Tips For Cleaning a Full Carbon Bicycle and Chain Cleaning and Lubing From Stradalli Cycle

Ever wonder why you cannot wash your full carbon road bike with water? It's because of water contaminants which may cause a problem with the bike and even cause it to rust. Luckily there is an easy way to wash your bike without water and get the results you want in less than 20 minutes and Stradalli Cycle will show you how to do it yourself:

Before we begin make sure you have these items to get the DIY job done properly: 2 rags, bike wash, a bicycle stand, 2 plastic bags.  You may also want to put something under the bicycle if you are cleaning it inside. 

1.       Put the bags over the brake pads to make sure they do not get any chemicals on them

2.       Spray spray the entire bike with the was but do NOT spray directly on the bars, bar tape, bearing seals or any electrical components you may have. You can wipe them down with the wash but spraying directly on them is never advised. 

3.       Take a rag and spray it with some of the wash and then begin wiping down the bike. Don’t forget to wipe the underside as well. Be careful when wiping any cables so that you do not pull on them too much.

4.       Now take the other rag and wipe down the bike again, getting rid of any excess residue and picking up any dirt you may have missed. You want to wipe it with a clean rag because you are not using any water. 

For Cleaning The Bike Chain you will need: 1 rag, degreaser, chain lube, old toothbrush

1.       Once the bicycle is on a stand take some degreaser and apply it to the chain while turning the crank backwards. Once you have applied a good amount you can then take an old toothbrush and begin gently scrubbing the chain. An old toothbrush works best because the bristles are small but can still get into the hard to reach areas and get out any dirt deposits.

2.       Take a rag and wipe the chain down to remove as much of the degreaser and dirt as possible. Then give it a few minutes to dry.

3.       Now you can start adding the lube to the chain but make sure you get a drop on EVERY link and side plate of the chain.

4.       Once again spin the crank backwards to make sure that everything cycles through without a problem.

5.       Now take the rag and hold it around the chain, spin the crank backwards again and remove as much of the lube or oil as possible. 

If done correctly you should have your entire bike clean including the chain in less than 20 minutes.