http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Winter Bike Cleaning en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:05:55 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850&page=2#post-216266 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:13:16 +0000 wee folding bike 216266@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Leave your bottom bracket in for 10 winters and you need to get it out with fire.</p> <p><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/12983219_1111246512268710_2632513657461274231_o.jpg" rel="nofollow">https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/12983219_1111246512268710_2632513657461274231_o.jpg</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850&page=2#post-216265 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:12:49 +0000 threefromleith 216265@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@wingpig I've often been tempted to try to find a wringer to extract the liquid from a couple of packs of cheap babywipes, and keep it in a jar as a cleaning fluid!</p> <p>Not managed to find one yet though.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850&page=2#post-216255 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:12:46 +0000 Dave 216255@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I broke the rim on my new commuter and after putting together a new wheel, leaving the bike on blocks for a couple of weeks, I discovered some crippling problems partly from lack of cleaning:</p> <p>The brakes (Juin R1 cable/hydro calipers) were absolutely seized solid and I can't recover them. Might be possible in a solvent bath or something, but as they were nothing but trouble in use, I decided to take the opportunity to replace them with some proper full hydros.</p> <p>Then I discovered that the front QR skewer had welded solid inside the hub, so I had to smash up the nut (opposite from the lever side) before I could get it to unwind at all, then I had to use a hammer and a punch to drive it out towards the lever side. All to get at the seized brake caliper..!</p> <p>The chain is as claggy as anything I've ever seen, but on principal I want to save it as it's only done a few hundred miles. URGH. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850&page=2#post-216243 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:27:38 +0000 I were right about that saddle 216243@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Ed1</p> <p>Aluminium will corrode under serious attack but it makes a white, fluffy powder that sheds and can cause overlying paint to flake.</p> <p>If you have red rust it's coming from some ferrous part of the bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-216242 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:19:33 +0000 Ed1 216242@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The chain stay part of the frame on my winter bike Pinnacle is getting rusty, did not realize aluminium rusted </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-216241 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:11:40 +0000 wingpig 216241@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Chains tend not to like being forgotten in concentrated dishwater but 24 hours' immersion with a shoogle and toothbrushing every now and then takes the edge of scraping/babywiping off all the glag later. What I'd really like is a bottle of the soap with which Lidl babywipes are impregnated as that can clean almost anything. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-216240 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 10:03:12 +0000 I were right about that saddle 216240@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Murun </p> <p>It's true in principle but of little consequence in the grand scheme of Scottish winter hack corrosion.</p> <p>The year they tried making the road salt sticky with molases (oh yes they did) alloy vanished like snow off a dyke. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-216239 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:47:35 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 216239@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Probably it's a old wives' tale, but I've heard it said that salts in washing-up liquid can speed up corrosion. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-216237 Mon, 11 Apr 2016 09:10:22 +0000 wingpig 216237@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I finally got a couple of hours on Saturday morning to replace the properbike's knackered drivetrain. After removing the used-up bits I then gave the bike its first proper wash, a year and a month after it first went on the road. I'd given the odd bit the odd wipe here and there when fixing brakes or changing tyres but I think the bottle of Muc-Off I used had been sitting in a cupboard since the Christmas before last. As well as the chunk which had broken off the largest sprocket (which tumbled out from somewhere when I was trying to get the chainwhip to bite) and the glagged-up chain (so glaggy I had to scrape it clean a link at a time until I found the clippy-link to remove it) there were a few strands of the longitudinal wires from the sheath of the gear cable poking a couple of inches up through the in-line barrel-adjuster and a number of strands of snapped gear cable where it left the shifter, though the dodgy shifting of the past couple of months indicated something like that but I didn't want to stick a new cable on when I knew everything would be coming off shortly once the road-grime period was past its worst. The rear mech has been replaced with one which still swivels but the old one is having a bath in washing-up liquid prior to stripping it down to see if it can be rescued for use as a spare. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-207059 Sat, 19 Dec 2015 20:20:23 +0000 I were right about that saddle 207059@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@lorlane</p> <p>Bike Station does a 'bells and whistles' for £80. Be good for a bike ridden through winter. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-207058 Sat, 19 Dec 2015 19:58:56 +0000 lorlane 207058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks @smash. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206956 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 13:09:02 +0000 Neil 206956@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'll be taking mine to the Cycle Service for a service in spring </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206901 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 20:25:42 +0000 lorlane 206901@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@paddyirish do you recommend anyone for the service? I think that sounds like a good idea.</p> <p>I might* be able to change the cassette/chain myself.</p> <p>*I will certainly give it a go, having recently learned how to do this. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206887 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:50:41 +0000 ReeBee 206887@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Managed to get out this morning and give the bike a good going over. Took <em>forever</em>, but hopefully it'll just be a quick going over on the regular now that the worst of it is sorted. </p> <p>Anyways, thanks again for all the advice and links folks, really super helpful :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206827 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:37:37 +0000 amir 206827@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>With the chain, I try to wipe down fairly frequently especially if it's wet. It stops build up of gunk. If there's salt on the roads and it's damp this becomes really important to avoid a rusty chain. </p> <p>I also now wipe down rims quite often due to too frequent experience of rim wear. I also find that regular wiping down of the rest of the bike reduces the need for more serious cleaning. But my mileage is quite high </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206822 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:54:04 +0000 wingpig 206822@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Obviously depends where you live, work or go. If I had to use the upper WoL with any frequency I'd probably clean a bit more often. I went up it today so spent ten minutes knocking off the results with an old Muc-Off skoosher-pump bottle filled with warm water when I got home. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206821 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:39:52 +0000 Schemieradge 206821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I like to build up a protective layer of dried mud, keep it all winter, then clean it off in spring, change the chain and cassette, and off I go. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206820 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:08:09 +0000 Darkerside 206820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the upright I do absolutely nothing apart from adding oil whenever the chain starts squeaking enough to confuse the local mice. Seems to work out OK...</p> <p>The recumbent gets more love. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206819 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:49:09 +0000 Nelly 206819@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ReeBee - all useful info above.</p> <p>Also, cleaning and maintenance regime does depend on the type of bike you are using as well.</p> <p>If you are using a bike without gears (like me), or something with hub gears to commute, your washing / lubing regime may be less regular than if you have a 'normal' geared bike.</p> <p>You will find that there are many and varied bike styles / riders represented on here. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206802 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 10:06:02 +0000 chdot 206802@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Welcome RB</p> <p>"I knew I was in the right place"</p> <p>Well yes!</p> <p>Good, timely, topic to start with - I suspect more people will be trying to 'cycle through the winter'. </p> <p>You might like to look at</p> <p><a href="https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/weather" rel="nofollow">https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/weather</a> and <a href="https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/clothes" rel="nofollow">https://cyclefridays.wordpress.com/clothes</a></p> <p>You will have noticed that CCE is full of people of all experiences and different opinions!</p> <p>And many useful threads, eg -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1230" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1230</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206801 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:52:33 +0000 paddyirish 206801@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I try the baby wipes trick and a weekly/fortnightly proper degrease/oiling of the chain.</p> <p>One thing I do is book my bnike in for an annual service in March. Pay £70+ for it, but get the bike fully stripped down, regreased and everything inspected. Means that I exit winter with a fully working bike and I don't have to think about the parts of the bike that I don't understand or could do more harm than good. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206799 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:44:05 +0000 ReeBee 206799@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks heaps for all of this, it's much appreciated. I knew I was in the right place :)</p> <p>Will no doubt opt for some combination of the above and hopefully make it through to summer still operational!</p> <p>Cheers, </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206796 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 09:04:58 +0000 Dave 206796@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I add oil to my chain periodically. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206782 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:37:01 +0000 gembo 206782@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If cycling in wet weather good to dry your bike and lubricate the working bits. You can spray wd40 or gt85 onto a cloth and use it to give the bike a quick once over of the moving parts. You don't want that stuff anywhere near bearings on the wheels or bottom bracket. The bike service are doing a very runny oil that has a very small aperture in the bottle this directs a fine, thin and fast spray of oil which is good for the moving bits too. Wipe off excess with rag. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206778 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 21:02:19 +0000 Greenroofer 206778@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvzVRxlIUL0" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvzVRxlIUL0</a></p> <p>Or just use baby wipes. They are the business for cleaning bikes and hands (even black chain gunk). They are so good I'm surprised they are allowed to be used on children: there must be something quite corrosive in them...</p> <p>The only bit of my daily-use commuter I clean regularly is the chain. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206769 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 17:58:38 +0000 Edinburgh Cycle Training 206769@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've already had much gyp for cleaning my bike in the bath using the shower spray. I don't know if I'm brave enough to use her hairdryer on the bike too! I am tempted though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206767 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 17:43:41 +0000 dougal 206767@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Arellcat: hairdryer genius! I knew those things must have value to people with short hair. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206766 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 17:07:15 +0000 Morningsider 206766@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>ReeBee - I think we have cleared that up nicely for you! Welcome to CCE. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206765 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 17:04:01 +0000 Arellcat 206765@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to clean my bike only irregularly, with paper towels and perhaps a dash of white spirit, and got through loads of components. I've also had chains go rusty almost overnight.</p> <p>Now (e.g. yesterday) I use:<br /> - a bucket of warm water with some car shampoo<br /> - big soft bristle brush (the one made by Finish Line is pretty good)<br /> - 6pt carton of warm water</p> <p>I slop the bike down with the brush and soapy water to loosen the crud, then go over it again to clean it all. The only bit I don't scrub is the chain (I use my chain cleaner beforehand if it needs it). Then gradually pour the clean warm water over the bike to rinse the soap out. Then indoors on some newspaper I blast the water out of the chain and brakes and gears using my hairdryer on cold (or warm) and maximum speed. It's surprising just how much water collects in the chain and in the nooks and crannies around the headset. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15850#post-206763 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:46:47 +0000 Ed1 206763@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I never clean my bike, but did use 5 chains in a year 2 new rear cog sets( plus one the bike came with ) 2 new derailleur , 2 inner tubes, 1 spoke broken. On my new 7 month old bike I got 2 months ago had a bent tyre, worn out bottom bracket replaced. </p> <p>May be my excessive wear is caused by my lack of cleaning, although think may also be the amount of weight I carry on my bike also I ride mainly out of town where the road is much more gritty and dirty. In town or even main roads, the road always seems much cleaner. </p>