It is wet outside. Damnit all, it's COLD outside!! Okay okay, for SoCal it's cold and wet. It's winter and many people in SoCal stay inside, go to the gym or take the whole day off to drink coffee and write on their blog. But, there are those intrepid souls who scream, "I will not yield to you, Rainy Day!!" In colder climates like New York City, it's a regular thing for people to ride their bike in all kinds of weather. I used to do it myself; rain, hail, snow and hurricane winds. Many people in those climes actually have a second bike designed especially for riding in the horrible conditions of wet and inclement weather. In SoCal, many of us have only one bike and when we choose to ride it in the bad weather, it's doubly important that we take care of our steed with even greater attention than when we clean it after a dry and sunny day of riding.
Cleaning the bike after a rain ride is especially important if you live and ride near the ocean; the salt water and sand can destroy a bicycle even faster than normal. After you get yourself cleaned and dried, make time to clean your bike. If you have access to an outside source of water, it's imperative to douse the whole bike with clean, fresh water to remove as much of the salt water from the bike, especially the drivetrain. Your chain is probably full of sand and salt and this will corrode the whole drivetrain very quickly and will cause damage to everthing the chain touches on your very next ride. Once you've cleaned the bike with fresh water, dry the frame with a clean rag and wipe the chain as clean as possible with your dirty rag. Remember to always keep these two separate. If you have little time, lubing the chain thoroughly may be your only option. Deep cleaning the chain and drivetrain is the best option, but may be impossible if you have only a few minutes before work, dinner or spending time with your family or loved ones, or watching the new episode of How I Met Your Mother. I'll go into a description of full chain cleaning in another post for those of you who want to follow that option. A tiny drop of lube on pivot points all over the bicycle is a good idea as well. Let the spots you've just lubed sit for a while and then come back and wipe off the excess.
The next step important step is checking your brake pads for foreign objects. Brake pads pick up incredible amounts of debris and little slivers of the rim after rain rides. These pieces of debris will scrape and wear down your rims super fast unless you do something about it. Remove your wheels from the bike and take a small metal pick to dig out all the little chunks of debris that have imbedded into the pads. If you have a file, a few quick swipes can also help smooth out the pads so that your rims are protected and will last longer.
Finally, it's important to clean your rims and tires. I prefer using a green scrubbie and your favorite degreaser, such as Simple Green. A quick scrub down of the rims and tires will remove the collected detritus from them and protect your newly cleaned brake pads. If you want, it is also a good idea to get after embedded pieces of glass and rocks in your tire with the same metal pick we used earlier. After, wash off the rims and tires with a bit of fresh water to remove the cleaning solution.
If you don't have access to an outside source of water and a place to clean your bike, do your best to follow the aforementioned steps in your garage, or wherever you can. When I lived in NYC, my shower became my washroom. Yes, its was messy and cleaning the shower after was a chore, but it was all I had. A bucket may be your only option for getting clean water on your bike. Remember, it's important to use water on the frame to get the dirt and debris suspended in the water first, before you wipe it off. Simpy using a rag without plenty of water or cleaning solution will only scratch the clearcoat on the frame leaving it looking dull. Also, keep your cleaning area well ventilated if you are inside.
(Quick note: this cleaning description is truly only a minimal cleaning. After heavy rains, for full protection, a much more involved process of cleaning the bike ensures longevity of parts and frame. The detail involved with such a cleaning is extensive. Ask me about it; it would be great to have a full discussion of detailing the whole bike after a rain ride).
There you have it! A quick clean of your bike after a rain ride will help your bike last longer and run smoother, making your ride far more enjoyable.
Of course, if you don't have time to clean your bike, Bikelane's can do it for you! Just give me a call, email or text and I'll can come over and clean your bike for you, or take it with me, clean it thoroughly and return it to you spanky clean.
Thanks for reading,
Bikelane
