How to properly wash your bike?
Cycling is very pleasant and healthy. But for the bike to be enjoyable for as long as possible, you need to know exactly how to take care of it. Including such a moment, how to wash the bike.
Peculiarities
No matter how careful cyclists are, no matter how diligently they avoid puddles and mud, the bike will still be covered with various blockages. Splashes of water fall on it, dust sticks, sometimes stains appear. The problem isn't just that it looks bad.
Dirt and dust get into the mechanisms, shorten their service life and can even lead to very unpleasant consequences, to accidents. Therefore, every cyclist should know how to wash his “steel / aluminum horse” so that it is both clean and washing does not become a torment.
Where should I go?
And washing your bike correctly means, first of all, choosing a place where you can do it properly. The most logical thing for many people to wash their vehicles in the yard of the house. All you need is:
- water;
- soft tissue;
- cleaning composition.
You don't even have to bring the bike home. Therefore, the dwelling will remain in perfect order, and there will be no need to clean up the dirt there. Drying the bike is possible (in good weather) at the same place where it was cleaned. But some cyclists prefer to use the garage for washing, or rather, the concrete area at the entrance to it. On the same site, the bike is dried, and after drying, it is stored inside the garage or sent on a new trip, depending on the circumstances.
When traveling in nature, cyclists are often faced with severe blockages in their vehicles. Sometimes the dirt completely blocks further movement.Therefore, it is often necessary to wash the bike in nature, without using any devices or ready-made platforms.
Important: washing is required if lumps of dirt get between the wheel and the wing. Water for cleaning can be taken from any body of water, unless it falls under environmental restrictions.
Bicycles are the hardest to clean at home. But city apartment owners don't have much of an alternative - they have to clean their bikes in the bathroom. The procedure must be carried out with great care and will take longer than usual. And even the most tidy people then need to clean the floors. The question may sometimes arise: is it possible to wash a bicycle at a self-service car wash.
This procedure is necessary if you have been cycling for a long time off-road in wet weather. Powerful high-pressure jets will remove almost all accumulated dirt.
Important: only bushings and transmission should not be subjected to such cleaning. Once there, water under high pressure will simply disrupt these subtle mechanisms. Therefore, you will either have to work very carefully, or turn to professionals for help.
Other subtleties of washing bicycles
The washing frequency is determined by:
- weather conditions;
- type of surface;
- the frequency of off-road trips;
- riding style;
- cyclist activity.
Those who ride short distances periodically on city streets may limit themselves to cleaning the bike before the start of the season and at the end of it. But even a seemingly insignificant manipulation carried out in a city apartment causes a lot of inconvenience. It is advisable to disassemble the bike into parts in order to wash each one as thoroughly and fully as possible. Consistently:
- remove all large pieces of dirt;
- remove the wheels;
- remove tires;
- remove the chain;
- dismantle shifters, switches, brakes;
- prepare cleaning supplies.
The frames can be washed simply in the bathroom. They are doused with water from the shower head or washed by hand.
Rub hard dirt with hard, and stains and streaks with soft sponges. After removing the blockage, rub all problem parts with a clean, dry cloth. Important: it is better to wipe all pipes dry several times.
When the bike is washed in the shower you need to watch so that moisture does not get into the internal cavities. The tires are scrubbed with hard sponges, applying a strong pressure of hot water. Remember that this procedure will take a long time. It is not possible to quickly remove dirt, especially if the tread is deep. Rims and spokes should be washed under low pressure. It is highly recommended to wipe them down with a wet sponge and dry rags.
The sleeves and their adjoining parts are wiped off with slightly damp cloths. They absolutely must not be washed under a tap or shower, even if the pressure is not too strong. If water does get inside, you will have to change the lubricant.
Cleaning bicycle chains deserves a separate discussion. It can be done by various means:
- manually (with a brush);
- special chain washers;
- grinding machines;
- in trays with kerosene.
You should devote maximum time and effort to washing the chain. Wipe off dirt with stiff brushes (suitable for shoes). It is necessary to work strictly with gloves. A thick, unnecessary rag is placed on the floor. It is necessary to clean out the dirt longitudinally on both sides.
But an even better option turns out to be using special chain washing machine. This tool will help remove literally petrified particles. It is also extremely useful for bicycles with a fixed chain. It is necessary to resort to a grinding machine only when urgently needed. It can severely cut the chain and leave unpleasant-looking marks on it.
This procedure is recommended if the chain has already worked a lot and additional damage is not too terrible for it. In addition, the sander will not be able to clean out the dirt in the gaps between the rollers.Washing with kerosene is good because you don't have to make any effort. However, it will take 12 to 24 hours for the kerosene to wash away the dirt in the bath; then wipe the chain with dry clean rags.
The switches are cleaned with damp rags. Abrasive compounds cannot be used. The same requirements apply to brake cleaning. After removing the pads, they are wiped, and the dirt adhering to the clamping mechanism is removed with a slightly damp sponge. Then rub the cables, lay out all the parts and allow them to dry completely.
Zit is also advisable to clean the bridges manually. Since they are not only covered with dirt, but also with oil, it is advised to use dishwashing detergents or other mild cleaning agents at this stage of cleaning. Be sure to use, of course, hot water. They work again, first with hard, then soft sponges. Important: maximum attention will have to be paid to the gaps between the teeth and sprockets, and the system must be washed from top to bottom and nothing else.
Another option is use a Karcher bicycle wash with foam. Make sure to keep the hose as far away from the bike as possible. It is worth remembering that low-quality paint can be knocked off the frame with a powerful jet. When the wash is over, in any case, you will have to grease the bushings and the carriage from the outside. Only after that the bike is reassembled.
When washing by hand, you can use a car or bicycle shampoo. It is also advised to prepare also degreasers and chain lubricants. It is very good if the bike is standing upright or leaning against something during cleaning. Experts recommend removing lights and bike computers beforehand. It is also worth treating the chains and sprockets with degreasers: this not only helps in cleaning, but also prevents the rims and brake discs from clogging up with grease.
If you have to wash your bike without a degreaser, avoid using too much pressure from the cassette and derailleur sides, as well as from the rims. Violation of this rule results in oil getting on the pads.
In theory, they can be cleared, but this is very difficult, and normal braking cannot be restored. After removing the dirt with a stream, the surface is covered with shampoos. After that, you will have to wait from 1 to 3 minutes until the rest of the dirt slips.
For information on how to properly wash your bike, see the next video.
