Discover Cycling - Get Ireland Active

Clean and Lubricate
To prevent a build up of dirt and grime on your bike
you should clean it periodically. When a bike is dirty the
components will not work as well as they should. Also
if you store a dirty or wet bike rust can begin to
develop, especially on the chain and sprockets (cogs
on the back wheel). If a chain becomes rusty it will not
run smoothly or shift gears swiftly.
A bike should be washed down with hot soapy water
taking care to remove dirt from all of the awkward
places. The best way to reach this dirt is by using
cleaning brushes which are available from most bike
shops. When cleaning the chain and sprockets it is
best to use a degreasing liquid which will break down
any build-up of oil and dirt and makes it easier to
remove. An old toothbrush can be used for this job.
Special chain cleaning devices can be used which pull
the chain through a reservoir of degreasing fluid and
then through a set of brushes to removed the dirt.
Badly rusted chain
Cleaning kit
Once the bike is clean, dry it off with an old towel or cloth and then lubricate the chain,
derailleur and front mech (gear changing mechanisms). To do this:
• Lightly spray oil onto the chain on the rear sprockets while turning the pedals slowly to
ensure the distribution of oil all along the chain. Be careful not to spray oil onto the
wheels or tyres.
• As you spin the pedals change the gears up and down a few times so that the oil is
also distributed onto all of the sprockets.
• Spray some oil onto the joints on the gear changing mechanisms also.
• Use the oil sparingly – it shouldn’t be dripping off when you’ve finished.
• If you’ve applied a bit too much oil you can wipe it off with a cloth
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