Written
by Mike Palmeri, owner of Cartecay Bike Shop in Ellijay, GA. Mike was certified in 1983 by the Schwinn
Bicycle School in Chicago, Illinois and re-certified in 2000 by the United
Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Oregon.
He is a certified bicycle mechanic, suspension specialist, a DT Swiss
master wheel builder, and has been in the bike business since 1979.
Now
that the winter riding (or non-riding) season is upon us, many of us take time
out to repair and replace old and worn out components. Did you know that the simple act of cleaning
your bicycle will increase the longevity of all your components? Cleaning your bicycle is always the first
step in performing any repair. Now get started!
1)
Supplies to have on-hand: bucket, dishwashing soap, sponge, cotton cloth, bio-
degreaser (like Simple Green), mineral spirits, old toothbrush, window cleaner,
furniture polish, and rubber gloves.
NOTE: mineral spirits and bio-degreaser should NOT be used on suspension
forks.
2)
Wash the bike. After your ride, sweat,
mud and tears become one with the bike.
Over time this will slow down and break down your bike. With warm, soapy water, sponge off the bike
from top to bottom and rinse completely.
3)
Clean the suspension fork. Use warm,
soapy water. Do NOT use bio-degreaser
on the suspension fork. Bio-degreaser
will deteriorate the seals on the fork.
Check and clean any dirt from the stanchion tubes and rub a
shock-specific grease around the seal.
The grease acts as an additional seal and protects the tubes. Most suspension forks need service every
sixty to one hundred hours of ride time.
Check your shock owner’s manual.
4)
Clean the drive train. The drive train is composed of the chain, front and rear
derailleurs, the rear cassette and front chainrings. Keeping these components clean will help you be a more efficient
rider. Spray the drive train liberally using a bio-degreaser. Using a soft, long bristle brush, scrub
gently applying a slight pressure to the chain, front chainrings and rear
cassette. Use a cotton cloth to floss
between the cassette cogs and front chain rings. Use the toothbrush to help
reach those tight narrow spaces. Rinse
with warm water. Use a cotton cloth to
dry off and further remove any grease that still remains. For a super cleaning you can remove the
chain and soak it in a plastic jug with the same cleaner. You will need a
special tool called a chain breaker to remove the chain. Learn how next month!
5)
Lubricate the drive train. Use your
lube of choice to lubricate the chain.
Touch every roller with the lubrication. After you lubricate the chain, place a drop or two on the front
and rear derailleur pivots. Check the
rear wheel for excess lube on spokes and the rim.
6)
Clean the rims. Use window cleaner and
a soft cloth, especially where the brake pads contact the rim. This is where dirt and grit hide. Spray
window cleaner on the brake pads and clean with the toothbrush. Do NOT clean your disk brake calipers or
pads with window cleaner! Use rubbing
alcohol for cleaning disk brake rotors & pads after you lube your chain.
7)
Polish your bike. Use a soft cotton
cloth and furniture polish to wax and shine your bike.
Now
that your bike is clean, do a quick safety check.
Check
the air pressure of the tires, air shocks (front and rear); check the tires for
dry rot; make sure the quick release skewers of the front and rear wheels are
tight., seat binder bolt is tight, and pedals are on tight; check headset and
stem; check that the brakes are working properly; and brake pads are not ground down passed the limit line.
Ride
your bike!
Basic
and advanced mechanic classes are available at the Cartecay Bike Shop. Call (706-635-2453) or email Mike for more
information. Any questions regarding
this article, please contact Mike Palmeri (mike@cartecaybikes.com)