After all the fun of riding your mountain bike, it’s usually discouraging to have to clean it afterward. Mountain bikes are usually ridden on rough trails, muddy places, and uphill areas, and so there’s no way that water, mud, sand, and other forms of dirt won’t get on it after your riding adventure.
The more you put off the cleaning time, the dirtier your mountain bike would become, which can cause a few disadvantages. The bike can become damaged and harder to clean later on, which is why you should learn how to clean the mountain bike early and take care of it after each round.
When looking at how to wash a mountain bike, there are different steps that you have to follow to properly take care of it. From preparing the washing area to polishing after washing, you can follow these steps during MTB cleaning.
Step 3: After mounting your MTB on the stand, you should start by rinsing it out with cold water from top to bottom. Ensure the water touches every aspect of your bike so that any sand or debris would fall and pass through the drainage.
Step 5: The best way to clean a mountain bike drivetrain and tires is by using a firm brush. To clean bike tires, apply the washing liquid to the brush, add water, and scrub the tires to remove dirt. You should scrub the area between the threads and around the rim and sidewall. Any debris, dirt, or grass caught in the cogs or wheels should be removed, also cleaning bike tires you should check them for any punctures, thorns, cuts, and more. When scrubbing the tire and drivetrain, it’s best to avoid using a degreaser so that there is no risk of damage.
Step 7: If your bike was really dirty, you might still see some dirt and stains while inspecting the mountain bike. This would mean that you have to go through MTB cleaning all over again, from steps 3 to 6. You can also remove the wheels if they are especially dirty and check places that hold lots of dirt, like the chainring and jockey wheels. Anywhere else that is especially dirty should be cleaned properly to avoid expensive damage. Then, rinse your bike.
Step 9: Once your mountain bike is dry, you can polish it using a towel and silicone polish. You can polish your mountain bike so that it shines and prevents dust from sticking to it.Apart from the standard process of MTB cleaning, there are a few other things that you should consider when looking at how to clean a mountain bike.
Before cleaning the mountain bike, you need to put it on a bike repair stand to keep it in place. To do so, use a Velcro strap to tie the back wheel and tire assembly to the repair stand. You can also check the manual, as each one is different.
Use a high-quality lube oil for cycling when lubricating your brake. You only need to add one or two drops to the lever pivots and other important places.
Apart from washing your mountain bike, you should protect it from scratches, lubricate it often, and also polish it to maintain it.
To wash your MTB without a stand, you can hang the front of the seat on a peg (make sure it is durable enough to withstand the weight of the bike). Alternatively, you can use rig hooks or rope. Don’t forget that the pedals should be clear to turn so you can easily access any part of the wheels.
Although washing your mountain bike can take a long time, you would feel pleased and satisfied when you see the result, which is a shiny and clean bike ready to be taken on the road. Now that you know how to clean a mountain bike, you can start taking care of it efficiently today.
