Blood, Sweat, and Three in One Oil: The Real Way to Clean Your Bike

Have you ever wondered how to really service your bike? Not just the kind of regular hose down and polish that your give it after a satisfying cycle ride, but to service it to the stage that it feels like a completely new machine? I recently completed a sponsored cycle ride around the Cheshire Ring of canals, a distance of 137 miles, and I can tell you, after four days, my bike was looking pretty rough, so, me and my friend Ben, (who had completed the trip with me) sat down and decided that we were going to make our bikes look absolutely brand new. The process was a long one, involving hours of getting absolutely filthy, but the end results looked fantastic.

To start off with your ultimate service, you need several things which I have listed below:
An old towel that you don’t need any more.

As much hot water as you can get your hands on, and a decent sponge – the hotter the water is, the better, I have tried several different chemical bike cleaners, but none of them equal the power of really hot water, you may want some rubber gloves so that you can use as hotter water as possible.

An old toothbrush – this is really useful for getting into the tight spots, or for applying lubricant to the springs inside the gears.

The legend itself – Three in one oil; this is a fantastic bit of kit for a biker, as it can lubricate even the most inaccessible spots because it is less viscous then regular oil.

Some bike grease – this is used for lubricating the brake and gear cables, and also if you are cleaning the ball bearings inside your wheels, bear in mind that the ball bearings only need cleaning once a year or so, or if you’ve been on a really big ride (I cleaned mine after my trip).

A good variation of spanners and screwdrivers, some pliers can be useful as well, especially when tightening/loosening your brakes. You should need between a 13 and a 17 spanner, although this can vary. You will also need a special tool for removing the chain from your bike, this is not necessary, but I find I get better results if I clean the chain separately.
A de-lubricant – this is for cleaning all the dirty oil off the chain, however, DO NOT use washing up liquid on your bike! This can damage your bike as washing up liquid contains salt.

A wire brush for cleaning of the tougher dirt (be careful in using this, it can scratch your bike if used to roughly.)

Some car polish to make you bike nice and shiny.

A lot of patience. This isn’t going to be done in ten minutes, however, when you are finished, the rewards of your perfectly working bike will make it all worth it.

Section 1 – Dismantling your Bike.

Obviously, before you can clean your bike properly, you need access to all the different fiddly bits, so you need to take it to pieces (if you are familiar with dismantling your bike, then skip to the next section.)

First of all, you need to remove the wheels. These is a simple process, first open up the tyre caps and let down the tyres, then un-clip the brakes and remove the nuts, and gently tug the wheel away from the bike. Repeat this process with the back wheel; remember you need to un-hook the chain as well. If you are removing the chain, then take your tool and place the chain on the two spokes inside the tool, and the gently twist the screw until the bolt that holds the chain together is pushed out of the middle (WARNING; do not push the bolt all the way out, leave it stuck inside the outside link of the chain, otherwise, it is incredibly difficult to re-attach. After removing the chain, coil it loosely and put it in a tub of very hot water, and leave for at least 10 minutes. (If you feel confident removing the gears, then go ahead, but I will not cover it in this article, as it is quite a technical process.)

Section 2 – The Cleaning.

After removing the chain etc, it is time to clean the frame of the bike. This is often the dirtiest part of the bike, and can become covered in in-ground dirt if unwashed for a long period of time. Get your hot water and your rubber gloves and set to work. If you want to add some gentle car shampoo to the water, then this can help bring off some of the more oily dirt. It is best to start at the back of the bike and work to the front, as the back and the main parts of the frame tend to be where most of the dirt gathers. After the frame is completely free from dirt, then set to it with the car polish. This tends to rub in best with a micro-fibre cloth, but I find that an old duster will do just as well. When you frame has a nice shine to it, check for any scratches in the paintwork and plastic, this IS an important step, as even little cracks in the paint can let water in and set of the rusting process. If there are any scratches, you may want to purchase some spray paint to touch up these gaps.

The chain should be well soaked by now, so pull it gently out the water and uncoil it, laying it out in a straight line, then running it through your towel, making sure you move the chain to dry every bit, you will be amazed at the amount of dirt that comes of it. When you have dried your chain completely, cover it in de-lubricant and work it into all the links, then leave to drip dry, this removes all the old oil from the chain. After drip drying the chain, then lay it over a horizontal pole, or a clothes rack, so that it is kept straight and off the ground. Now, you start on the gears. This is a difficult part of the bike to clean, because of the springs and fiddly parts, however, if you pour some hot water through them, followed by plenty of de-lubricant and leave to drip dry, this removes dirt very well, and a few parts can be cleaned with the toothbrush such as the springs inside the back brakes. The wheels take very little cleaning, a simple scrub with the sponge and water on the spokes, and the wire brush on the outside will clean them up nicely if you have a puncture, I will assume you know how to deal with it, as anyone who owns a bike has to be able to repair punctures. Now, get your grease and put some on your duster, and gently rub it along the cables, rubbing in the direction the cables are twined in. After lubing the cables, then gently lift the wheels back into their sockets, and re-attach the nuts and tighten them with the appropriate spanner. Then take your chain and gently wind it through the gears, then put the outer link and inner link together and re-attach them using your tool. After you have done this, then gently move the chain round with the peddle whilst dripping three in one on it, until the chain is fully lubricated. Drip some three in one into the gears and work it in with the toothbrush, then re-clip your brakes and stand back to admire your handiwork.
I speak for myself, but I found it very pleasing to see my bike fully restored to its former glory, and I hope that you will feel that too. Happy Biking!!!