Why You Should Regularly Wash Your Bike & Tips to Get the Best Results
June 01 2021 – Rudy Marquez
Whether you are a leisurely bike rider or consider more of a passion, all riders should be in the habit of regularly cleaning their bike. Simply put, a clean bike looks betters, operates better, and will last longer.
Even if you are using your bike just to cruise to the beach or around town, Bicycling.com recommends, "Cleaning your road bike monthly (or every 20 to 25 rides) and a mountain or 'cross bike more often". So, while it may be easier just to put your bike back in the garage after a few rides, making an effort to wash your bike monthly (even if it doesn't look dirty) can really help extend the life of your bike and help with day to day operation of the bike!
How do I wash my bike?
Washing your bike is pretty straightforward and can be done with items that you likely already have around your house along with some optional items like a chain keeper, chain degreaser, and a bike stand.
What you need
- Rags or t-shirts
- Brushes
- You can use a larger dustpan brush or something similar
- A hard-bristled toothbrush works great for the chain
- Buckets
- Hose (w/ trigger if possible)
- Soap (dish soap works)
- Sponges (non-abrasive)
- Chain degreaser
- Chain Lubricant
- Chain keeper (optional)
- Bike Stand (optional)
How to Get Started
- Fill two buckets with water
- Place bike on bike stand to make it easier to reach all parts of the bike
- Clean the chain and drivetrain with the chain degreaser and a brush
- Be sure to use a separate bucket for the brush with the degreaser on it, you don't want that getting on the rest of your bike!
- Add a few drops of chain lubricant to your chain and crank the axle to make sure it gets spread evenly
- Using your second bucket with clean water and sponges wash down the bike frame to remove any dirt and dust using your soap
- Clean the wheels using the same bucket of water, we recommend using a broader softer brush to get in between the treads
- Dry your bike using your rags or a towel
- Enjoy your clean bike!
PS- When your bike is nice and clean it is the perfect time to put some Loco Cycles stickers or badges on (we're just saying!).
If you are looking for some visual examples of how to clean your bike, Bicycling.com has a great video tutorial and REI has a great step by step as well.
Loco Cycles wants you to enjoy your bike as much as possible and we want you to be able to get the most out of your bike!
