51
votes
Accepted
How to maintain the bicycle after a commute, when not home?
Do nothing.
Yes, nothing. Unless you are biking wearing a hazmat suit through some corrosive volcanic crater where it rains acid.
Rinse it off, at home when it's convenient, or it is especially ...
- 12.1k
16
votes
After I lubricate my chain, I hear a gritty, sandy crunching sound coming from the chain and chainring. What am I doing wrong?
This sounds like that the chain might not be clean enough before being lubed. It is important to clean the chain thoroughly before lubricating. Otherwise dust particles will remain in the chain and ...
- 16.1k
16
votes
After I lubricate my chain, I hear a gritty, sandy crunching sound coming from the chain and chainring. What am I doing wrong?
You cleaned sticky stuff made of ground up bits of dirt, lube and metal from the chain etc. out of the chain, and the lumpy bits stayed behind. With the sticky stuff washed away, you now feel the grit ...
- 49k
15
votes
What is a sensible user service schedule for a professional work bike in non loaded applications such as food delivery?
There is a similar question (but not the same question) here and here.
The short version is that regular upkeep -- chain replacement, cassette replacement, lubrication, brakes (modulo say rebleeding ...
- 46.1k
15
votes
How to clean rim brake track efficiently?
Fold a paper towel a couple of times and stick it between pad and rim. Squeeze the brake lever and rotate the tire.
Depending on the contaminant you may want to wet the towel, douse it lightly with a ...
- 53.4k
15
votes
What is the most ecologically sustainable way to handle rags covered in chain grease?
In response to a comment, I will be explicit with the answer. The most likely ecologically sustainable way to handle rags covered in chain grease is throw them in the trash.
The contents of the chain ...
- 49k
14
votes
Why should one clean a chain?
A lot of people are now out of the habit of doing chain cleaning beyond wipe down level.
The reason to clean thoroughly is a marginal improvement in wear life and performance. But the key word is ...
- 81.7k
14
votes
Cleaning and lubing bicycle chain with diesel
3 weeks isn't likely enough for you to damage the chain noticeably (rattling sounds and all that jazz) unless you're putting particularly heavy mileage.
This isn't something I'd recommend doing; ...
- 46.1k
14
votes
Accepted
LBS won't Service Shimano Dual Control Lever
I've successfully destroyed several right-hand levers by attempting to fix them once they've started acting up.
One was a broken basket in the shifter, and I forget the actual failure in the others. ...
- 121k
12
votes
Use non bike specific degreaser, is it safe?
This depends on which part of the bike you are degreasing.
For degreasing the chain, whatever works for you should be fine. In the worst case, you will learn that the particular type of degreaser does ...
- 14.4k
11
votes
Remove lubricant from seat tube and seat post
A thorough way to do it would be to:
Remove the cranks, bottom bracket and seat post.
Make sure there is a decent hole between the seat tube and bottom bracket shell (might depend on the frame).
Ram ...
- 286
11
votes
Accepted
Remove lubricant from seat tube and seat post
This is an XY problem. Seatposts should be lubed. While removing all lube may solve your slipping problem, it will likely do so by making the seatpost corrode into place, which isn't something you ...
- 12.1k
11
votes
How to improve the degreasing process?
I don't know why you think bicycle degreaser products are 'weaker for more money' when you have basically proved to yourself that gasoline (petrol) is a very poor cleaner because it evaporates very ...
- 75.5k
10
votes
Accepted
What to do with a frozen bike?
Let it air dry (and/or wipe it dry as much as you can) and move on with your life. Don't put it near a heater, cause that isn't good for the rubber stuff. Re-lube the chain.
What gets you in winter ...
- 46.1k
10
votes
Is sanitizer an effective degreaser?
This might work, but probably not as well as using dish soap and water.
Because greases are made up of nonpolar chemicals, they are best dissolved by either nonpolar solvents or detergents. Nonpolar ...
- 203
10
votes
What is the most ecologically sustainable way to handle rags covered in chain grease?
Throw them away in energy waste bin. Consider this: if you get 10 000 km of use from your bike per one thrown away rag that weighs 100 grams and is made from oil products, that's 0.01 grams of oil ...
- 18k
9
votes
Accepted
How to clean rim brake track efficiently?
When I need to get it actually clean, and the whole area is really dirty with caked-on grime or dirt, what I use is a brush like this (pictured is from a Finish Line set):
Using warm water, I get the ...
- 81.7k
9
votes
How do you clean cycling glasses effectively?
Oakley has always supplied microfiber bags with its glasses, and it recommends wiping them using only those bags. Their care instructions are linked here. I believe that many other premium glasses ...
- 29.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Where do people in Netherlands wash their bikes?
I use a portable weed sprayer with warm water in it. Like one of these - Portable Pressure Sprayer. They aren't high enough pressure to cause problems to bearings and light enough to carry up and ...
- 525
8
votes
Remove lubricant from seat tube and seat post
Hang the bicycle upside down, on a stand if you have one, but you can also simply suspend it with a bit of rope.
Next, you can easily clean the inside of the tube with a bottle cleaner dipped in ...
- 1,704
8
votes
What is the most ecologically sustainable way to handle rags covered in chain grease?
Do not try and put your oily rags through a washing machine process. Guess how I know this !
They will contaminate the machine, which is bad enough if its yours, worse again if its part of your ...
- 121k
8
votes
What liquid should I use in an ultrasonic cleaner?
There's a range of degreasers that will work in there from the more potent like mineral spirits, to dedicated cycling degreasing products (expensive!), to washing up liquid.
I've also seen a nice ...
- 18.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Can I use WD-40 or WD-50 to clean Cube bike chain?
It is a debatable topic but due to its properties, you can indeed use it to degrease/clean your chain. However, I would only use it for that, "classic" (*) WD-40 is not a good lubricant, ...
- 3,262
7
votes
Bike Washing Steps to know
Depends a little on what conditions you ride in, but the basic steps are all the same.
Take the bike outside. If you have a leather saddle, remove it. If you have a bike computer then remove that ...
- 121k
7
votes
Accepted
We offer our riders shared helmets. What sanitizing spray or barrier product can we provide alongside the helmets?
I'd be wary of using IPA because it may affect the glues used in the helmet, even if it doesn't attack the foam in any obvious way. And the manufacturer would probably advise against it (and many ...
- 57.2k
7
votes
We offer our riders shared helmets. What sanitizing spray or barrier product can we provide alongside the helmets?
Have you also considered that Under NZ Heath and Safety laws, you have a responsibly to keep your workers safe - you have to ensure you are not endangering there health though poor hygiene. One thing ...
- 49k
7
votes
Why should one clean a chain?
Answering the Question
Is there any objective study on the effectiveness of drivetrain cleaning?
The short answer is that I have not seen or done any objective studies specifically addressing ...
- 20.6k
7
votes
Accepted
How do I clean the inside of my frame? Is it even necessary?
The most important thing is that there is no standing water inside the tubes. Usually there are drainage holes around the rear dropouts and bottom bracket. Make sure the holes exist and are not ...
- 26k
7
votes
Ultrasonic cleaner advice, for cleaning chains before waxing
Some models have multiple frequencies. Most operate between 28khz and 120khz. Depending on the frequency the size of the bubbles that form on the surface of the object changes. Lower frequency gives ...
7
votes
Ultrasonic cleaner advice, for cleaning chains before waxing
Some notes from my experience:
If you are in a 220-240 volt country avoid the cheap Chinese cleaners, they are designed for 110 volts and remove a rectification diode as a hack to make it work on ...
- 71
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