220Triathlon Edição 334

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Put in the time and effort on your
precious steed and it’s sure to reward
you for many seasons to come
FEBRUARY 2017 I I 107
TRI CLINIC
The bad news regarding winter bike
maintenance is that you should ideally
be giving your bike a wash after every
ride. The main reason for this is that the salt and
grit that’s liberally sprinkled on the road is a
deadly corrosive mix for your bike and its
components. Left on your bike for just 24hrs and
you’ll be confronted with a rusty, orange horror!
Fitting mudguards really helps to keep this
corrosive spray off your bike, significantly
reduces the amount of maintenance you need
to do and will make you more popular on
group rides! The good news is that, by getting
into a regular cleaning routine, it only needs
to be a five-minute job and will ensure your bike
keeps running smoothly and prolong the life of
your components. For a basic five-minute bike
wash, you’ll need:
How exactly should I cleanmy bike inwinter, and how often does it need to be done? I
don’t knowwhere to start! LAURAMACKENZIE, TWITTER
Q A bucket of hot and soapy water
Q Hose or bucket of plain water
Q Sponge or soft bristled brush
Q Chain-cleaning tool
Q Spray-on degreaser
Q Liquid degreaser
Q Stiff bristled brush
Q Water dispersant, e.g. GT85
Q Wet chain lube
Q Rag
Follow these steps to achieve the cleanest
bike you’ve ever seen:
Q Spray degreaser onto your drivetrain,
working it into the cassette and chainrings
with the stiff brush.
Q Run the chain through liquid degreaser
using the chain-cleaning device.
Q Give the rest of the bike a good going over
with the soft brush or sponge and hot soapy
water. Avoid the drivetrain as the degreaser is
working its magic.
Q Rinse the whole bike, paying particular
attention to the drivetrain, with clean water
or a hose.
Q Dry the frame with the rag.
Q Spray water dispersant on the drivetrain and
run the chain through the rag to remove excess.
Q Apply lube to the chain, turn the pedals
backwards for a few rotations so that it’s evenly
dispersed and penetrates the links. Run the chain
through the rag again to remove excess.
Finally, take the opportunity to check your tyres
for damage or embedded glass or stones and
you’re done! NC
BIKECARE
MASTERCLASS