Recently, we followed along with our pro mechanics after a very wet ride in Tuscany.
We wanted to see exactly how they manage to make the Pinarello Dogmas look like they’re brand new every day.
Was it magic? Are there actually just unlimited new Dogmas in the garage? Or are these mechanics just really, really good at cleaning the bikes?
No surprise, the answer is that our mechanics are just great at what they do, and after years of working on the WorldTour circuit before joining the inGamba crew, they’ve worked on thousands of bikes over the years. Here are their hot tips for how you can upgrade your cleaning experience.
Start with a good cleaning setup
- Bike stand
- Bike cleaner (or car cleaner or dish soap if you don’t want to buy separate bike cleaner)
- Bike degreaser
- Small paintbrush
- Old water bottle
- Big brush (like this one)
- Big sponge
- Chain lube
- Chain cleaning tool or old toothbrush
- Bike polish
- A few soft microfiber cloths
- Bucket of water
- Hose or small pressure washer (like this one)
Start with a gentle spraydown
Using your hose or pressure washer (on a low/light setting), give your bike a quick rinse down to get all the obvious mud and grit off of it while it’s on the bike stand. Try to get in the hard to reach places like under the saddle and above the front wheel—but avoid spraying directly into shifters and where the battery is stored in your derailleur if you’re using electronic shifting.
Apply Degreaser
Here’s where it gets interesting: The easiest way to apply degreaser is by decanting degreaser into an old cycling water bottle that’s had the top cut off of it, then slipping that water bottle into the bottle cage on your bike for easy access. Use the paintbrush to apply degreaser to the chain, cassette and crankset—spin the cranks to get the degreaser into all the little nooks and crannies. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve used degreaser on this drivetrain.
Wash the Rest of the Bike
Don’t neglect your tires: Give each a full wipe down. This helps dislodge grit and may even save you from an early-in-the-ride flat, since you may knock out a piece of glass that was lodged in the rubber. It’s better to flat post-ride rather than partway through tomorrow’s adventure!
Give It a Rinse
Start with the non-drivetrain areas on the bike and go from top to bottom until all the suds are gone. Hit the drivetrain last and again, avoid spraying the area with the battery.
Drying is Just as Important
Use one cloth to dry the rest of your bike, then another cloth to wipe down the drivetrain, then reserve one cloth for chain cleaning—this one will get dirty fast, so try to only use one cloth for the chain and keep the others clean. Want to speed up drying? Our mechanics use an air compressor to blow it dry before finishing the job with a microfiber cloth. Make sure the bike is nice and dry—this helps prevent rusting and avoids you getting in trouble tracking a wet bike through the house.
Apply Chain Lube
Anytime you use degreaser on your chain, you’ll want to re-lube it. Make sure the chain is dry and looking squeaky clean, then apply a small amount of lube to the chain, making sure each link gets wet. We like to use the Race Oil from Morgan Blue: In dry weather, we use the spray version since it’s easier to apply and less messy, but for rainy rides, we use the oil version.
After applying the lube, give it a minute to settle in, then use the other side of your chain microfiber cloth to wipe off the excess. You don’t want to over-lube your chain, otherwise you’ll end up with a black chain and a dirty drive train. Less is more!
Do a Quick Bike Check
Make sure your shifting and brakes are still working well, and check your tire pressure to ascertain that you don’t have a slow leak in either tire. If you do have electronic shifting, make it part of your routine to plug it in to top off your batteries after every bike wash, and start charging cycling computers and bike lights as needed.
