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Accessories - misc
White Lightning Easy Clean Bike BrushesWhite Lightning Easy Clean Bike Brushes

White Lightning Easy Clean Bike Brushes

7
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jun 15, 2013

2
£6.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Great sprucing brushes that will recoup their megre investment over and over again
Weight: 
200g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
How we test

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On the face of it, there's a fag paper separating White Lightning Easy Clean Bike Brushes from legions of similar budget scrubbers but I, Reverend Audane, man of the (polishing) cloth and keeper of a pristine fleet can confirm these are amongst the most capable of wallet friendly, workshop staples.

Much boils down to good old-fashioned leverage and uncomplicated design, maximising efficiency, while giving knuckles a sporting chance. Hardly cutting edge but their nylon composites are genuinely pleasant to hold and despite my best efforts, unaffected by varying organic/petrochemicals, although the cassette comb (that's the one with a curved, serrated end) felt a little whippy straight from the packet. Since we're here, this is what's needed to purge that matted sludge of spent lube, mud, straw/sticks, dung and similar detritus from your cassette/freewheel and I'm pleased to report it entertains everything from five to ten speed clusters with remarkable aplomb.

In practice these brushes are a godsend for sprucing derailleur cages, pedal mechanisms, pivot points, tickling between rings, and recessed bottom bracket tapers/ splines. However, bristles still require regular dipping and dunking in solvent preps to alleviate cross contamination hassles but this is endemic to the species, especially when subjected to the latest generations of wet/ceramic and self- cleansing emulsion formulas.

Playing devils' advocate, retired soft and firm headed toothbrushes achieve similar results with perseverance but these are a steal set against the cost of replacing drivetrain components.

Verdict

Great sprucing brushes that will recoup their megre investment over and over again.

road.cc test report

Make and model: White Lightning Easy Clean Bike Brushes

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

White lightning seem to think this is pretty self explanatory, save for saying their easy clean bike brushes can be used wet or dry, the notched end for precision purging of cassettes while the bristle brush cleans chains, derailleurs, chain rings, bottom brackets, pedal mechanisms etc. Deliver exactly what they promise on the packet.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Nylon composite construction, pre drilled for tool board, 22cm long.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

White lightning easy clean bike brushes have impressed with their user friendly and uber efficient design, especially the brush and they represent very reasnable value for money. That said; the claw end felt a little whippy but its hardly a deal breaker.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Sensible length, good design and reasonable pricing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing in particular, although a beefier cassette comb end would be welcomed.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

White Lightning Easy Clean Bike Brushes
White Lightning
bike brushes
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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2 comments

Avatar
Leviathan | 10 years ago
0 likes

Buy Cider, clean bike with washing up liquid and water, drink cider.

Avatar
a.jumper | 10 years ago
0 likes

Is cider really good for chains???

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