Road Bike - Cleaning (Maintenance)

[Mulger bill]

Nothing wrong with kero. If you're at all sensitive to petrochemicals, use it in open air and wear nitrile gloves.

I use the rough side of stickyback velcro stuck to a hacksaw blade to clean between sprockets and the end of the blade to gently scrape the jockeys clear of muck before a damp rag gets the rest off.

[g-boaf]

...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.

Absolutely - but since I'm not using a cloth that is soaking wet, the soapy water isn't running off anywhere. My bike only really gets dirty in areas where there are no metal parts.

I don't have to do too much cleaning, it stays pretty clean unless it has been raining.

[jacks1071]

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.

Kero will clean the jockey wheels

If they are your worry though, just get a rag, grab them and turn the cranks backwards slowly (careful not to catch your rag in the drive train). Job done and you didn't have to wash anything.

A big reason why I like Kero for cleaning is if any of it gets into your hubs or anywhere else on your bike it will break down the grease but at least its not going to corrode anything, unlike degreaser which can be really nasty stuff.

[swon38]

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.

Kero will clean the jockey wheels

If they are your worry though, just get a rag, grab them and turn the cranks backwards slowly (careful not to catch your rag in the drive train). Job done and you didn't have to wash anything.

A big reason why I like Kero for cleaning is if any of it gets into your hubs or anywhere else on your bike it will break down the grease but at least its not going to corrode anything, unlike degreaser which can be really nasty stuff.

Think that's probably a better way. Might also try the simple warm water + toothbrush to get between the gears

[greyhoundtom]

Think that's probably a better way. Might also try the simple warm water + toothbrush to get between the gears

Forget about the toothbrush.......buy a cheapy bottle brush.......dip that in kero, scrub clean, and then tip some hot water over the cassette and jockey wheels.