Basic Bike Wash – BikeCo Tips & Tricks
Enjoy a quick video of a Basic Bike Wash to keep your mountain bike looking as well as riding its best.
I love to ride my bike. Frankly, I’m not sure I love maintaining it. But with some basic maintenance everything lasts longer and works better.
This basic bike wash only takes a couple minutes and helps improve drivetrain wear while minimizing potential noise. Especially in areas like Southern California where we have loud, crunchy dirt that loves to get into tight spaces and make your bike annoying…
Basic Bike Wash
Begin with a gentle rinse. Use the bare minimum of water pressure. This might vary a bit depending on dry dirt versus mud – but don’t go power washing your bike’s complex pivots and seals if you can at all avoid it.
Use a quality bike wash. Your bike probably has carbon, aluminum, titanium – it might as well have un-obtainium. Don’t trust the cheapest car wash you can find at the gas station or whatever. That’s going to create problems.
Most bike wash works well if you spray it on and let it sit for a little bit. Over the years I’ve actually quit wiping the surfaces, I just allow the bike wash to soak. Again, if you’re working with a stickier clay or mud you might have to adjust your procedures.
Gently rinse the bike wash off. Once again it is important to avoid blasting what into your bearings or past your suspension / adjustable seatpost seals.
I prefer to initially dry the bike with a rag. Then I bounce the bike on its rear wheel to shake water out from the tight crevices. It always amazes me how much water shakes out from a “dry” bike.
Some riders use compressed air to dry their bikes. While this might not be a problem remember that air is a fluid. High pressure air sprayed at bearings may displace lubrication causing issues. If you’re going to use compress air avoid bearings and seals.
To finish the basic wash clean your drivetrain. Ensure that pulley wheels are clear of debris, as this is a common culprit in shifting issues. Clean the chain and chain ring. The lube the chain as appropriate for your riding conditions and mileage.