Choosing, Buying and learning to ride a bike is one thing. However, cleaning and maintaining your bike, is another matter altogether. Is it really that necessary to clean and maintain your bike? Well, if it isn’t already obvious, the answer is a big YES.
Cleaning your bike, especially if you own a mountain bike, is a very dirty and messy job. Cleaning and maintaining not only gives your bike a clean look. It also ensures that your bike will not go haywire, one way or another.
What you’re Going to Need
- Bicycle cleaning brush or a clothes scrubber
- Repair stand and Toothbrush (optional)
- Chain scrubber or Steel-wired Brush
- Degreasing solvent
- Chain lubricant or Axle Grease
- Rags and sponges
- Two buckets
- Biodegradable dishwashing liquid
- Water hose
- Wrench and Screwdriver Set
- Fill two buckets with hot water (this cleans the bike much better) and put an ample amount of dishwashing liquid in one of those.
- Disassemble the mountain bike altogether by using the wrench and screwdriver set. You can also use an adjustable wrench if you like. Separate the wheels, bicycle chains, seats, etc. from each other.
- Clean the parts either by scrubbing and washing or brushing the parts. Use the steel-wired brush for the ‘purely metal’ parts like the chain and tire iron. Use sponges or clothes scrubber when it comes to parts that are lined with plastic or leather such as the bike seat and frame (it usually bears some design, mind you). Use the toothbrush for cleaning small areas or bike parts.
- After cleaning, make sure that you rinse it all with water. Let it dry at least for a while in order to remove excess water.
- Wipe with dry rags or sponge to make sure that no moisture is left. Re-assemble the entire mountain bike before putting lubricants or axle grease in the gears, brakes and chain parts.