Rookie Cleaning Bike

AndyPatio

I can imagine this will have been asked millions of times but I've had quick search around and can't seem to find the answer I need.

I'm new to riding mountain bikes and I've just recently bought one (Saturday - Carrera Vulcan) I've covered mainly dry trails and roads up until today. I went down some very muddy fields and the bike is nice and muddy :P I've got a decent pressure washer and I'm just wondering if there is places that I shouldn't blast with the pressure washer and should I regrease/reoil the chain after the bikes been cleaned and it's dry?

Thanks

cooldad

Avoid any bearings - bottom bracket, headset, suspension linkages. I would keep the pressure low.

AndyPatio

I just kept the pressure low on the frame and then put it on a mist around the cassette and both derailleur. Just in the process of drying it off. Cheers for the reply!

nicklouse

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/w ... ike-18259/

AndyPatio

nicklouse wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how-to-clean-and-lube-your-bike-18259/

Thank you. Full of good information

The Rookie

I only ever use bucket and sponge, lots of water but under no pressure, the other place to be careful with the pressure washer is the fork seals, especially on the Suntour XCM you have on the Vulcan which can leak in wart just on a wet ride (anecdotally) although it's easy to fix with a simple strip and regrease.

AndyPatio

I'll just use the bucket and sponge and scrap the pressure washer. I'm sure I'll do more bad than good haha!

pilch

I find my lazyness prolongs the life of most of the bits on my bike, other than getting the crap off the drive train & lubing it after I dont tend to be too anal about constantly having a showroom finish on the rest of it, every now and then I give things a good clean, but constant immersion in water does no good to bearings etc.