With more daylight hours and perfect riding weather, many people are spending more time in the saddle. With increased mileage comes the need for more routine bike maintenance, and a great place to start is with a good scrub. A clean bike rides and shifts better, and regular cleaning of drivetrain parts can reduce wear and tear so they need replacing less often.
For a quick clean, you can use a soft brush to knock dirt and dried mud off the frame, then wipe down the frame and wheels with a waterless bike wash like Muc-Off or SSB. If water must be used, use it sparingly, at a very low pressure and try to avoid spraying areas that contain bearings or seals (bottom brackets, pivot points, fork/shock, dropper post). Use degreaser and a rag and/or brushes to clean the drivetrain (don’t miss those grimy derailleur pulleys). This is also a good time to wipe down fork and shock stanchions, and don’t forget to lube your chain after cleaning it.
Bicycling Magazine recently published this in-depth guide to deep cleaning your bike, and Cycling Tips also has a great piece about drivetrain detailing.
