One of the most important items of maintenance involves taking good care of your bike after riding it by cleaning off any mud, dirt, or debris accumulated during your ride. This is a rough guide on cleaning techniques.
Dependant on the weather,sometimes you can get away with a light clean of your bike (usually about 2 days per year in Scotland). On these two days, a wipe with a damp sponge or cloth usually does the trick.
However, let us concentrate on how to clean your bike when you have just spent 3 hours up to your hubs in mud and cow sh*t. We at MTB Mad recommend your bike is cleaned immediately after a ride before it is dumped in the shed for a week. Out of site, out of mind.
OK.We all apreciate that you SHOULD be absolutely knackered after your adventures, however a wet and muddy bike is a lot easier to clean and maintain than one that has days worth of dried crap stuck in every possible nook and cranny. Trust me I have been there.
Firstly, get a hold of a hose, sponge/brush and a bucket full of hot soapy water. Always give the bike a good hose down to get rid of the majority of filth. If you have muc-off, give the bike a spray all over and leave for a minute. However if you don't have any just get right about scrubbing the bike up with hot soapy water. Make sure that you clean everywhere. Especially in and around the drivetrain area, and underneath bottom bracket. Now turn upside down and clean underneath seat etc.
You will undoubtedly have some twigs or other debris jammed in your rear cassette and jocky wheels. A small flat headed screwdriver will remove this no problem. Same applies to your pedals which will always collect crap.
When you are convinced that you have cleaned off the dirt, and cleared all the harmful stuff from your drivetrain, just rinse all the soap off using the hose.Use an old towel and give a quick dry down.
Now washing your bike is not a difficult task, this process will only take 5-10 minutes of your time. And ultimately save your bike and components from a premature death.
CLEAN OR DIE!!!