Mountain Biking - First real mt bike ride today - how to clean bike?

First let me say this, I had a blast! I never though it would be as much fun as it was. I also way, way, underestimated how hard it would be! I've been riding my mt bike on the road for about a month. My longest ride on the road is 32 miles. The trial we rode today was only 13 miles, but it was muddy, hilly, sandy, and hot outside. I feel like this 13 miles was at least 3 times as hard as the 32 mile road ride.

Anyhow, my bike is now covered in mud and sand. How should I go about cleaning everything? Assume everything is gritty to the core..lol.

Any ideas are welcome.

Water? Have you tried looking up info on your own yet?

How should I go about cleaning everything? Assume everything is gritty to the core..lol.

I hate when my bike ends up like that. I'd run some water over the bike from a hose to begin with. Then take a brush to the derailleurs and chainrings. Floss the cassette (cogs in the back) using a rag. Relube the chain. An air-compressor can be handy too, for blowing grit out of hard to reach spots.

soap,water,elbow grease.Don't use a high pressure hose though...

Don't use a high pressure hose though...

And the reason many avoid high-pressure is that you don't want to force water into your headset bearings, your wheel bearings, your bottom-bracket, etc.

A question about the wheel bearings. I've never repacked any bearing on anything, and I'm not entirely sure if they are serviceable on this cheap bike or not - i'll find out in about an hour. I've got a tube of lithium based grease in the grease gun that I use on other stuff; do you guys think this would be ok to use for the bearings? They've never been touched to date.

Any other areas that need some good lubing attention? :)

I'd skip the lithium grease and pick up a tube of Park grease. There are many other perfectly suitable greases too, but I have read not to use lithium grease because it gets thick/gunky too quickly. If you look up the Park Tool website, they have a whole section on doing your own bike maintenance that's pretty good. Of course you can probably find things doing a search here too if you prefer. I'm sure both will give you good results.

And the reason many avoid high-pressure is that you don't want to force water into your headset bearings, your wheel bearings, your bottom-bracket, etc.

Unless you have decent sealed bearings. Then just take it to the freakin' car wash and have a beer.

Unless you have decent sealed bearings. Then just take it to the freakin' car wash and have a beer.

You know of a car wash that serves beer?

Edit: I've got to find a better car wash :thumb:.

:lol:

No beerwash in my town. But there is one place that's a tavern with a laundromat attached - Suds And Duds.