You only make me a little nervous.
I didn’t put deodorant on today, you don’t want to be too close.
Today we’re going to talk about some best practices to wash a bike.
To clean your bike well, you’ll need two buckets of warm water (one for your bike, and one for your drivetrain).
You’ll also need a hard bristled brush, a soft bristled brush, a cone brush,
degreaser, bike wash, a clean, dry towel, and some chain lube.
A chain cleaning tool and a chain keeper can also be helpful, but aren’t necessary.
For best results, place your bike in a bike stand, remove both wheels, and install a chain keeper.
If you do not have a stand, you can lean the bike against a wall with the wheels still on.
Next, we’ll soak drivetrain, frame, and wheels with a pre-wash of cleaning solution.
Thoroughly spray the drivetrain with degreaser, carefully avoiding spraying directly into any bearings.
We use the Trek factory recommended Bontrager Degreaser, but any bike specific degreaser will work.
Whatever you use, be sure to use degreaser designed for bikes.
General degreasers have ingredients that can weaken or damage your chain.
Then, spray the frame, wheels and tires with a bike wash like Trek’s factory recommended Bontrager Bike Wash.
Or, you can use a solution of water and dish detergent.
Again, avoid direct spraying into any bearings.
While the bike is soaking, fill two buckets with a few ounces of Bontrager degreaser
and enough warm water to submerge your brushes.
We'll start with the messiest part of the bike, the drivetrain.
Use the drivetrain bucket and a hard-bristled brush to clean the entire drivetrain.
A chain cleaning device filled with Bontrager Degreaser will make this job a little easier and a lot less messy.
Check out our YouTube channel for more detailed steps for cleaning and lubing your bike chain.
Next, we’ll wash the frame and fork from the top of the bike down.
Use a soft-bristled brush with the clean bucket of degreaser solution.
Clean the tires with a hard-bristled brush and the wheels with a soft-bristled brush.
Use a cone brush for the hubs.
When cleaning wheels, avoid contacting the brake system to avoid any chance of contamination.
Once the entire bike is clean, rinse the entire bike with a light shower spray.
Lastly, wipe down the frame with a clean soft towel until dry, and add lube to the chain.
Your bike is now clean, and after a pre-ride check, you’re ready to roll!
If you want to go the extra mile, polishing your bike will keep it cleaner longer and give it a bit of extra shine.
We recommend using Bontrager Bike Polish.
The easiest way to apply the Bike Polish is to spray it directly onto a microfiber towel and wipe it on the frame.
As with any polish, make sure it never contacts your wheels, tires, or any part of the braking system.
For more information about bike maintenance and to find the tools you need to wash your bike,
check out trekbikes.com or visit your local Trek retailer.