General Cycling Discussion - Cleaning/lubing my bike...How do i go about that so i dont break something..

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JeePakXJ
05-01-12, 10:14 AM
Didnt know which forum to put this in so i figured general would work, but mods feel free to move it if it should be somewhere else, thanks!

I'm new to serious biking and i have my dads 09 Trek 7.2FX that ill be commuting to work 20miles(round trip) 5 days a week.

How do i go about cleaning and lubing all the spinning bits and pieces? Ive never actually cleaned a bike before (other than hose off my old wally world MTB haha). Im not afraid to use tools as ive wrenched on everything (literally) inside and outside on my jeep.

So what products should i use? How do i go about it?

Phil_gretz
05-01-12, 11:54 AM
It's great that you're riding your dad's bike. YouTube is your friend for bike maintenance and instructions. Maintenance you'll need to perform routinely: clean/lubricate the chain, check and inflate tires, fix flat innertubes, and adjust brakes and derailleurs. You should attempt to learn each of these in turn - as they'll be necessary in the order I've given them.

Get a bike stand or loop some ropes or chains from your garage rafters so that you can get the bike up off of the ground while you adjust it. Visit a friendly local bike store or cooperative and ask questions about basic maintenance. Maybe they'll have a class or guided sessions. They can recommend materials that you'll need (rags, cleaner, lubricant, tools). The rest is up to you.

If any of us were to write it down here, it would fill a book. Literally.

Good luck.
Phil_gretz
05-01-12, 11:57 AM
One Last Thought:

You're not going to break anything by cleaning it. Use care.

But, don't spray pressurized water into any bearing surfaces (crank spindle bearings, hub bearings, steering bearings) because this can cause damage over time by removing grease and leaving water inside.

Other than that - be observant, learn, see how things work. Every part is there for a purpose - figure out how things work, and you'll know when something needs adjusting.

Good luck

JeePakXJ
05-01-12, 02:27 PM
Awesome advice thanks. I just picked up some new Specialized Armadillo tires at my bike shop. So ill go over those components when i install them.