Five tips to show your love to your Trek
Anyone who loves riding knows how important it is to take care of their bicycle so that it doesn’t suffer the effects of the wear over time. Our mechanics take meticulous care of our Trek bikes, whether it is a Madone, an Èmonda, a Speed Concept or a Domane. At races, they wash and prepare our fleet of bikes after each use. Starting in 2023 they have a new ally in their mission: Split Second is the official supplier of Trek-Segafredo for bike care products (discover their products visiting the website)
Professional cleaning, with professional products, is not just a small detail. Together with Split Second and our mechanics’ expert knowledge, we’ve drawn up five must do tips to get your bike clean like a pro.
If professional products exist, there’s a reason why
Degreasing the drivetrain with an everyday household degreaser can lead to abrupt wear of the components, as well as dulling them. So, rely on professional products which are specifically designed to be safely used on bike components and frames without corrosion. Always use a brush to distribute it and remove the worst of the grease. Leave it on for a minute and rinse. If it still does not look as clean as you want, do not hesitate to wash for a second time.
A bike is not a car: be gentle!
When you need to rinse the components or the rest of the bike, the advice is to use water from a regular hose. If you have a pressure washer and you want to use that, be careful. The pressure jet could get water into places where it is really not recommended, such as wheel or steering bearings. The force of the pressure could remove necessary grease from these parts and shorten their life.
Sponge, bike cleaner and elbow grease
The chain and cassette need special care, but don’t forget the rest of the bike. Again, ignore household cleaning products (such as dish soap) and choose a high-performance bike cleaner. Pour just the right amount into a bucket of warm water, arm yourself with a soft sponge, and then get to cleaning: frame, handlebar, tape, saddle, wheels, disc brakes. Nothing should be forgotten in removing dirt. If you want to be superefficient, take a second sponge and wipe down the moving parts you degreased before with the bike cleaner. Finally, rinse well with water.
Fresh air for your bike
If you do not have an air compressor, maybe it’s time to treat your bike to one. Drying your bike with it, after washing and rinsing, can make all the difference. Every drop of water on the bike will be removed with the air jet, especially from the moving parts and disc brakes – vital if you want to avoid that annoying noise in the following days every time you brake. Drying is an essential step before lubrication.
Be like Karate Kid: wax off, wax on
After washing and drying, the moving parts of the bike are ready to be lubricated. First rule of bike wash club: don’t get carried away and don’t abuse the oil! If you need to lubricate the chain, the right amount is one drop per link. Do one complete round of the chain, using the appropriate dispenser, and you’re done. If there is a risk of rain in the morning, be prepared and do one more round with the oil designed for wet and muddy conditions. Again, for those who wants to be super-efficient (or are planning to go off-road), the advice is to choose a chain wax that provides extra protection and a coating of dirt resistance. Apply it either when the chain is dry, just after washing, or immediately before your ride. Then, when you come back, wipe with a rag to remove the dirt. Last but not least, give your frame an extra protection with a care spray (silicon or wax) to give a long-lasting effect against rust formation and make it shine as it deserves.
