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Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
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Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby TZ2102 » Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:31 am
How on earth do I clean my new road bike? Do I use water or will that cause rust?
Does anyone have a method that works and doesnt harm the bike?
Thanks
Some equipment I have:
- Citrus Degreaser
- Shimano PFTE Lube (Dry)
- Cleaning Sprocket Tool/Brush
- Muc-Off Bike Cleaner Spray (Is this safe to spray on all parts of the bike including the chain?)
The bike doesnt get all that dirty as I generally ride on cleanish roads.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby BarryTas » Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:39 am

then when i go my big wash, i wipe down thew frame with a chucks cloth and degrease the chain, crank and cassette
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby jacks1071 » Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:17 pm
1. Hose the bike down
2. Put some kerosene in a container and with an old paint brush use that on the chain, sprockets and any grease/oil patches on the bike.
3. Hose the bike down (again)
4. Use a sponge and some car wash to wash the entire bike down
5. Hose it off
6. Put it in a shady spot to dry
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby TZ2102 » Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:55 pm
jacks1071 wrote:Here is what I do:
1. Hose the bike down
2. Put some kerosene in a container and with an old paint brush use that on the chain, sprockets and any grease/oil patches on the bike.
3. Hose the bike down (again)
4. Use a sponge and some car wash to wash the entire bike down
5. Hose it off
6. Put it in a shady spot to dry
All that hosing won't cause rusting on the chain?
And once you degrease the chain, do you hose that down or just dry it and then apply lubrication
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby Pottsy » Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:45 pm
2. spray Muc-Off everywhere
3. let sit for a minute or two
4. sponge/ brush off
5. rinse bike down
6. let air dry
7. apply Muc-Off silcone spray (this is the magic part)
enjoy your clean, sparkly & awesome smelling frame
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby jamesn184 » Wed Nov 28, 2012 2:08 am
Then just wash the bike down with quick detailer or car wash
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby toolonglegs » Wed Nov 28, 2012 5:12 am

My bikes get too dirty to do anything else and I am so stuffed anyway the last thing I want to do is go outside with a hose and bucket in the snow!.
Compared to the abuse it gets in a race a jet wash must feel like a gentle sauna

- bardygrub
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby bardygrub » Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:29 am
BarryTas wrote:i will let you in on my best secret................................. baby wipesyou can clean the frame with baby wipes - it's very quick and easy.
then when i go my big wash, i wipe down thew frame with a chucks cloth and degrease the chain, crank and cassette
+1
But.... Huggies leave cotton fibres around the frame coles brand the same. The best baby wipes i have found are the Aldi brand, they are not as soft as the huggies and dont leave any fibres. But... dont use them on babys bum as they are to rough!
Aldi has a speacial on them now ad then were you can get 6 packs for around 6 bucks.

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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby Toolish » Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:41 am
Babies are like weddings, any product targetted at either gets price jacked something shocking!
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby bychosis » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:42 am
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby jacks1071 » Wed Nov 28, 2012 11:30 am
TZ2102 wrote:jacks1071 wrote:Here is what I do:
1. Hose the bike down
2. Put some kerosene in a container and with an old paint brush use that on the chain, sprockets and any grease/oil patches on the bike.
3. Hose the bike down (again)
4. Use a sponge and some car wash to wash the entire bike down
5. Hose it off
6. Put it in a shady spot to dry
All that hosing won't cause rusting on the chain?
And once you degrease the chain, do you hose that down or just dry it and then apply lubrication
Once you clean the chain with the kero, wash it off propper. Let it dry for a few hours then lube it.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby rpmspinman » Wed Nov 28, 2012 12:20 pm
I use a bucket of warm water with a cap full of Bowdens Own Auto Gel body wash. Suds up the bucket, use a microfibre sponge and gently wash down the frame. For the more intricate areas I use a nylon brush and dip it into the bucket and gently remove any grit. Hosing down the lot with low pressure hose.
As far as the chain/cranks are concerned I use White Lightning wax as its self cleaning and lubricating.
Shav
My Bikes:
2011 Kona Dew Plus (commuter)
2012 Focus Cayo 2.0 (road)
2015 Cervelo S5 VWD
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby master6 » Wed Nov 28, 2012 9:20 pm
Spray it on
It dissolves grease, drink spills, roadkill deposits.
Wipe it off with a clean rag.
Job done.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby brett.hooker » Fri Nov 30, 2012 8:05 pm
No good for the chain degreasing of course, but for everything else they were just magic... Clean Merida now...
Chain degreaser on the Christmas list...

- warthog1
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby warthog1 » Fri Nov 30, 2012 8:44 pm
master6 wrote:Mr Sheen, or Woolworths Home Brand Furniture polish (same thing).
Spray it on
It dissolves grease, drink spills, roadkill deposits.
Wipe it off with a clean rag.
Job done.
That's the way I clean mine also. If its really dirty I'll use a few baby wipes first.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby Secret Squirrel » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:26 pm


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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby WMC1 » Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:10 pm
Another handy hint if you regularly wax your car, don't chuck your application cloth (i use a cheesecloth roll form Supercheap) as it is great to use on the bike as it will be impregnated with wax. great for a quick buffing.
Cheers.
Bikes: 1 x Steel 26” Cruiser, 2 x Alloy Roadies, 1 x Full Carbon Roadie.
It is unfair if only one bike gets all the attention.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby jasonc » Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:58 pm
bardygrub wrote:BarryTas wrote:i will let you in on my best secret................................. baby wipesyou can clean the frame with baby wipes - it's very quick and easy.
then when i go my big wash, i wipe down thew frame with a chucks cloth and degrease the chain, crank and cassette
+1
But.... Huggies leave cotton fibres around the frame coles brand the same. The best baby wipes i have found are the Aldi brand, they are not as soft as the huggies and dont leave any fibres. But... dont use them on babys bum as they are to rough!
Aldi has a speacial on them now ad then were you can get 6 packs for around 6 bucks.
+1 to the aldi baby wipes. then a dry rag to get rid of the residue.
kero for degreasing (with wife's toothbrush, and chain cleaning tool). don't forget to put your wife's toothbrush back

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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby g-boaf » Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:46 am
The chain and cassette gets degreaser on them. I use Rock 'n' Roll gold on the chain after that. But you could also use a detergent on the chain if I remember right according to the Shimano instruction paper. Detergent has little effect on some of the grime though.
Baby wipes are also good for cleaning the frame.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:42 pm
g-boaf wrote:...warm water with a bit of dishwashing detergent...
Ensure you rinse very well if used near any steel parts, that stuff commonly uses salt as a thickening agent.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby toolonglegs » Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:43 pm

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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby swon38 » Fri Dec 07, 2012 9:02 pm
I'm thinking just degreaser & brush. Any particular brand of degreaser I should use?
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby jacks1071 » Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:15 am
swon38 wrote:What's the best way to clean? I have rock n roll gold as lube, but I want to get all the junk off first.
I'm thinking just degreaser & brush. Any particular brand of degreaser I should use?
rock n roll, you just put it on till its dripping off the chain then wipe the chain down. According to the manufacturer you can't wipe it too much - this serves to clean the chain.
If you really need to clean it seperately don't use degreaser. Use kero and a paint brush, wash it off with water when done.
I've found if you use the rock n roll regularly you almost never will need to use any other method to clean the chain.
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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby RobertFrith » Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:36 am
toolonglegs wrote:They are bikes, hunks of metal and plastic... not babies.
Dunno what it is about babies, they can get get pretty grubby tho'

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Re: Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)
Postby swon38 » Sat Dec 08, 2012 10:43 am
jacks1071 wrote:swon38 wrote:What's the best way to clean? I have rock n roll gold as lube, but I want to get all the junk off first.
I'm thinking just degreaser & brush. Any particular brand of degreaser I should use?
rock n roll, you just put it on till its dripping off the chain then wipe the chain down. According to the manufacturer you can't wipe it too much - this serves to clean the chain.
If you really need to clean it seperately don't use degreaser. Use kero and a paint brush, wash it off with water when done.
I've found if you use the rock n roll regularly you almost never will need to use any other method to clean the chain.
For the chain that's fair enough but in between the gears and with the junk on the jockey gears I think I need something more thorough.
Is kerosene ok for these parts? Won't water cause rust?
Sorry for all the noobie questions.
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