Team Shredders Tips: Give That Bike a Bath!

Coach Dustin is back with another tip for all Shredders, short and tall!

A clean bike is a happy bike!

Washing your bike regularly is a simple form of maintenance that will contribute to your bike functioning properly. You don't have to be a master mechanic to give your bike a bath. Here's a few tips that will help you keep your bike clean.

Visit our friends at Muc-Off for supplies!

Some supplies you'll need:

1. Degreaser or chain cleaner

2. Mild dish soap or bike cleaner

3. Soft bike brush or something similar that won't scratch your frame. A large sponge can be helpful to clean your chain.

4. Claw brush for cleaning your cassette and chainring (a toothbrush and toothpick can also work)

5. Soft towel or chamois towel to dry your bike

6. Chain lube

6 easy steps to clean your bike:

1. Find a hose and gently rinse any dirt, grime or mud off your bike. Avoid spraying high pressure water into any seals around suspension or directly into anything that houses grease or bearings (eg. bottom bracket)

2. Brush your bike with bike soap or bike wash and spray the cassette, chain, chainring(s) and jockey wheels with degreaser or chain cleaner. Use your claw brush (or toothbrush) to wash dirt (trail plaque lol) out from in between the cogs on your cassette, chain and chainring.

3. PRO TIP: Sing "Rubber Duckie," "Splish Splash" or any other bath related song :)

4. Gently rinse dirt, mud, soap and degreaser/chain cleaner from your bike and components.

5. Dry your bike and components with soft towels or a chamois towel. Make sure you dry your suspension stanchions and around any other seals (your dropper post). You can dry your chain by carefully holding an old bath towel in your hand and slowly running the drivetrain in reverse through your hand.

6. Lube your chain and after a few minutes wipe off the excess lube with a towel. Make sure you apply the chain lubricant to the inside of the chain (that's the part that comes in contact with your chainring and cassette).

Remember, washing your bike is also a great opportunity to notice if there are any components that need extra attention/maintenance.

Summary:

• Spray bike with hose

• Wash off grime with soap

• Rinse

• Dry bike

• Lube bike

• Ride bike

Happy shredding!
- Coach Dustin