Bike Maintenance: How to Take Care of Your Bike
A clean bike will function better than a dirty one and is a
pleasure to work on.
Before you start any bike maintenance you have to clean
your bike, that doesn't mean a bit of wipe with a cloth, you
have to clean it properly and there are a few things you need
to do the job, you might have to buy some equipment, but most
of it can be found around the house, try under the sink, but
don't let your wife/mother catch you.
First what equipment do you need:
- A bike workstand or handy tree/washing line to hang
your bike on.
- Old rear hub or old axle or stick.
- Degreaser or diesel fuel (careful diesel is not good
for your hands).
- Hot water.
- Washing up liquid.
- 2 buckets (1 with soapy and 1 with clean water).
- Paint brush.
- Old water bottle.
- Bottlebrush.
- Soft scrubbing brush.
- 2 sponges.
- Cloths.
- Oil.
- And for that extra shinny finish, spray polish.
The most important thing to remember when you are cleaning
your bike is to keep your eyes open and look for anything that
may need fixing later, this is how a mechanic on a professional
team does it, but he might have 10 bikes to look after, so it's
a lot easier with only one.
Start with the wheels, cut the top off the old water bottle
and put some degreaser in it, you can use a spray degreaser,
but you waste most of it.
With the paintbrush work the degreaser into the sprockets
being careful not to get too much into the bearings. Then with
some hot water and washing up liquid scrub the sprockets clean,
then scrub the rims clean of old brake block residue, you can
use a little degreaser to help this, but don't get it on your
tires.
Scrub the tires clean, with soft scrubbing brush, at this
point look at the tires for any cut in the tread that could
puncture later and inspect the rims for damage or if they are
wearing thin. With a soapy sponge wash the spokes and then
rinse them in clean water and put them to one side to dry, not
in direct sunlight.
Now the rest of the bike put your bike on your bike
workstand or other handy item you can hang it on. Put the old
hub/axle/stick in the rear end of the frame so the chain can
rest on it, then using the paintbrush and the old water bottle
with the degreaser clean the chain, the front and rear
derailleur, chain rings and cranks, brakes and any other metal
parts, try not to get it on the saddle, handlebar tape and
don't get too much on the headset and bottom bracket
bearings.
Also use the degreaser and paintbrush to clean under the
down tube, as you'll find any spillage form your feeding bottle
will make this a very sticky place and the degreaser should
shift it.
Now take the bottlebrush or a sponge and a bucket of soapy
water and clean under the saddle, under the bottom bracket,
under the brakes and under the forks, use the scrubbing brush
to shift any stubborn dirt, then take a soapy sponge and clean
off all the degreaser and loosened dirt.
Then with a clean soapy sponge clean every part of the bike,
start with the handlebars and saddle and work your way down the
bike making sure the whole bike is sparkling clean, then rinse
with clean water. Remember keep your eyes open for things like
worn brake blocks, gritty bearings, tight or frayed cables or
any cracks or damage to the frame, if all is OK put the wheels
back in.
Things to look for while you are cleaning your bike:
- Worn brake blocks.
- Damaged or thin rim walls.
- Damaged or cut tires.
- Damaged chain.
- Damaged or bent handlebars and stem.
- Twisted or damaged saddle.
- Torn or worn handle bar tape.
- Damaged or worn chain rings and sprockets.
- Damaged or worn chain.
- Damage to cranks or pedals.
- Condition or gear and brake cables.
- Damage to frame tubes.
- Loose or broken spokes.
- Condition of brake calipers.
- All bearings should run smoothly.
So your bike is now clean, dry it with a clean cloth and
if you want it to really shine, get the spray polish out, but
don't get any on the brake surface or you wont be able to stop
the first time you go out.
Next you have to oil the chain and all moving parts, brake
pivot bolts, front and rear derailleur, pedal springs and the
pivots on the brake levers, wipe away any spilt oil, check your
gears and brakes work well, pump up your tires and away you go
on your clean and sparkling bike.
Oh! And remember to put back all that stuff from under the
sink before you go on your bike ride or you'll be making your
own dinner when you get home. http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com
About the author: Andrew Caxton is a the Webmaster of
http://www.bike-cycling-reviews.com. A
free online magazine that carries articles on bike parts and
components, cycle clothes and reviews on the best heart rate
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