Light cleaning

CSMR

I'm wondering how to clean my road bike. I enjoy cycling but I find cleaning and maintenance daunting.

I have looked online at recommended methods and have bought the materials (muc off, dry grease, wet grease), but the process is very involved for me and I don't think I can do this more than once every year.

Is there a light cleaning that can be done easily? I have used kitchen towel and water in the past but it takes a long time and is not very effective.

The main problem is that the grease gets all over my trousers, not usually when I am cycling but when I am getting off and on and moving the bike. But I would also like the bike to be cleaner in general.

I don't have access to a hose but can get required cleaning materials if they are sold at the major supermarkets.

Thanks for any help!

drlodge

Baby wipes are the answer to all your problems ;-)

fudgey

drlodge wrote:

Baby wipes are the answer to all your problems ;-)

Agreed! Baby wipes are awesome and i have been using them for years for various things.

The hoods on my colnago are white and go grubby very quickly, a quick going over with the wipes and they are white again. Also excellent for removing gloss paint of the vinyl floor of the bathroom.... But that is another story!

smoggysteve

Fudgey wrote:

drlodge wrote:

Baby wipes are the answer to all your problems ;-)

Agreed! Baby wipes are awesome and i have been using them for years for various things.

The hoods on my colnago are white and go grubby very quickly, a quick going over with the wipes and they are white again. Also excellent for removing gloss paint of the vinyl floor of the bathroom.... But that is another story!

Again baby wipes.

Although make sure they are the cotton type and not cheap paper.

I have also found that nail varnish remover is good at getting difficult marks off your frame. Bit on a cotton wool bud applied on scuffs and light scratches removes a lot of grime.

fudgey

I wouldnt personally use nail varnish remover, its an acetone ie paint stripper!
Pampers or johnsons wetwipes for the win.
I tend not to let my bike get horrifically dirty but was caught in a massive downpour yesterday, and will ride to wrok in the morning and probably clean my bike in my lunch break.
We have alcohol wipes at work, and some good cleaning products, degreasers etc.

smoggysteve

Fudgey wrote:

I wouldnt personally use nail varnish remover, its an acetone ie paint stripper!
Pampers or johnsons wetwipes for the win.
I tend not to let my bike get horrifically dirty but was caught in a massive downpour yesterday, and will ride to wrok in the morning and probably clean my bike in my lunch break.
We have alcohol wipes at work, and some good cleaning products, degreasers etc.

The nail varnish remover is good in small isolated areas. It works a bit like T-CUT so its perfectly fine. Not suggesting you smother the frame in it.

fudgey

Gotcha.

I still wont use it tho lol.

One more thing, i have a lot of car cleaning products so was thinking about giving my bike a good waxing. Not really sure if its needed but will make it much easier to wipe clean.
After-all, my winter training bike will be exactly the same as my summer one, just dirty!

DKay

I use a car wax on my frames and it does make cleaning easier. I defo wouldn't dream of using nail varnish remover, no matter how small the area.

orgeouwius

yes,found that nail varnish remover is good at getting difficult marks off your frame. Bit on a cotton wool bud applied on scuffs and light scratches removes a lot of grime.thank you

keef66

If you're getting 'grease' all over your trousers just getting on and off the bike it sounds like you're putting way too much lube on your chain and / or not wiping it down enough.

Would you describe the chain as black or is it shiny?

CSMR

drlodge wrote:

Baby wipes are the answer to all your problems ;-)

Brilliant thanks; this is perfect for a lazy person like me!

CSMR

keef66 wrote:

If you're getting 'grease' all over your trousers just getting on and off the bike it sounds like you're putting way too much lube on your chain and / or not wiping it down enough.

Would you describe the chain as black or is it shiny?

It's black, and I think I realized I was putting too much on. I was trying to get rid of some clicking but it came from elsewhere. I didn't wipe it down, so I should do this. Also with baby wipes ?

fudgey

I just use blue paper towel. I oiled my chain the other week with a wet lube, wiped it for ages then went for a ride. Got back and i thiught the rear wheel was covered in brake dust but it wasnt, it was the damn oil. I have white wheels too so it was a right bugger to clean off!
Gave the chain a good wiping with a load more paper towel - i got through a fair bit.

Dippydog2

If you want a clean bike I think you might have to do the job more than once a year.

Baby wipes, or a rag with a little GT85 on it. Weekly.
Degreasing spray and light hosing once every dozen rides or so.
Pull the whole thing apart, clean it and rebuild it annually.

But then I really like bike maintenance.

Jules Winnfield

For light cleaning of the frame I use a good microfibre cloth and the other halves Autoglym Rapid Detailer from her car cleaning kit. Spray it on the microfibre, wipe down and buff off. Job done