Cleaning A Bicycle

[Bob Guercio]

Hi All,

I just purchased a Schwinn bicycle from the Voyageur 2 series and it could use a good cleaning.  I presume that it is as simple as dousing it with water, drying it and lubricating the chain with 10 to 20 drops of 3 in 1 oil.

Am I correct?

Thanks in advance.

Bob

[John Nelson]

There are many ways to wash a bicycle. If you Google "washing a bicycle", you'll find different options. Personally, I get a bucket of soapy water and a rag and wash it like you'd wash a car. I use an old toothbrush to clean the dirtiest and hard-to-reach parts, such as the chain, gears, jockey wheels and derailleurs. I use Simple Green as the cleaner, but you can use almost any detergent. I rinse the bike off with a hose without a spray attachment.

You could use 3-in-1, but I'd recommend visiting a bike shop and picking up a bottle of lube specific for bicycle chains. If you're a cheapskate, you can make your own out of a mixture of motor oil and mineral spirits--Google will help there too. I don't recommend starting a discussion of lubes, as such discussions always go on forever and everybody recommends something different.

You might consider cheap furniture polish (e.g., a "Pledge" knock-off for about $1 a can) to shine up the tubes.

[Bob Guercio]

There are many ways to wash a bicycle. If you Google "washing a bicycle", you'll find different options. Personally, I get a bucket of soapy water and a rag and wash it like you'd wash a car. I use an old toothbrush to clean the dirtiest and hard-to-reach parts, such as the chain, gears, jockey wheels and derailleurs. I use Simple Green as the cleaner, but you can use almost any detergent. I rinse the bike off with a hose without a spray attachment.

You could use 3-in-1, but I'd recommend visiting a bike shop and picking up a bottle of lube specific for bicycle chains. If you're a cheapskate, you can make your own out of a mixture of motor oil and mineral spirits--Google will help there too. I don't recommend starting a discussion of lubes, as such discussions always go on forever and everybody recommends something different.

You might consider cheap furniture polish (e.g., a "Pledge" knock-off for about $1 a can) to shine up the tubes.

John,

Thank you.

Just one more question?  Does anything else on the bicycle require lubrication?

Bob

[John Nelson]

The chain is the main thing requiring lubrication. However, you might occasionally put a drop on the jockey wheel bearings, the derailleur pivot points, and brake lever pivot points.

Hubs, bottom brackets, headsets, and cables may also require periodic grease.

Park Tool has good online maintenance instructions:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/tag/Maintenance

And you might want to pick up Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.

http://www.amazon.com/Zinn-Art-Road-Bike-Maintenance/dp/1884737706

[Bob Guercio]

The chain is the main thing requiring lubrication. However, you might occasionally put a drop on the jockey wheel bearings, the derailleur pivot points, and brake lever pivot points.

Hubs, bottom brackets, headsets, and cables may also require periodic grease.

Park Tool has good online maintenance instructions:

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/tag/Maintenance

And you might want to pick up Zinn & the Art of Road Bike Maintenance.

http://www.amazon.com/Zinn-Art-Road-Bike-Maintenance/dp/1884737706

Thanks John

[PeteJack]

You might consider cheap furniture polish (e.g., a "Pledge" knock-off for about $1 a can) to shine up the tubes.

I've been recommended spray on furniture polish for clipless pedals. Doesn't attract crud.

[farnorthcycles]

I own a bike shop, and I use only Scheaffer Citrol bio orange degreaser.  Works great, eats through the chain lube residue but not the decals.  Just make sure to rinse it off with water as soon youve scrubbed.  Then I normally remove the chain and do a soak/scrub in a parts washer filled with the same product.  I havent found anything that works better, and it leaves your bike smelling yummy.  Ride on!