Five Steps to a Clean, Quiet Bike Those who know me know that I will not purposefully ride in the rain, and I will avoid riding in the rain if I can. Why? Well, I live in a tiny apartment in NYC and my bikes live with me like a normal human being would, so just like a normal human being, I’d prefer they not track in dirt and grime and be as clean as they can at all times. Also, bad riding conditions do a number on your precious bike components, and I’m all about my bikes holding their value, as well as, saving money on upkeep and repairs. This season, ProGold teamed up with Zimmer Capital p/b Foundation and I have to say, I could not be more pleased with their products. I’ve had some messy training rides and races, both out of my control, and each time, I have used ProGold products to get my bike back to looking good and running smoothly. I’m not just saying how wonderful ProGold is because they are a sponsor, because I would still say this if they weren’t a sponsor. I have never been able to maintain such a clean bike, with little to no messes, in my almost 4 years of bike racing! The following are steps I take when cleaning my bike. Everyone has their own way of doing things, but I have had several people ask me for tips, so I figured I would share my “secrets”: Step #1: Take a large bucket (kitty litter containers work great) and fill it with warm water. Pour in ProGold Wash + Degreaser and mix it up. Throw in a basic kitchen or car washing sponge, but make sure it is soft; no abrasive surfaces. Wipe down the entire bike, excluding the drivetrain as ProGold has a tougher product for this. The Wash + Degreaser is tough on grease, but gentle on the paint job. It’s safe on all surfaces! After you’re done, do a rinse with clean water to remove the soap suds, and then dry. T-‐shirt material, in my opinion, works best for drying. Step #2: Take an old t-‐shirt and while holding it under a section of the chain, spray ProGold’s Blast Off Degreaser. Turn the crankarm counter clockwise and spray the next section of chain and so on. The grease and grime literally disappear and your chain will be shining after just one application. And, get this, there is no rinsing required (my favorite part)! I like to keep running the chain through a clean part of the t-‐shirt until I see little to no grease. Do the same with the cassette. I then spray some Blast off Degreaser on the t-‐shirt and clean each chainring tooth one at a time, so I’m not getting the product on my frame. Bonus Tip: To clean the cassette really well, take your rear wheel off and spray Blast Off Degreaser all over it. This way you don’t have to worry about getting the product on other parts of the bike! Step #3: Lube the chain with ProGold’s Extreme or ProLink chain lubes. Don’t go nuts here! You don’t need as much lube as you think you do. Apply one coat while turning your crankarm counter clockwise until you have covered the length of the chain, and then run the chain through a clean t-‐shirt multiple times until the chain feels lubed “enough”. Too much lube can make your drivetrain pretty yucky! Step #4: Let it shine! ProGold’s Bike Shine is to your bike as AmorAll is to your car’s dashboard. This product will not only make your bike look super shiny, but it will provide a protective layer to help detour dust and dirt particles. Step #5: If you are cleaning your bike after a wet, rainy ride, I recommend finishing off with the ProGold Luber Pen. Start with your brake and gear cables. Even if they are covered in a plastic casing, cables can get stiff after wet riding so drop a bit of lube in and keep them sliding freely. It’s not a bad idea to lube around pivot points on the derailleur and any exposed springs on your clipless pedals as well. Raquel Miller Zimmer Capital p/b Foundation Treasurer, Elite Cycling, Inc. t: @raqmiller & @zcap_foundation raqmille@yahoo zimmercapitalpbfoundation progoldmfr
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 10:31:47 +0000