Tips on looking after a road bike

[roley poley]

In short - the age-old method of rubbing the bike over with a lightly oiled rag still seems to hold!
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[Brandane]

My one tendency towards OCD when it comes to bike cleaning, is using a silicone lubricant spray and a cloth to clean the rubber hoods on my brifters. I can't stand the tacky feeling of the rubber that they all tend to suffer from after a few years of use. Silicone lubricant spray seems to cure it for a while.

 

[Fab Foodie]

My one tendency towards OCD when it comes to bike cleaning, is using a silicone lubricant spray and a cloth to clean the rubber hoods on my brifters. I can't stand the tacky feeling of the rubber that they all tend to suffer from after a few years of use. Silicone lubricant spray seems to cure it for a while.

 

[LemonJuice]

Someone told me to use furniture polish.

Does anyone use it?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Someone told me to use furniture polish.

Does anyone use it?

Mr Sheen is popular with many forum users, or so I have read.

Not me. Although I might give it a go one day if (a) I remember and (b) there is any to hand.

 

[Vantage]

I'm guilty of using Mr Sheen. I spray it onto a rag and then wipe the frame.

I made the mistake of using washing up liquid on my bike last night. Lesson learned.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Someone told me to use furniture polish.

Does anyone use it?

Yes. If I have the time and in the mood* a quick spray and wipe with furniture polish makes it look super-duper shiny and does help cleaning it the next time.


*rare

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's a bit like the perennial "what chain lube" question. "Something" is waaaaay better than "nothing". The difference between the different kinds of "something" is slight. The difference between "something" and "nothing" is vast.

Same applies to looking after a bike. Just don't completely neglect it. Clean it a bit. Clean it a lot if you really like the end result. Just don't leave it soaking and muddy in a damp garage.

 

[carpenter]

My one tendency towards OCD when it comes to bike cleaning, is using a silicone lubricant spray and a cloth to clean the rubber hoods on my brifters. I can't stand the tacky feeling of the rubber that they all tend to suffer from after a few years of use. Silicone lubricant spray seems to cure it for a while.

I have used le Chameau boot spray to good effect (I have a pair of their wellies, so I have some of the spray under the sink before anyone thinks that I bought it just for my bike):

https://www.philipmorrisdirect.co.uk/le-chameau-boot-maintenance-spray/

 

[LemonJuice]

I know that it’s relatively easy to clean muck off the frame, but what is the best way to get rid of any muck on any screws on the bike?

 

[roley poley]

toothbrush

 

[boydj]

Ok.
Even in the dry a bike gets dirty/dusty, road film. It’s OK to leave it wet, it’s OK, to wipe it down, whatever you prefer is cool. They don’t dissolve into a pool of tears.
The grease point was about fitting pedals, grease the threads well. Actually I only ever use vaseline as grease and it’s always worked just fine. Otherwise pedals need bugger all maintainance.
I wouldn’t use WD40 as a chain lube. For me finish line green stays put better than most, doesn’t get washed-away by rain. A WD40 soaked rag will help remove excess oil and dirt from the outside of the chain if you like after a ride. Lube again when necessary.

Bikes are simple and robust, most of the time a wipe with a WD40 or oily rag in the old days will keep it in pretty good shape.

Like most hobbies there’s a lot of rubbish proffered and people willing to sell you snake oil....

You've never used Speedplay pedals...................

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

toothbrush

I'd rather give the OCD toothbrush cleaning routine a miss and go and drink a beer instead.....

 

[Shearwater Missile]

I'm guilty of using Mr Sheen. I spray it onto a rag and then wipe the frame.

I made the mistake of using washing up liquid on my bike last night. Lesson learned.

View attachment 527667

That should have been Ziebart`ed when new !

 

[SpokeyDokey]

A cyclist in our village cleans his tyre sidewalls every week (along with the rest of the bike) - I can't remember ever cleaning my tyre sidewalls.