|   Poll; How long it takes YOU to clean n lube bike? | Paul Lang
Sep 28, 2001 12:48 AM | | and How? When I first started biking, believe it or not it took me around 2 hours for a complete wash and lube (excluding cables and pivots). Nowadays, around 45 minutes complete. This is how I do it, and if theres a way to save even more time I'm happy.
1. On bike rack, Cleaning of chain with the Finish Line Chain Cleaner tool. (5 mins) Extra 5 mins if necessary to hose down mud first.
2. Cleaning with cloth soaked in diluted Park Tool Chain Brite of Chain Rings (2 mins).
3. Take off wheels then cleaning of each cog with side of cloth. (5 mins)
4. Wipe down of bike with bucket of diluted Chain Brite (10 mins)
5. Tyre scrub and wipe down of wheelset (10 mins)
6. Reinstall wheels on bike, wipe down chain again then lube (5 mins)
7. Lube all pivots, cables, qr's. (5 mins)
8. Final wipedown of complete bike and excess lube (5 mins).
Is that how you do it? |
| re: Poll; How long it takes YOU to clean n lube bike? | Barfy
Sep 28, 2001 2:38 AM | | It takes me about a minute. Every year I whip out the hose and spray it off. Lube? whats that? |
| It takes me 20 mins. | dcepp
Sep 28, 2001 4:27 AM | | I've got no time, so I:
1. hose down and wash with diluted simple green.
2. Spray straight Simple green on rims surfaces and brakes surface. Let sit while using chain cleaner on chain.
3. Hose bike again. Wipe any critical areas.
4. Lube fork stanchions pivots, chain, pedals and cables with Pedros Syn Lube. Wipe and done.
Bike's is and has run superbly.
I only do this once a week (I ride 2X a Week).
-dave |
| An hour minimum | Tred
Sep 28, 2001 4:57 AM | | Probably could be done faster, but I try to go over everything in detail. Clean the hell out of it -a clean, lubed drivetrain is a must- Check for damage on the bike. Then I check every bolt that seems appropriate. Lube where it's needed then I admire my work wishing I was back on the trails. |
| Depends on what tools you have to clean | Bu'Wheat
Sep 28, 2001 5:48 AM | | If you're doing it with nothing but old rags, it'll take you longer, especially if you plan on cleaning the cogset. I use the proper brushes/cleaners for the bike. All in all it takes me about an hour, and that's on a hardtail! |
| Roughly 20-40 min, depending on the amount of mud... | MD
Sep 28, 2001 6:54 AM | | If the conditions have been dry for several days, then it usually takes me 20' or less. The only areas that really need cleaning under these conditions, to maintain their performance and longevity, are the drivetrain and shock stanchions. Here's what I do in-between every ride when the bike has no mud on it:
1) I use a gear brush and work as much dirt and grime off of and within the small spaces of the cassette, chain rings, and rear derailluer pulleys.
2) Using a rag, I wipe off all of the old lube and grime from the chain rings, cassette, rear derailluer pulleys, and chain. Basically, I use my finger tip(s), covered by the rag, to get into any possible spaces found throughout the drivetrain, including both derailluers. Spinning the cranks backwards while cleaning the cassette this way helps, and squeezing the chain as it passes through my rag-wrapped palm works well enough. I use no cleaners or degreasers for this.
3) I lube every link of the chain and then slowly spin the cranks backwards for about 10 seconds to work the lube into the links. I'll come back after step 4 to wipe off any excess lube with a rag from the chain, relevant cog and chain ring, and the pulleys to help keep the dirt away.
4) I check tire pressures and the rear air shock's pressure. I'll then wipe off both shocks' stanchions, and wipe down the whole bike with a clean rag.
When the conditions have been muddy it takes me 30-40', depending on how muddy the bike is.
1) In-between rides, after all the mud has dried, I work off the dry caked-on mud with a gear brush and the palms of my hands (I never wash my bike with water, or worse yet soapy water, as I've found that water nearly always finds its way into forbidden places, resulting later on in creaky parts which end up taking even more time to tear down, clean, and regrease).
2) I'll then proceed to steps 1-4 from my dry conditions cleaning technique.
Every so often I'll clean the rims and tires with a gear brush and a rag, but I generally leave those areas alone. Occasionally, I also remove the wheels and clean missed areas of the frame where the wheels had blocked, and sometimes I'll even break out a bike polish or Pledge furniture polish and shine up the whole bike. All critical bolts also get a checkup for proper torque values as well, every 2-3 rides or so. I've got my cleaning and general maintenance technique down to an efficient and effective system that works well for me, and the bike ends up looking and performing like new. None of the above however includes any necessary routine maintenance and overhauls of relevant components though, which can add significantly to the time factor. |
| re: Spanky Clean.. | John
Sep 28, 2001 7:10 AM | | i took clues from watching the pro mechanics wash bike's at nationals. No taking off of wheels, just an arsenal of brushes, degreaser,lube and a couple of towels. Done this way i can get my bike spanky clean in about 20 to 30 minutes. |
| re: Poll; How long it takes YOU to clean n lube bike? | cks
Sep 28, 2001 7:11 AM | | about 5 min. I use penetrating oil (kerosene based) cleaner found in an auto parts store to spray down every component of my drive train as I turn the crank. Then hose it off, wipe it dry and apply whatever chain lube I have lying around... good to go. of course I live in Tahoe, where there's nothing but dust! |
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