take the other from the derv, wipe it down and hang it to drip dry (over a small dish of derv that the cassette is soaking in.) Scrub the cassette clean, wipe dry and refit, wipe dry the newly soaked chain an re-lube it, Pour the used derv (via a funnel and kitchen towel filter (fold it like a coffee filter paper) to remove any grit) back into the pet bottle, and drop the dirty chain in the bottle to soak for a couple of weeks.

Last couple of years I've managed to get around 2000 miles out of the chains before they hit the 0.7 mark on the park chain checker, at which point they get binned. More importantly, I've had over 9,000 miles out of the 9 speed 105 grade cassette without it looking or behaving in any way worn, and the chainrings are still perfect. Top and bottom of it is - chains are (relatively) cheap and (semi) disposable - Cassettes aren't, Chainrings doubly so.

Espressocycle

Toothbrush and a spray bottle.

BrianSharpe

If you're new to bike maintenance check out a book called "Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance" (there's a mountain bike edition too).

Keeping your chain and cassette clean and (very) lightly lubed along with maintaining proper tire pressure and checking your brakes are probably the most important (and simplest) aspects to routine maintenance.

I drank the kool-aid and got a fancy *kitten* (read over priced) gizmo for cleaning my chain (I actually think it's paid for itself in time savings which is just me rationalizing buying a new toy.....) and use degreaser and old toothbrush for the cassette.