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The Lazy Way to Clean your Bike

Rushed for time or just cba? We show you how to get your bike clean quickly.

Back from a wet, muddy ride but in a hurry to get clean, dry and fed? Well, you might be tempted to dump you bike in the shed and clean it later. Chances are that you'll forget, or just stay on the sofa in a blanket. Here's how to clean your faithful bike quickly, but effectively.

In the wet, the roads and eventually your dive train, will get covered in road salt and who knows what else. It's not a good combination for long chain life or optimal performance. So concentrate on degreasing the chain, cassette and chainrings with a spray before going inside to get a bucket of warm soapy water. Next, take a sponge and, starting at the top, wash the frame and wheels before cleaning the drivetrain. 

Take a hose, or the rest of your bucket and rinse off the bike, making sure you get every thing off the chain and cassette. 

Bounce the bike lightly to shake off the worst of the water, then grab an old towel and wipe down the frame, again starting from the top. The drivetrain is again where you need to focus your time making it as dry as possible. 

Finally, at least spray the drivetrain with a water displacer like WD40. Ideally, you should re-grease the chain with a heavier lube. Wet lube is best for winter, or commuting, unless you are prepared to clean the bike after every ride. In the summer, use a dry or ceramic lube to keep the chain cleaner. 

Remember, the whole process should only take 5 minutes, by which time, your better half will hopefully have made you a cup of tea!

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6 comments

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arowland | 7 years ago
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Interesting and useful video. Inspired me!

At one point he says he was using dishwasher <inaudble> -- tablets or liquid? If he was, he should use rubber gloves because that stuff is irritant. Not sure I would want it on my bike. If he meant washing up liquid, then OK, but I have heard that it contains salt, so careful rinsing off is necessary. Personally I use car shampoo. Gets the grease off and leaves a bit of wax which protects the frame (mine is steel) and as it is a lubricant won't harm the chain. But if you have rim brakes they squeal for a while afterwards!

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Pub bike | 7 years ago
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This works for me:

1. Wash frame and wheels with Halfords car wash+warm water+sponge

2. Clean drivechain with Fenwicks FS1+Sainsbury's cloths cut into 4

3. Lubricate with tiny spot of wet oil on each side plate and leave overnight

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iandusud | 7 years ago
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Where was that filmed. The archetecture looks distictly French.

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Canyon48 replied to iandusud | 6 years ago
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iandusud wrote:

Where was that filmed. The archetecture looks distictly French.

Pretty certain it's filmed in Bath, a lot of their videos are filmed in Bath Green Park Railway Station.

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StraelGuy | 7 years ago
1 like

I've never understood the advocacy of cleaning the chain or rings with same cloth or sponge  as you do the rest of the bike. Surely that just transfers black oily residue onto the cloth/sponge and onto your paintwork and the rest of the bike? If I want to clean my chain or rings, they come off and get degreased properly.

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DaveE128 replied to StraelGuy | 7 years ago
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guyrwood wrote:

I've never understood the advocacy of cleaning the chain or rings with same cloth or sponge  as you do the rest of the bike. Surely that just transfers black oily residue onto the cloth/sponge and onto your paintwork and the rest of the bike? If I want to clean my chain or rings, they come off and get degreased properly.

I just use two different old towels. One is dirty but not greasy, the other is pretty black.

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