Tips and resources

Bike cleaning

Here are some simple, speedy and affordable steps you can take to keep your bike looking good and riding well.

Cleaning your bike

In this video, our mate Troy from Pedal Power Garage runs through a quick tutorial on how to clean your bike – specifically focusing on a clean that doesn’t require a hose or large amounts of water.

This is handy for people who live in apartments or are trying to clean their bike while out and about.

You can see some step-by-step cleaning tips below.

Bike cleaning

Drivetrain

What you’ll need

Degreaser
Chain cleaning brush
Rags
Lubricant

Step 1 - Degreaser

Wrap a rag around the chain stay, and then spray your chain and cassette liberally with degreaser, slowly turning the pedals backwards to circulate through the length of the chain.

Step 2 - Chain cleaning

Grab your chain cleaning brush—a good example is the BBB Toothbrush—and, while still turning the pedals backwards, run the pointy end between the cogs on your cassette, to dislodge any accumulated grit. Run the chain against the tough bristles on the other end of the brush. Add more degreaser.

Step 4 - Remove degreaser

Spin the chain backwards through a clean rag, to remove the grease and dirty degreaser from the chain. Move onto a fresh section of the rag, and continue until the chain is running through dry and clean.

Step 3 - Reapply lubricant

Although it is great at removing the grime from your chain, degreaser will also strip the grease from the rollers of the chain, making for a clunky ride. For this reason, it’s really important to reapply lubricant. If you’re mostly riding in good weather, a dry lubricant (usually wax or Teflon-based) is a good choice. If it’s off-road or all-weather riding that you’re into, a wet lube will adhere better in bad conditions. Apply whilst spinning the pedals backwards – you won’t need much, but it needs to circulate through all the links of the chain.

Step 5 - Wipe off excess lubricant

Wait a few minutes for the lubricant to penetrate, and then wipe off any excess, especially on the side plates of the chain, as excessive lube attracts dirt.

Bike cleaning

Frame

What you’ll need

Hose with trigger
A bucket of soapy water
Sponge
Rags

Step 1 - Pre wash

Spray the bike down. Don’t blast it—if using a high-pressure hose, you risk pushing the muck into the inner workings and bearings of your bike. A light-shower is ample.

Step 2 - Soapy wash

Using the sponge and warm soapy water, thoroughly go over the bike. Don’t concentrate too much on the chain, as you risk washing off the lube that you just applied so lovingly.

Step 3 - Rinse and dry

Rinse the bike again to get rid of the suds and prevent soapy marks when it dries, and pat down with a clean rag to dry it off.

Step 4 - Bike polish

If you’re feeling extra-tender, use a bike polish to give the frame some extra sparkle. Something like Pedros Bike Lust should do the trick, but avoid the temptation to apply to contact points like your seat and bar-tape, as a squeaky, slippery ride will be the inevitable irritating result.

Bike cleaning

Wheels

What you’ll need

A rag
Emery paper
Flat file

Step 1 - Braking surface

Remove your wheels from the bike. Lightly work your way around the braking surface—but just the braking surface—with fine emery paper, which will clean the rim.

Step 2 - Brake pads

While the wheels are out, if you’ve got the time and are struggling with gritty braking, check the pads for small pieces of embedded metal, pick these out and lightly file the flat surface of brake pads.

Step 3 - Clean the rims

With a dry rag, work your way around the rim, cleaning both the braking surface and the rest of the rim. The grey brake pad residue should come off easily.

Step 4 - Finishing up

Reinstall the wheels and stand back to admire your newly sparkling bike.

Bike cleaning

Final thoughts

It’s worth taking your bike to a bike shop for a really thorough job. They’ll be able to take the chain off, remove the cassette and clean everything in a way that can’t be done with all the bits still on the bike.
If you have disc brakes, when cleaning your drivetrain, spray degreaser away from the rotors. Disc brake pads are susceptible to contamination, and a bit of care can avoid a ride punctuated with sharp squeals from your brakes.
Don’t apply any lubricant or grease onto the braking surface or pads of any brake systems. Ever.
It’s smart to wear a pair of disposable rubber gloves when working on your drivetrain, and remove them when cleaning the rest of the bike. This will save your seat and bar-tape or grips from unnecessary soiling later on in the cleaning process.