If you’ve weathered the storms of winter like some kind of cycling viking, we salute you. Now’s the time to prepare for the better days soon to come.
But even if you wussed out and left your bike untouched over the bleak months it’ll still likely benefit from a spruce up.
We show you how to ditch the grime and treat your machine to not only get it looking good but also help it shed any further muck you encounter this spring.
You will need: Bike Wash • Polish • Brushes • Gloves
Time taken: 15 minutes.
1 Brush off loose dirt
If you’ve let your bike get properly mucky it’s easier to knock off lumps of dirt before you start hosing it down. When they’re wet they’ll smear over the paintwork.
So use the brushes to loosen them off, but don’t be too enthusiastic as you won’t want to scratch the bike’s lacquer
2 Wet down
If your bike has got into a truly atrocious state over the winter, you might want to wet it down first to soften up the bigger patches of grime.
However, if it’s not too mucky you can skip this stage and go straight onto the next as most cleaners can be sprayed straight onto dried-on dirt and grime.
3 Spray on
Give the entire bike a good coating of Finish Line Super Bike Wash. This includes all the frame tubes along with the drivetrain and brake callipers and any other grimey bits.
Don’t forget behind the chainrings, under the fork crow, behind the brakes and under the saddle, as dirt likes to accumulate in those spots.
4 Scrub sprockets and hard-to-reach bits
Go back and scrub the mucky patches. Use a thin and hard bristled brush to get in between each of the sprockets on the cassette.
While you’re there, give either side of the jockey wheels on the rear derailleur a scrub too. Assuming it isn’t too gunked up you can give your drivetrain a clean as well.
5 Rinse off
Give the whole bike a rinse down. If you’re using a hose, start at the top and work downwards so the dirt can run off, and avoid spraying directly into the headset, wheel hubs and bottom bracket bearings.
Check for any residual mucky spots and give them a final scrub.
6 Spray and polish
Once the bike has drip-dried you can apply a coating of Finish Line Showroom Polish to the frame and components. Simply spray it on, leave for a minute them buff with a soft cloth.
Doing so won’t just leave your bike looking shiny but will also help to prevent dirt sticking to it on future rides.
