cleaning!!

sidebyside

lads after bein out on road bike these days the bike would be fairly manky,do ye hose bike off or just wipe it?also are those chain cleaner kits a good investment?

brayblue24

I use perfume free household wipes for the frame and white spirits for the chain etc. I have a chain cleaning kit that I use for the nitty gritty its after using the spirits

abcdggs

brayblue24 wrote: »

I use perfume free household wipes for the frame and white spirits for the chain etc. I have a chain cleaning kit that I use for the nitty gritty its after using the spirits

White spirits is a bad idea for the chain, it removes lube from the nooks and crannies that is difficult to replace. Generally a light degreaser is best, making sure you rinse the chain well and re-grease after cleaning

biomed32

i use this: http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_714887_langId_-1_categoryId_212371
it is both a mild degreaser and detergent. i generally apply it neat to the sprockets and chain and give them a good rub down with a cloth and get the tougher stuff off with a toothbrush. i dilute it down a fair bit for the rest of the frame in hot water and dry the frame off with a clean cloth. i regrease the chain, sprockets and moveable parts with a sutable greaser

Vaaltron

sidebyside wrote: »

also are those chain cleaner kits a good investment?

Waste of money. Will not clean Your Chain Sufficiently. Messy.

Buy some of these 8, 9, or 10 speed according to Your Chain Size.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25439

With these KMC connectors You can easily remove and replace Your chain when necessary.

Then to Degrease Your chain or any other Bike component buy some of this. It can also be used to wash Your bike :

http://www.bikedock.com/home?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-bd.tpl&product_id=8091&category_id=46

It is the best bike cleaner and degreaser available to buy.

Follow the the diluting instructions on the label of this product for Degreasing. Use lukewarm water in a bucket. Then put Your chain into the bucket. Allow it to soak for a few minutes. Get a rag and wipe of the excess grease and dirt. Then use a tooth brush or a nail brush to degrease the chain clean. Rinse the chain out under a tap. Get a hair dryer and dry Your chain throughout immediately, to prevent the onset of corrosion. Replace Your chain with Your KMC connector. And re-lube with a good quality synthetic lubricant. Such as this:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=2608

peterako

I concur on the removable link but....

I've had both KMC and SRAM links break on me (SRAM on the road, KMC on the MTB).

Would recommend Wippermann's version:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5159

Have been using Connex (Wippermann) chains consistently for about 10 years now and (touch wood) have never had one fail.

(Used the SRAM when I couldn't get a Connex in Ireland).

Peter

07Lapierre

Warm soapy water, degreaser for the chain and cassette, sponge and " elbow grease"! Thats all you need.

funkyjebus

peterako wrote: »

I concur on the removable link but....

I've had both KMC and SRAM links break on me (SRAM on the road, KMC on the MTB).

Would recommend Wippermann's version:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=5159

Have been using Connex (Wippermann) chains consistently for about 10 years now and (touch wood) have never had one fail.

(Used the SRAM when I couldn't get a Connex in Ireland).

Peter

+1 for wipperman connex. Heavy but strong, hard wearing and easily cleanable

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25071

markdrayton

Remove chain, drop into plastic bottle with small amount of white spirits. Shake bottle, remove chain, rinse, wipe dry. Leave somewhere warm to fully dry. Don't put white spirits down drain but save to reuse. Put in another bottle and the crud will sink to the bottom.

Warm soapy water and sponge for frame, wheels and challenges/cassette. If needed, scrub chainrings/cassette with stiff brush and Muc-off. Rinse, allow to dry.

Lube chain off bike by dropping a drip on each link. Allow to dribble in, wipe off excess. Refit. Done.

Doing this is much easier if you don't over-oil the chain and try to clean the bike often.

The tax man

Vaaltron wrote: »

Then to Degrease Your chain or any other Bike component buy some of this. It can also be used to wash Your bike :

http://www.bikedock.com/home?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage-bd.tpl&product_id=8091&category_id=46

It is the best bike cleaner and degreaser available to buy.

+1 for Fenwicks,excellent stuff.

Mcconveycycles will deliver the 1 litre bottle to the here FOC. Last time I tried the 5 litre it wouldn't let me complete the order.

michaelm

Home heating oil is a good de-greaser and very cheap (relatively speaking)

doozerie

If you are going to break and re-fit your chain every time you want to clean it, then make sure that the chain is suited to that. For example, 11-speed Campag chains can (according to Campag themselves) only be safely broken and re-joined 3 times, using a new pin each time. I'm not sure whether other brands of chain have a limit but it's worth checking if you plan to break them a lot. When I last looked I saw only one connector link advertised that claims to be usable with Campag 11-speed chains, but I have no idea of whether this particular one has been tried and tested so again you'd want to satisfy yourself that they are reliable before opting to use one. You'd also want to check how often they can be safely re-used.

Personally I find chain-cleaning tools very effective at cleaning the chain while it is on the bike. If the chain is particularly manky then you might have to go through more than one cycle of cleaning with this tool but if you clean your chain regularly then one cycle is likely to be enough each time. If you are using a good quality lube and wipe off the excess after you apply it, then cleaning the chain will be easier each time.

Yet another option is to use a "self-cleaning' lube like White Lightning or ProLink, the theory being that they shed dirt from the chain. After each ride, wipe the chain with a clean cloth and apply some more (and wipe off excess), and there is no cleaning needed at all other than the wipe with a cloth.

crashoveroid

I knew i forgot to do someting this winter. Too cold to clean i just wipe the chain and relube. I know its the realy lazy approach.

murph226

I really dont think its necessary to split the chain when cleaning your bike

07Lapierre

crashoveroid wrote: »

I knew i forgot to do someting this winter. Too cold to clean i just wipe the chain and relube. I know its the realy lazy approach.

Its not lazy....breaking the chain every time you clean your bike is overkill. Its quite possible to clean the chain on the bike.