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Keep it Clean

26th November 2009 | Eddie Allen

More: Daily Commuting Tips Archive

Look around at commuter bikes on bike-stands up and down the country and you'll notice one commonality. They're all covered in at least six months worth of road filth.

While there's an argument to say that a dirty bike is less attractive to the criminal fraternity, it no way compensates for the fact that a dirty bike doesn't work well, detracts from the simple joy of riding, soils your clothing at every opportunity and stains your hands and fingernails indelibly if you have to do a bit of roadside maintenance.

This is easily sorted once a fortnight. All you'll need is half an hour, a bucket of hot soapy water, some degreaser, and a variety of sponges and brushes.

First, wash the clean bits of your bike, from top to bottom - bars, frame and forks. Next work on the wheel rims - brake blocks and aluminium rims create a grey sludge that clings to the sidewalls of your tyres and wheel rim itself. It'll get all over your hands if you need to fix a flat. Then degrease your chain and drivetrain. Spray with degreaser, agitate stuff with a stiff brush, leave for a minute and then wash off with plenty of hot soapy water (car shampoo works really well). Finally, dry off with an old towel before sparingly applying oil to the chain, derailleur pivots and other moving parts.

Regular washing will make your bike ride better, help you to identify problems before they turn into mechanical failures and keep you clean as well. If you're riding in your everyday clothes, the last thing you want is for your bike to leave dirty oil and tyre prints on your gear.

Think of it this way - if your car covered you in dirt every time you drove it, you wouldn't use it as a way of getting to work, would you?