Road Cycling - Need help!

I have had my bike for a few weeks now, and i think its time to clean and lube my chain and stuff. I have never done this before as I have never owned a bike worthy of cleaning and lubing. I just dont know where to begin or even what to do, how much lube, where should water not get too.. Someone please help!!!

I think you have to keep water away, or at least not spray high pressure water, from the hubs, the bottom bracket, the headset.

I wipe off the water with chamios..

You can use dishwashing detergent on your chains to clean them... And apply some lubricant on the links and wipe it off with a piece of cloth to keep dirt away..

If ever, water had sip in your hubs.. You have to repack the bearings.. So, if your bearings are not sealed.. Keep it away from water..

You can apply wax on your bike when your done to make it shiny.

Foxman, try http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml for some basic info. You don't have to buy their tools to use their procedures.

You should be cleaning and lubing your chain more frequently, every 100 miles or so. Grit in the chain is what will wear it out quickly, possibly leading to premature cog wear as well. There have been a lot of recent threads on chain maintenance here.

RichC

Yes, I just went through that process. It was awefull, and I realized they don't ever realy get clean.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29507

Good Luck!

I picked up some stuff yesterday called "Bikelust". I am not sure if is is short for luster, or (as would apply in my case) it is just for "lust". I do like my bike a lot. ;) My LBS guy said that I should not wash the bike with water, just to use the product, and some old rags. So.....no water for me. Just rags and lots of Bikelust.

you can clean greese off with simple green. does a dam good job too.