How to Wash Your Bicycle

Video Transcript

"Hey, this is Jeff, of the Two Wheeler Dealer, and I am going to demonstrate how to properly wash your bicycle. The main thing to remember is that you want to avoid any high pressure water that has the potential of blasting into any of your bearings and your hubs, your bottom bracket and your headset. So if you do have to use a hose because your bike is completely covered in mud, try not to focus it in those key areas. Try to do just like the tires and the main frame. Otherwise, if it's not completely covered in mud and it just needs a light cleaning, I recommend using Simple Green, and just a rag. Basically just take the Simple Green, spray off the frame, and apply it liberally. It's not going to hurt any of the parts. Just take a clean rag, and wipe it off. Any of these hard to reach areas you might just have to spend a little more time trying to get all the little nooks and crannies. But it's going to be the most effective way of cleaning the bike without doing any damage to it or creating any rust. The other thing you can do is clean your chain. You do this by taking a citrus de-greaser and a rag. You can either apply it to the rag directly or you can apply it to the chain if it's really, really bad. Then just hold that wet spot on the rag where the de-greaser is over the chain, pedal it backwards, keep on moving until your rag is relatively clean. And at that point you want to reapply a good chain lube. This particular one I'm using is a Teflon based lubricant. Apply it the same way as you cleaned it. Apply it directly to the sprocket, pedal it backwards three to five times, let it sit for about five to ten seconds, and then you want to try and remove any of the excess lube that is still left on the outside of the chain, as it will only attract more dirt and contaminants, and not really benefit anything else. That's the proper way to clean your bike."