Mountain Bike Maintenance Guide – Part I
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The internet is literally awash with different guides and ideas concerning mountain bike maintenance, so much so it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. In the article below I hope to provide you with a basic no BS guide to mountain bike maintenance. |
- Following any particularly muddy and wet ride let the dirt dry on your bike. When I started out I would wash my bike straight after every ride but I soon noticed that this very action was enabling the water to carry mud and dirt to parts of the bike that would otherwise be protected
- Having left your bike to dry knock off the big chunks of dirt with your fingers.
- Clean the chain, chainrings, derailleurs, and cassette with a stiff nylon brush
- Add lubricant (WD40 will do if that’s all you have) to your chain whilst backpedalling. Remember to wipe off any excess with a rag otherwise you attract unwanted dust and dirt the next time you go for a ride
- With a clean rag wipe the inner legs of the suspension fork, and the rear shock
- Wipe down rim brakes with isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag
- Disc brakes should be left alone unless they have been muddied by grease or a citrus cleaner in which case clean them with isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag
- Check your tire pressure
- When washing your bike use dish soap and warm water. Specialized bike brushes are available at bike stores and online to help you out. Once you have scrubbed your bike from to bottom hose off the excess with a gentle spray. Bounce the bike up and down a few times to shake off any remaining water and dry with clean rags. Once the bike is dry don’t forget to lube your chain