Step By Step To Cleaning Your Bike

1. Clean your bike after every ride
2. Remove cycling accessories
   1. Seat bag
   2. Water bottle
   3. Computer
   4. Pump 
3. Clean the frame and all the components with a hose
   1. Pressure washers are okay, but not for bearings!!!
   2. Remove the excess mud
4. Degrease chain and derailleur
   1. Cut an old water bottle in half and hold it in your bottle cage
   2. Pour in your degreaser
   3. Use a paint brush to get in all the gaps – be liberal
   4. Make sure to do both sides of the chain rings
5. Use a flat screwdriver to clean the jockey wheels
6. Now sparingly brush over the derailleur with degreaser
   1. Leave it to work while you clean the rest of the bike
7. Clean the frame and forks with a soapy sponge
   1. Washing up liquid is fine to use
   2. Hot water is better as it gets rid of grease and oil
   3. Start at the top of the bike, working backwards and downwards
   4. Don’t use your clean sponge on the drive chain, get an old sponge for this
8. Clean the drive chain with your soapy water and dirty sponge
9. Repeat the degrease if needed
10. Use a little wire brush to get into the derailleurs
11. MAKE SURE ALL THE DEGREASER HAS BEEN REMOVED
12. Remove the wheels and clean in the frame and wheels
13. CASSETTE – add more degreaser and use a rag between the sprockets
14. Rinse down with the hose
15. Dry the frame & components
16. Use a towel or air compressor

Lubrication

Wet or dry Lube the chain

1. Quick method – drizzle while you spin
2. Slower method – drop of lube on each roller
3. Remove any excess with a rag
4. Optional – a quick spray of GT85 over derailleur

Wet Lube

Best used in Winter conditions or rain, mud and gritty. It is slightly thicker than Dry lube. It creates a better barrier to stop grit and muck from penetrating into your chain links. It is however slightly harder to remove.

A Wet lube used in dry conditions will attract more dust and grime than using a dry lube. Also after appling it to your drive chain wipe off any excess with a rag.

Dry Lube

Thinner and lighter than wet lube. Ideal for those dry Summer rides. However being lighter than the wet lube you must apply it more often. Once applied there is no need to run your chain through a rag as the lube will dry all by itself.

As a general rule just follow the seasons:

1. Summer & Autumn apply the dry lube
2. When switching lubes make sure you give your chain a good degrease before you switch.
3. Winter and Spring apply the wet lube

Other Areas to Lubricate

• Spoke nipples
• Centre of your jockey wheels
• Shifters
• Springs on derailleurs
• Brake & gear cables

Always wipe off any excess so you don’t attract any dust.

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