Random Rider

I have alot of dirt in my gears and such from one bike ride while it was muddy. I can get into certain spots with a rag so how can i clean it? All that dirt cant be good for the gears right? It all caked in there and is a pain to get out.

froze

I just hose my MTB off with water when that happens. But first I spray everything down with Finish Line bike wash because it contains anti rust inhibitors and it will pre-loosen the dirt but you don't have to do that first since water alone will get the mud and dirt off. But just make sure that you don't hose water directly into areas where bearings are even though they may be sealed then may not be sealed well enough to take a strong blast of water. Then afterwards use somesort of solvent to clean the gears and chains, I use FinishLine solvent along with the Chain Cleaning Machine because it's biodegradeable but others will work as well (for serious cleaning I remove the chain and put it in my solvent tank and let it soak, but I only do that once a year at the most); and a toothbrush soaked in the solvent to clean the inner gear parts of the freewheel. Then relube with your favorite lube; I use Finish Line Teflon dry Plus, but most lubes for bikes on the market are good.

Retro Grouch 

I hang my bike by the seat and spray it with a hose. I'm a little cautious around the hubs, headset and bottom bracket but a bicycle is intended to be an outdoor product and a little water isn't going to hurt it.