| A clean, properly lubed drivetrain will look better, shift | | | | Pedro's Bio Cleaner. You'll also want to have a set of |
| better and extend the life of your bike's most | | | | soft bristled brushes and maybe a tool, like Park |
| important parts. Ideally you'll want to perform a | | | | Tools Gear Clean Brush, to get in between the cogs |
| cleaning after every muddy or dusty ride. Dirt, sand | | | | on your cassette. Use the brushes to gently clean |
| and other gritty contaminants act like sandpaper on | | | | the drivetrain, making sure to get all the |
| your drivetrain, slowing wearing down parts with | | | | hard-to-reach places. Once you're done, you can use |
| every turn of the crank. | | | | a hose (without high-pressure nozzle) to rinse the |
| It's much easier to clean your bike's drivetrain if you | | | | parts clean. |
| have access to mechanics stand. A stand will firmly | | | | Next you'll want to wipe down the parts with a rag in |
| hold you bike in place and puts it at a more | | | | order to get any gunk left over and remove excess |
| manageable height. Working on a bike while it's | | | | water. Wait until the drivetrain is thoroughly dry and |
| balanced up against a wall often results in the bike | | | | then apply your favorite wet or dry lube. A wet lube |
| crashing to the ground or in a wrestling match | | | | like Pedro's Synlube is usually best for rainy or muddy |
| between you and the bike. Invest in a good stand | | | | conditions and a dry lube like Pedro's Ice Wax is |
| and bike maintenance will be a much more enjoyable | | | | better for dry, dusty conditions. Be especially careful |
| experience. | | | | when using a wet lube to only apply a small amount. |
| A mistake many novices make is to use a high | | | | Using too much wet lube can attract more dirt and |
| pressure hose when cleaning a mountain bike. | | | | grime and wear out parts even faster. |
| Although this does a good job at washing off dirt | | | | If you take the time to follow these steps after |
| and debris, it also does a good job of washing away | | | | each or every other ride (certainly after muddy |
| grease and lubrication that's critical for optimal | | | | rides), you'll have more efficient, smoother running |
| performance. You'll want to instead start with a | | | | drivetrain and spend less time in the shop replacing a |
| bucket of hot water and your choice of dish | | | | worn out cassette or chain. |
| detergent or biodegradable bike-specific cleaner like | | | | |