Fifty Plus (50+) - I've gotten better at cleaning my bike!

I have evolved into a cyclist who is consumed with the idea of keeping the chain, cassette, and sprocket as clean as possible. I guess it was a lesson learned the hard way. I used to ride my bike and put it up without cleaning it. I have learned to wipe the chain down and clean the cassette and sprockets after every ride. Pipe cleaners are a very useful tool to clean the casstte and chain. i soke the pipe cleaners in engine degreaser than clean each link individually and polish the cassette also. Am I going overboard? What are your habits for keeping your bike clean?

Wipe chain after each ride apply wax based lube as needed. I also inpsect tires and wipe tread after each ride. Clean entire frame, rims and components about every third ride. Takes about 30 minutes and you get to do a thorough inspection to find any problems.

Yes.

On the cassette--Instead of a pipe cleaner use Sisal string to get down between the sprockets. Cheaper and does it easier and quicker. Chain and although I now use quicklinks- The Chain cleaning tools do it better as the brushes wipe the sidelinks and well. Chain cleaner fluid can be expensive and I use a Truck Traffic film remover at about 5% solution. Final wash on this is a methanol based cleaner as it evaporates quickly and removes water. BUT- not all of us can get this easily or economically so Clothes washing liquid at the same solution works and back to the WD40 for the final wash.

CF frames and well painted ally or steel and household furniture spray polish to get that final lustre. That is cheap in our household as the wife always has a tin in the cupboard. Lubricating inner cables and I use "Dry" chain lube. In fact for all friction areas on brakes and gears I use the Dry lube.

Not too fussed about keeping the bike immaculate but after any ride I check the bike over and this is done by wiping the frame with a cloth and tyres with a damp cloth. This way you can find any damage to the tyres or frayed cables etc and have time to repair before next ride.

Just do not use WD-40 as a lubricant, it is a water and moisture dispersant. its solvents will evaporate with any lubricant that was on the chain and rust will set in. The W stands for water and the D stands for dispersant, it was the 40th mixture tried by the maker. All of stapfam's gouge was spot on and should be taken to heart.

Bill

Hybrid and MTB: I keep them presentable, but not show room ready. Will wipe clean the frame, rims, and spokes as needed. Will floss the cassette maybe once every 3 - 6 months. Usually scrape off the gunk from the rings and pulley wheels as needed. May wipe the chain w/ a rag maybe twice a yr.

Road bike: I keep that one the cleanest, but still not to the standards of many of my comrades on BF, of an imaculate, lustrous cassette and chain. I usually wipe the frame, rims and spokes clean after every ride or two. I do try to keep the gunk off of the rings and pulley wheels. I'm glad I took some photos of my new road bike because the cassette/chain will never be that clean again.:)Just too much for me to keep my drivetrain looking show room ready.
If I did a rain ride, I'll spend more time cleaning, drying and lubing immediately after the ride.

What are your habits for keeping your bike clean?

Well, I got a lot of unsolicited feedback when I mentioned bringing my bike into the shower with me after a ride and using Dr Bronner's and Timotei Aloe Vera conditioner.

So, I won't start that again

You mean comments like "Was the bike wearing a shower cap?" ;)

I lube my chain with wax - and that keeps the drive train from collecting junk.

Description of the process that I use is here
/ (http://www.ecovelo.info/2010/05/30/chain-maintenance-for-clean-freaks/)

Very little cleaning is required, although the lube does not work as well in wet conditions.

On the cassette--Instead of a pipe cleaner use Sisal string to get down between the sprockets. Cheaper and does it easier and quicker.......... .

For us yanks, what is Sisal string? Is it what we call twine??
thanks

I have evolved into a cyclist who is consumed with the idea of keeping the chain, cassette, and sprocket as clean as possible. I guess it was a lesson learned the hard way. I used to ride my bike and put it up without cleaning it. I have learned to wipe the chain down and clean the cassette and sprockets after every ride. Pipe cleaners are a very useful tool to clean the casstte and chain. i soke the pipe cleaners in engine degreaser than clean each link individually and polish the cassette also. Am I going overboard? What are your habits for keeping your bike clean?

No, you are right on time!! :thumb:

Doing it the way you describe, which I also do, it doesn't take but a few minutes to do it..

I lightly oil my chain, and then wipe it down, then I wipe the bike, and the tires too. I be checking the air also.. Bike never gets but so dirty. The longest I will spend cleaning my bike is when I come in from being caught in the rain.

I also, do my motorcycle the same way. Result, bicycle and motorcycle both always stay clean and ready to ride. Chains on my motorcycle last 30,000+ miles too. ;)

How often is "every ride?" Two or three times a day, yes that would be overboard. Every two or three days, that's almost reasonable.

How often is "every ride?" Two or three times a day, yes that would be overboard. Every two or three days, that's almost reasonable.
Currently, I've been lucky to ride 3 or 4 times per week. :thumb: So, yeah once a day would be as far as I would take it.