Rupie
Über Member
I tried to find out what I needed to know about cleaning, by hunting trough the forums but failed so yet another cleaning post.
I go out, for pleasure, in the winter, for once a week, and cover about 5 miles, over the wet and gritty cotswolds. When I return, as you would expect, my Aluminum Bianchi is dirty. Normally I use a small bucket of hot water with some car shampoo, and a soft rag to get most of it off. I am also aware if the chain cleaning process, everyone uses, instead of the deep cleaning baths. I am not also a person with the time or knowledge to strip and lube every part afterwards. I also hang the bike up forks up to get anything in the frame drain out the back.
But I have some questions about a few other parts.
The BB, wheel bearings and Top forks are also covered in this water and grit. If I rub them to clean, will it push grit into it ? should I spray anything to displace the water, add some grease, or just nothing at all ? Some people suggest GT55 all over but this is a degreaser, isn't it, like WD40 ? Also before the next ride is it a good idea to put some heavier grease, loosely around the entry points around the bearings in all the aforementioned places ?
Or should I just leave it all alone ?
I go out, for pleasure, in the winter, for once a week, and cover about 5 miles, over the wet and gritty cotswolds. When I return, as you would expect, my Aluminum Bianchi is dirty. Normally I use a small bucket of hot water with some car shampoo, and a soft rag to get most of it off. I am also aware if the chain cleaning process, everyone uses, instead of the deep cleaning baths. I am not also a person with the time or knowledge to strip and lube every part afterwards. I also hang the bike up forks up to get anything in the frame drain out the back.
But I have some questions about a few other parts.
The BB, wheel bearings and Top forks are also covered in this water and grit. If I rub them to clean, will it push grit into it ? should I spray anything to displace the water, add some grease, or just nothing at all ? Some people suggest GT55 all over but this is a degreaser, isn't it, like WD40 ? Also before the next ride is it a good idea to put some heavier grease, loosely around the entry points around the bearings in all the aforementioned places ?
Or should I just leave it all alone ?