Road Cycling - bike cleaning & maintenance

What kinds of things do you guys typically do to clean up all the sweat, tar, sand, road debris, etc that accumulates on the frame, handlebars and components after a while?

I wipe down my bike after every ride with Finish Line bike polish/cleaner, this way I don't have to wash the bike with water very often. I clean my chain after ever second ride, I use a Park chain cleaning tool and Finish Line Ecotec2 degreaser. I use an air compressor to blow out the chain then spray it with WD40 and let that set overnight to get all the water out. I then lube the chain using Finish Line Dry Lube. I clean the bar tape with Simple Green on a rag and "buff" the tape. This seems to work very well and keeps the tape looking like new. I use WD40 on a rag to wipe down the wheels, cranks, derailers etc. WD40 evaporates in about 10 hours so it won't leave any resedue. I don't spray it directly onto any parts because it will desolve grease.

I replace my chain every 10,000-12,000mi this helps the cassett live longer and a 50 buck chain is a lot better than replacing a $400.00 cassett. I'll relube the headset every 500-600mi depending on how much wet weather I rode in.

This may sound like a lot of maintainance but once you get it down it really doesn't take that long.

What kinds of things do you guys typically do to clean up all the sweat, tar, sand, road debris, etc that accumulates on the frame, handlebars and components after a while?

I rub it down with carb cleaner.

I just use a damp cloth for the dirt/other water soluble things, and chain cleaner for the tar and grease thing that acumulate on the frame. My drive train mantiainance is less intense then 2roadies, I clean it every 2weeks or after riding when it has been wet out. the chain is replaced yearly for my steel cassett. If I could aford the all Ti cassett 2roadies has for $400 I might repalce sooner. Lubes I find to be a thing of personal preferance just follow the directions. I try to pull everything off during the winter for a TLC cleaning/lubing amually to bianually.
My bike will see 5-6K mi this year commuting and pleasure. I have yet to replace the cassett after 4years note my millage has increased over the last two year as I now work where my bike can join me in the office.

I replace my chain every 1000-1200mi this helps the cassett live longer and a 50 buck chain is a lot better than replacing a $400.00 cassett. I'll relube the headset every 500-600mi depending on how much wet weather I rode in.

This may sound like a lot of maintainance but once you get it down it really doesn't take that long.


You've got to be kidding, at that rate I would be replacing the chain every month! It rains in Florida almost every day and I hardly ever relube the headset (like in never). Just keep the bike clean and chain lubed and you are good to go.

I clean my chain after ever second ride, I use a Park chain cleaning tool and Finish Line Ecotec2 degreaser.
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I replace my chain every 1000-1200mi this helps the cassett live longer and a 50 buck chain is a lot better than replacing a $400.00 cassett.

This seems a bit excessive. I don’t have that kind of time so I end up cleaning and lubing my chain every couple weeks (couple hundred miles). I’d rather ride my bike than clean it.

Regarding replacing the chain to save the cassette, I bought a Park chain stretch checker for $15 and followed the guidelines (replace chain when stretch > 1%). This took several years and around 8000 miles. Guess what, the shifting is still perfect with the old cassette. At 2Rodies rate, he will go through at least a dozen chains to my two. A $400 cassette is not cheaper than a dozen $50 chains.

A question for the frequent chain changers: Have you ever had poor shifting changing to a new chain and what kind of stretch did you have with the old chain? Personally, I’ve never seen this in 50k miles.

-murray

Hey guys I forgot a zero my bad that should have read 10k-12k mi. I type faster than I edit! I'll edit the post!

I change the chain regardless of shifting as chain stretch is not the only indecator of a chain going bad. The drivetrain drag of an older chain can be felt (at least by me and yes I am one of those anal retentive types) so it's something I just do every 10 months or so.

I think you bike and chain cleaning intervals should be related to how often you ride your bike and how dirty it gets when you ride.

I wipe down/polish my Frame with a good spray detailer, this has wax in it that will help to protect the paint finish and clearcoat, and it gives the bike a great shine!

I use a Brake Cleaner and toothbrush on the chain for cleaning and then lube it(forgot the brand name of lube there are so many).

As for the rest of the bike I just use a hose and car soap.