Bicycle Cleaning and Preparation

Bicycle Cleaning - It is important to clean your bike after mountain biking on a muddy or dusty trail so that dirt and grime do not get embedded into your bicycle's components. Performing three easy, post-ride maintenance steps can make getting back on the trail an impulse decision. The following are three post-ride maintenance steps that can keep your bike looking good and running smoothly.

1) Bike washing - Use a hose or bucket of water to gently rinse dirt, mud, and grime off of your bike. Specifically, do not rinse your bike with high pressure water because you do not want water or dirt to be forced into your bike's components (e.g., bearings, chain). Allow your bike to dry in a warm, arid area.

2) Bicycle chain cleaning - After letting your bike dry, clean your bicycle chain and rear derailleur with WD-40 or degreasing solvent. Spray WD-40 or use a rag soaked with degreasing solvent to clean your chain of dust and debris. Use one hand to spin the chain with a foot pedal and the other hand to apply degreaser. If you use WD-40, allow it to soak into your components for several minutes before cleaning your chain with a rag. Be careful when using degreasers that contain hazardous chemicals by following directions on the label. Some brands offer a “bio” or “green” degreaser that contains less potent chemicals. Bicycle specific degreasers are preferred but WD-40 can be used if it is more convenient.

3) Bicycle chain lubrication - Lubricate your bicycle chain with a bicycle lubricant. Bicycle lubricant reduces friction and, thus, keeps the chain rotating smoothly. Be sure to remove excess lubricant with a rag after letting the bicycle lubricant soak in for several minutes.

Bicycling preparation - If you have completed the three post-ride maintenance steps then there are only two pre-ride maintenance checks to perform: bicycle tire pressure and bicycle brakes.

1) Bicycle tire pressure - Inflate your tires to the pressure recommended on the side of the tire. For mountain biking, a tire pressure between 35 and 45 psi can work well. Higher pressures reduce the chance of a pinch-flat and lower pressures increase traction by allowing the tire to conform to the trail. Therefore, inflate to a higher pressure for cycling on smooth trails and inflate to a lower pressure for mountain biking on rocky, dusty, or sandy trails.

2) Bicycle brake check - It is wise to give your bicycle brakes a quick test before heading out on the trail. Ideally, your brakes do not squeak, are separating from your bicycle tire rims on release, and are providing an effective amount of stopping power that is balanced between the front and rear bicycle brakes. Check out our bicycle brake adjustments for a more detailed explanation.