How to Properly Clean Your Mountain Bike Drivetrain

A clean, properly lubed drivetrain will look better, shift better and extend the life of your bike's most important parts. Ideally you'll want to perform a cleaning after every muddy or dusty ride. Dirt, sand and other gritty contaminants act like sandpaper on your drivetrain, slowing wearing down parts with every turn of the crank.

It's much easier to clean your bike's drivetrain if you have access to mechanics stand. A stand will firmly hold you bike in place and puts it at a more manageable height. Working on a bike while it's balanced up against a wall often results in the bike crashing to the ground or in a wrestling match between you and the bike. Invest in a good stand and bike maintenance will be a much more enjoyable experience.

A mistake many novices make is to use a high pressure hose when cleaning a mountain bike. Although this does a good job at washing off dirt and debris, it also does a good job of washing away grease and lubrication that's critical for optimal performance. You'll want to instead start with a bucket of hot water and your choice of dish detergent or biodegradable bike-specific cleaner like Pedro's Bio Cleaner. You'll also want to have a set of soft bristled brushes and maybe a tool, like Park Tools Gear Clean Brush, to get in between the cogs on your cassette. Use the brushes to gently clean the drivetrain, making sure to get all the hard-to-reach places. Once you're done, you can use a hose (without high-pressure nozzle) to rins

the parts clean.

Next you'll want to wipe down the parts with a rag in order to get any gunk left over and remove excess water. Wait until the drivetrain is thoroughly dry and then apply your favorite wet or dry lube. A wet lube like Pedro's Synlube is usually best for rainy or muddy conditions and a dry lube like Pedro's Ice Wax is better for dry, dusty conditions. Be especially careful when using a wet lube to only apply a small amount. Using too much wet lube can attract more dirt and grime and wear out parts even faster.

If you take the time to follow these steps after each or every other ride (certainly after muddy rides), you'll have more efficient, smoother running drivetrain and spend less time in the shop replacing a worn out cassette or chain.

More mountain biking tips and resources are available at http://www.mountainbikediscounts.com