How to maintain and clean mountain bikes? Analyze the maintenance steps!
1. Frame
To clean the frame, you can use a rag dipped in water to pour on the parts, so that the mud stuck to the bottom of the frame will easily become soft when exposed to water. At this time, you can easily remove the mud by wiping with a rag. The author personally disagrees with the use of high-pressure water guns to wash the sludge on the bicycle, because in this way, water will easily enter the bottom bracket or hub, which will affect the life of the parts.
At this time, you need to pay attention to some places where mud is easy to accumulate on the frame, such as the position of the bottom bracket on the bottom bracket. After washing off the muddy water on the frame with clean water, then pour a little detergent on the rag, and simply rub it with your hands to scrub the frame. When there is dirt on the frame, just light it. Wipe gently back and forth a few times and the frame will be clean. It is generally not recommended to use strong detergents such as washing powder, because many bicycles are made of aluminum. The alkali component contained in washing powder will chemically react with aluminum, which will cause some strange colors in the aluminum part of the bicycle over time. Spots, so a flexible detergent-detergent is definitely a better choice.
2. Wheels, front and seat tube
When washing the wheel set, you can choose to use the shoe brush dipped in detergent to brush the sand on the tire. When washing the car rim, it is best to change to a rag with detergent, and carefully wipe the brake pads on the rim. Simply scrub the spokes. After washing the hub, do not use a high-pressure water gun to remove the detergent. Simply dip it in water and wipe it with a clean cloth. When washing the seat tube and the seat bag, be careful not to let muddy water flow into the seat tube along the seam of the seat tube clamp. Under the sitting bag, it is often the place where mud and water fly up the most. Carefully wipe off the mud with a rag.
For tires, you can use a slightly harder brush to remove the sand and dust on the tires for simple maintenance.
3. Finger dial, forward dial, back dial
After washing the above accessories, the next step is to wash the fingers. The fingers are more complicated. There is more butter in the parts for lubrication. It is best to wipe it gently with a cloth when cleaning the fingertips, and it is enough to clean. When dialing before and after washing, you can directly aim the water pipe at the gap between the front and rear dials to rinse with water, so that the mud and sand stuck in the front and rear dials can be washed away. After flushing, you can also use detergent to wash off the oil stains on the front and rear dials.
4. Fork, pedal, brake
It’s easy to clean the front forks and pedals. The pedals only need to be washed off with muddy water. It is best not to rinse the front fork with water. When scrubbing the inner tube of the fork, wring out the water on the rag before wiping the inner tube of the front fork. Some impurities will remain on the inner tube of the front fork after using it for a period of time. You can gently wipe it off with a cotton swab. It is best to develop a habit of keeping the front fork clean. This is also the most basic maintenance of the front fork. When washing the brake (subject to the V brake), you can directly flush the mud and sand left in the brake with a water pipe to prepare for the next maintenance.
For roulette, front and rear transmissions, guide wheels, etc., dust and small dirt can be removed with a brush.
5. Crankset, flywheel and chain
In the entire cleaning process, these three accessories may be the dirtiest parts. Because there is lubricating oil on the accessories, dust is most likely to adhere. We can pour the same dishwashing detergent on the rag first. After dipping it in water, we can clean the tooth plate. When washing the tooth plate, try to wash every tooth with a rag. After washing, rinse with water. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that the crankset is as bright as new under the scrubbing with a dishcloth.
The next thing to wash is the flywheel. To wash the flywheel, remove the rear wheel for cleaning. First release the rear brake so that the brake does not pinch the wheel. First, loosen the screws on both sides of the rear wheel quick release. At this time, tap the rear wheel lightly and the wheel will come out. Put the wheel on the ground and wipe it carefully on the flywheel with a rag, and then put the wheel back on the car, pay attention to the position of the rear derailleur, slowly pull it away and then shift it to put the wheel in. This process is very simple, and you can understand it after disassembly and assembly once or twice.
The last thing to be cleaned is the chain. After a long period of riding, a lot of sand will stick to the chain. There are many ways to wash the chain. The author introduces two methods here: The first is to use kerosene to wash the chain and wrap the chain with a rag with kerosene to drag it back and forth. The disadvantage is that it will leave a peculiar smell on one’s body, stained with grease and oil stains. The second method is to use dish soap. It should be noted that when washing the chain, it is best to use hot water of about 45 degrees, this temperature is easier to play its cleaning effect. In addition to the need to wipe the chain back and forth with a cloth with detergent, it is best to use a thicker brush to slowly brush each link of the chain once, and the black chain will soon show the original color.