We all love riding our bikes – in the city, on the trails or long fast rides out of the city. A well-maintained bicycle is critical to ensure the bike rolls smooth and fast, definitely, requires a lot less maintenance, and clean bikes last a lot-lot longer and save you a ton of money.
If you want to keep your bike running smoothly you will need to clean and lubricate it regularly, paying particular attention to the moving parts of the transmission, where the buildup of dirt and gunk will accelerate rates of wear and leave on the hook for new parts.
WHY SHOULD I CLEAN MY DRIVETRAIN?
A dry or dirty chain & cassette will wear through a lot faster than you can imagine. A clean and well-lubricated one will also wear your cassette and chainrings at a quicker rate and can result in poor shifting performance.
Good-quality lubricants can be pricey, but regular use of a reliable lube will work out much cheaper in the long run than having to replace your chain, cassette and rings long before their life should be up. Meanwhile, specially formulated degreasers and bike cleaners are designed to shift old, dirty lube from the transmission and to keep the rest of the bike looking pristine.
DEGREASING
Our bikes have plenty of moving parts and require some form of lubrication to ensure efficiency and prevent wear and tear. Unlike automobiles, bicycles have a lot more exposed components to reduce unnecessary weight and lubricants/grease end up gathering dirt and grime which can not only reduce the life of the component but also reduce performance.
A degreaser is used to break down the old, grimy lubrication on the bicycle so that it can be replaced by smooth fresh lubrication in the form of oils or grease depending on the place of application. Degreasers are typically harsh in nature, need to be used sparingly and are used liberally on the major drivetrain components – chain, cassette, crank, derailleurs – to ensure they are clean.
NOTE – avoid using degreasers on components other than those mentioned above. For example, if degreasers are applied on a hub, it can strip the much necessary grease and damage the moving components which would grind against each other without the grease.
Best would be to take your bike to your local bike shop once a year and have the experienced bike mechanics strip the entire bicycle down and degrease, clean, and lubricate as per the required spec.
A good degreaser, when paired with a good brush set, will make drive train maintenance much easier. Old rags and toothbrushes can be a makeshift option too, to get rid of stubborn grime from those though to get at places.
CLEANING
Bike cleaners are designed to be used on bicycle frames and components once the heavy grease has been stripped out using a degreaser. Bicycle specific cleaning agents ensure delicate components like bicycle seals, plastic components, and the paint job are handled with care and prevent any side effects. These definitely help to make washing a bicycle that much easier.
These products are not strong as degreasers, and cannot be used instead of a degreaser. They are typically used on frames, saddles, wheels and other hard to reach parts to strip light grease/lube on them. Again, having proper bike specific wash brushes help to ensure we can reach those nooks and crannies and make it so much easier to wash a bicycle fast.
LUBRICATION
Step three of the cleaning process – after degreasing out the old grease, cleaning the surface with a bicycle-specific cleaner, its time to ensure we apply the correct lubrication to ensure the bicycle is ready to be ridden. Lubrication helps in reducing the friction between components, ensures the ride is smooth, and also prevents wear and tear of the rubbing components.
There are two major forms of lubrication are Grease and Oil.
Grease is generally applied on ball bearings, cables, and threaded areas on the bike. Grease is used while installing fixed components like seat post, headset as this helps to ensure components don’t seize over time.
Bicycle Oil (bicycle lubricant) is majorly used on the drive train components of the bike – chain, cassette, derailleurs, and the crank. Oils are less viscous, and hence easily slide between the chain links to help in smooth movement of the chain.
We have three major kinds of bicycle lubricants
- Dry Lube: best suited for dry and dusty conditions. It leaves a thin coating on the chain which does not attract dust; this would be an ideal choice when riding in dry conditions.
- Wet Lube: more viscous compared to a dry lube. They are well suited for wet riding conditions; they stick on the chain even during rains.
- All Weather Lube: These are more generic that are suited for all riding conditions.
Remember, a well-maintained bike is fun to ride. By taking care of these D.I.Y maintenance activities of – Degreasing, Cleaning and Lubricating – you can enjoy your cycling a lot more and also ensure maintenance and replacement costs are minimized.
Happy Cycling!
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT CYCLING
While I am a recent cycling convert, I am a die-hard one for life! I love the Specialized brand and have a beautiful Specialized tattoo on my left leg. I’ve completed some of the toughest and most scenic off-road trails in the country – Manali Leh and Spiti Valley – on my Specialized Rockhopper and also completed the Super Randonneur series as soon as I got my Specialized Tarmac. My focus is road riding and to ultimately qualify for the Race Across America.
I am a Bike Specialist at BUMSONTHESADDLE – ensuring riders have access to correct product, assisting them with fit and sizing and leading road rides and spreading my passion for Road Biking.
DISCIPLINE: Road Biking
CURRENT BIKE(S): Specialized Tarmac and Specialized Rockhopper
DREAM BIKE: S-WORKS Tarmac
OTHER PASSIONS: Football – fan of Manchester United, Bike Packing and Travelling and exploring new places with my girlfriend
