cleaning for dummies

[cyclenic]

I'm really confused, i must admit i know nothing (at all) about bikes, and how to look after them, Maybe i should read the manual.
at the moment i blast the bike after each ride, with the most powerful setting on the hose, wash (if i can be bothered, or it's really mucky) with car cleaner, and leave it. It likes in the damp shed, and i dont even touch the chain or anything.
put some WD40 on it a few days ago as it was going rusty.

I really need to sort something out, but where do i start?

what do i need to do each time i come back from a ride?
what cleaners (brand recomendation please) do u use, and on which part of the bike?
i have a chain cleaner, should i use that
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/12709.jpg

I'm confused, and can hear the tutting from here

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I wouldn't use a powerful hose on your bike, you'll blast all the lube out of the bearings. The best way to clean the frame is with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. Your chain cleaner will be fine for, er, cleaning the chain (don't forget to re lubricate it afterwards, preferably with something a bit heavier than WD40, which evaporates almost immediately - Finish Line do a good range of lubricants). I use paraffin to clean my drivetrain, but you can also use something like Muc-Off; personally, I found that it was next to useless, but other folk on here swear by it. If you clean regularly, and don't over - lubricate your chain, you should be able to clean the rest of the drivetrain using a stiff brush and whatever you cleaned your chain with.
Hope this helps.

 

[cyclenic]

Ta, what do i do about the (i'm really not a bike person) bit between each peddal, the bit at the bottom of the frame.
and how do i look after the cogs?

god i sound super thick!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

You can clean the cogs with either an old toothbrush and your chosen chain cleaner, or a bit of rag dipped in the chain cleaner and pulled between each cog. Or you can buy special cassette cleaning brushes, which fit in the gaps between the cogs. The "bit at the bottom of the frame" (bottom bracket shell) can be cleaned with soapy water and a brush; it's a bit fiddly to get to but can be done.
Don't worry about asking what you think are daft questions ... we've all got to learn somehow!

 

[cyclenic]

Thank you, i've noticed that the bolt heads to fit, say the bottle cage, and on the part that holds the handlebars in place on the frame have gone rusty, should i just repaint them?

 

[longers]

Car Shampoo is very good on bikes, I've been using the cheap one from Sainsburys and it's excellent, it's got wax in it which seems to make it easier to clean next time.

After washing your bike try bouncing it on the tyres a few times, this helps shake excess water off. I usually dry mine with an old towel before putting it away.

The rusty bolts? I think the rust is only cosmetic and will not affect the threads. If you want to replace them then it's cheap and easy to do. With the new ones you can use a cotton bud to put a bit of grease into the head to stop it happening next time. I think vaseline would do the trick too.

 

[longers]

And definitely get something better than WD40 for the chain .

I like this one for winter use.

 

[cyclenic]

Lovely, thank you, very helpful for so early on a sunday morning

 

[fossyant]

Quick - get out there washing it......

Old rags (t-shirts) are great for cleaning oily bits - I just wipe off the chain rings, and then run an edge of the rag through the gaps between each sprocket (the bit on the wheels). Like everyone else I just use car shampoo and a sponge. WD40's only OK for mech & brake pivots etc.

Get a good chain lube and your chain won't go rusty.

 

[cyclenic]

Thanks fossyant, i'm going out on the bike tomorrow if i can, and will give it a good clean.

can you recomend a chain lube, i dont even know where to start

 

[Mortiroloboy]

I wouldn't use a powerful hose on your bike, you'll blast all the lube out of the bearings. The best way to clean the frame is with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge. Your chain cleaner will be fine for, er, cleaning the chain (don't forget to re lubricate it afterwards, preferably with something a bit heavier than WD40, which evaporates almost immediately - Finish Line do a good range of lubricants). I use paraffin to clean my drivetrain, but you can also use something like Muc-Off; personally, I found that it was next to useless, but other folk on here swear by it. If you clean regularly, and don't over - lubricate your chain, you should be able to clean the rest of the drivetrain using a stiff brush and whatever you cleaned your chain with.
Hope this helps.

Wot RT just said, the clue is to keep on top of cleaning, then it is a minimal job each time, but mostly keep your drivetrain in tip top lubed condition, but not over lubed, run the chain through a cloth until it stops leaving black marks on the cloth.

 

[Dave5N]

Oil's good for chains. Apply to each link and then wipe.

I use a chamois leather to dry the bikes.

Have a search on here as well. There have been lots of debates about this.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I should add, my bikes get done once a year, whether they need it or not.

 

[Dave5N]

I should add, my bikes get ridden once a year, whether I need it or not.

Nice and regular at least.

 

[Lion]

Rather than start a new thread, i'll just hi-jack this one
What kind of oil is best for the chain? Searching on google seems to come back with arguments to about every oil created!, to using nothing, using WD-40, and buying £100 of specialised chain grease.
Would Motor oil be ok? ie 10-40 mineral? Or should i be buying something specific?

Also hope its ok to post a link to another site, but this was quite a useful read to me, who also knows nothing about cleaning bikes, but the order seems to be a bit wrong, personally id wash the rest of the frame etc first
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how-to-clean-and-lube-your-bike-18259