Bike cleaning - Groupset, Cassette etc

[rouxtjie]

Since I have been cycling (since 1998) I have done that and have never had an inch of trouble.

Cool if it works for you go for it, as a rule I don't bring degreaser or pressurized water near my bike, I take components off and put it in degreaser...chain and cassette

Edited September 20, 2013 by rouxtjie

[scotty]

After a dusty MTB ride i just hose the bike down, then wipe clean with cloth and clean between the cassettes with pipe cleaners. leave in the sun for a while while i have a beer. Then lube the chain and shift up and down on the cassette range and put bike away. Then have another beer.

[JorgeSS]

After I wash my bike as per all the great advise, I take it for a spin down the road just to get rid of all the access water then a quick wipe down and lube.job done. Then I have a few beers.

[Ecko_1]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

The bike is farely new, and being a roadbike the drivetrain is fortunately fairly clean. Its just not shiny and nice like when I bought it.

 

AFAIK Powasol is not a degreaser. Is this true for Cleen Green (I have CG in my cupboard ATM)? If so then I should be safe to spray onto the drivetrain?

 

I currently dont have any specialist tools as mentioned, so nothing can come off to clean yet. So it will have to be an on bike brush clean.

 

I have read to avoid using car wash shampoos on the driver train as it contains wax. I plan to clean the whole bike with Cleen Green (it foams a bit more than Powasol) and dirty bits with Powasol. I will lay a coat of car wax on the frame once I am done as the CG will strip the paint of any protective layer it currently has.

[schizo]

1 x bottle car shampoo(non waxy kind, motoquip makes 5L that works quite nice...not sunlight soap please)

Why no sunlight?

[Ecko_1]

Why no sunlight?

This probably would apply the same to bikes as it does to cars. Sunlight has something in it that eats at your clear coat.

[schizo]

This probably would apply the same to bikes as it does to cars. Sunlight has something in it that eats at your clear coat.

Ah, I do remember something like that.. Thanks

[scotty]

Why no sunlight?

If exploding Bob was still active he would be shouting at you

[rouxtjie]

Why no sunlight?

Salt, and quite a lot of it in sunlight....eats bearings njom njom njom oh and paintwork. Sunlight is for dishes. The motoquipe car shampoo is like 70 rand for 5L and will last you plenty long, also doesn't have wax in it

[Ecko_1]

Salt, and quite a lot of it in sunlight....eats bearings njom njom njom oh and paintwork. Sunlight is for dishes. The motoquipe car shampoo is like 70 rand for 5L and will last you plenty long, also doesn't have wax in it

And also not for cars

[rouxtjie]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.

 

The bike is farely new, and being a roadbike the drivetrain is fortunately fairly clean. Its just not shiny and nice like when I bought it.

 

AFAIK Powasol is not a degreaser. Is this true for Cleen Green (I have CG in my cupboard ATM)? If so then I should be safe to spray onto the drivetrain?

 

I currently dont have any specialist tools as mentioned, so nothing can come off to clean yet. So it will have to be an on bike brush clean.

 

I have read to avoid using car wash shampoos on the driver train as it contains wax. I plan to clean the whole bike with Cleen Green (it foams a bit more than Powasol) and dirty bits with Powasol. I will lay a coat of car wax on the frame once I am done as the CG will strip the paint of any protective layer it currently has.

 

NOOOOO don't do it, cleangreen is an extremely powerful degreaser(just feel how dry your hands are after using it), it will make mince meat of your BB, Headset, any linkages and wheelbearings, sure the bike will shine like a new penny for a while, but it in the long run you are hurting your bike. DONT DO IT

 

Ok first things, go get the tools I mentioned, you will use them over and over again and they are pretty cheap, some place even sell them as a combo together...chainwhip and lockring remover.

 

I say again, dont bring degreaser to your bike, take components to the degreaser, you have no control of where the degreaser goes into when you take it to your bike no matter how carefull you are. Degreasers are fantastic products but dont spray your bike with them.

 

Oh and powasol took grease nicely off my chain and cassette, don't see why it won't do it to grease in bearings so I treat it as cleangreen.

Edited September 20, 2013 by rouxtjie

[rouxtjie]

And also not for cars

Huh, deffos used for cars and cheap since it doesn't have any wax additives.

[Ecko_1]

Huh, deffos used for cars and cheap since it doesn't have any wax additives.

Never would that touch my car. Meguiars is lucky to even be near my paint

[rouxtjie]

Never would that touch my car. Meguiars is lucky to even be near my paint

Only one I could find with no waxy additives, and quite "thin"....it makes foam, but not overly so.

 

But anyhow, you have lots of input and advice, no go get those tool asap and give your bike the tlc she deserves

[Helpmytrap]

NOOOOO don't do it, cleangreen is an extremely powerful degreaser(just feel how dry your hands are after using it), it will make mince meat of your BB, Headset, any linkages and wheelbearings, sure the bike will shine like a new penny for a while, but it in the long run you are hurting your bike. DONT DO IT

Also, have you seen what a strong degreaser does to anodized bits of metal? It would start off as navy blue but come out the other side in full camouflage in an array of shades of blues and greys.

[rouxtjie]

Also, have you seen what a strong degreaser does to anodized bits of metal? It would start off as navy blue but come out the other side in full camouflage in an array of shades of blues and greys.

Yea red bits go pink...paid the schoolfees there.