Winter Bike Maintenance.

[ToasterLocker]

I have a Trek 8500 LT (2000) that I have used all winter, and it has served me well. But I am wondering what exactly I should be doing to take care of it. I wipe it down after particularly nasty rides, but what I'm really worried about is the drivetrain. I only used it about twice a week, and the roads weren't usually all that salty, but I just want to know what I should REALISTICALLY be doing to keep it in great shape. (By realistically I mean not taking the whole thing apart and doing a full drivetrain clean after every ride) What does your cleaning routine involve?

I would appreciate any advice you all could provide.

[naisme]

Mine has always just been a grease solvent and a toothbrush and some rags. I clean the chain and the cassette, with the solvent and toothbrush, then relube it all back up. this gives me a chance to see how much wear everything has taken. I have an engagement ring I'm going to have to replace by next season, riding fixed gear with a BMX chain wore a pretty spendy chain ring down to nubs in two seasons.

[jayme2342]

I have a Trek 8500 LT (2000) that I have used all winter, and it has served me well. But I am wondering what exactly I should be doing to take care of it. I wipe it down after particularly nasty rides, but what I'm really worried about is the drivetrain. I only used it about twice a week, and the roads weren't usually all that salty, but I just want to know what I should REALISTICALLY be doing to keep it in great shape. (By realistically I mean not taking the whole thing apart and doing a full drivetrain clean after every ride) What does your cleaning routine involve?

I would appreciate any advice you all could provide.

got a blow dryer? lol id say just spray it a lil wipe it down a bit and use a blow dryer on the parts u cant reach to wipe it down... thats wat i do to my 1100$ miele... then i adcadently crashed it off a cliff... my bad...

[naisme]

At the moment, my winter bikes are sitting dormant (finally). I plan to tear into them soon. I want to pack the head sets, and wipe down and clean the drive train, then wax it all up and set it a side for winter. I can hardly wait for winter to rear its ugly head. Just six more months.