J.Lockdown

So I decided its time my bike could use some love and get cleaned . Never cleaned a bike before and I dont think it could be to complicated but I did some reading. So I got some spray degrease and lub but had some questions before I started just to make sure I do it correctly.

1. I dont have a work stand so any suggestions on what else to uses to hold the bike?
2. Were should I be applying the lub besides the chain? (cogs, pedals, brakes? )
3. Is it ok to uses water to get the degreaser off or should I just be wipe it off?

botto 

?

J.Lockdown

Lol fixed ha. thats what I get for typing to fast

MONGO!

What's your excuse this time?

J.Lockdown

I suck at spelling?

Pharmr

you can hang your bike from the ceiling/rafter or something....or you can just lean it up against something....there are a ton of links online to show you how to clean your chain/drivetrain try the Park Tools website

but basically I just spray on some degreaser...then I spray on some water to let the degreaser work better(recommended by manufacturer)...let it sit for a minute...scrub chain and cassette with brushes....rinse and wipe dry with clean rag....then I spray it with air from my compressor(or you could let it air dry for awhile) but make sure it's really dry before you lube.

then I apply lube to the entire chain...run it up and down thru the cassette and chainrings....and the wipe off excess with a rag....then I wipe down the frame as I always have dirty spray on it from the chain/drivetrain cleaning...

that pretty much covers it.

mkadam68

Let the chain air dry for awhile (I do like 30-mins) after applying degreaser and before applying the new lube.

NYJayhawk

Those "canned air" dusting cans are great for blowing gunk out of your brakes and derailerus. My advice: steal them from the office . Sure you'll go to hell and maybe get fired, but it's a small price to pay for a pristine drivechian.

stevesurf

+1
Make sure the degreaser (I use Zep Citrus @ 8:1) is diluted, use a chain cleaner if possible, running through all the gears, let dry and put a light coat of lube. I really like Dumonde Tech Lite. Let it penetrate and then wipe the excess.

I got those $5 chain cleaners on closeout from REI and they work fine.

Please post the rest of that pic ASAP

Surferbruce

i used to wash my bikes with a hose and buckets and lots of soap and lots of water. i'd also remove my chain, put it in a bottle of mineral spirits or degreaser, and re lube.
what i found was that all that washing just rinsed out too much grease from bottom bracket bearings and headsets and such.
now i just wipe it down with a damp rag every couple rides. and i never take my chain off anymore, i just wipe it down after each ride and appy a little tri flow and wipe it down again. i find with this more minimal yet more frequent cleaning process my drivetrain stays much cleaner and bearings last much longer before needing replacment or maintenance.
a clean bike is a good thing but a lot of new bike owners way over do it.

J.Lockdown

I ended up using my trainer to hold the bike while cleaning and just leaving the front wheel on. It worked some what well but I am going to barrow my friends bike work stand next time.

Cleaning went well and found their was tons of grease on the bike so it look awhile to get it all off. Sprayed everything down and it looking good, not brand new but a lot better then before I cleaned it. However I wished I got some soap along with de-greaser but thats for next time.

I was not sure how much lub exactly to uses so I used a good amount, wiped some of the extra off, and then spun the wheel threw all the gears to get lub on it all. Put some on the breaks and other components and cleaned off what was extra.

In all it was a good first clean, have not taken it out for a ride yet but when spinning threw the gears it felt a whole lot smoother.

buddy

Hose or not to hose?

The local bike store that I bought my bike from will void your in-store warranty if you spray water on your bike with a water hose.

He claims that you should spray de-greaser onto a rag and clean your bike with the rag then use another rag that is damp to clean off the de-greaser.

He is very anal retentive when it comes to spraying off your bike with a water hose.

My son just bought a mountain bike from him and he told my son to bring his bike in when it is real dirty and he will show him how he want the bike cleaned.

This weekend my son took the bike out and it is a muddy mess. He going to make an appointment to have his bike cleaned.

So, do you hose or not?

buddy

ilvwhtgrls

garden house should be fine but a pressure washer is another story.

umd

You realize it's not real, right?

Booger

RIGHT???

If my bike is particularly nasty, it gets the hose. It gets that way from riding in wet weather, so I don't see the purpose of avoiding the hose in my case. I apply degreaser liberally to the chainrings, cassette, and chain (soak it if really bad). I use an old t-shirt to "floss" the cassette and toothbrush to get in between the teeth (get it?). It takes some time, but you get faster and less anal retentive as time goes on.

CharlieWoo

Wife