Stop KILLING Your Bike - 6 Biggest Bike Cleaning Mistakes!

Stop! You’re cleaning your bike wrong and it’s KILLING your frame, components and bearings. Ollie takes you through six of the biggest and most common bike cleaning errors that people make, including clamping the top tube and using pressure washers. Here’s what to avoid and how to wash your bike correctly.

00:00 Intro
00:28 Not using a stand
01:05 Contact washes
03:07 Pressure washers
04:59 Using incorrect products
07:15 Contaminating brakes
08:24 Not drying
09:56 Summary

Useful Links:

Have you made any of these mistakes? 😬 Let us know in the comments below! 💬

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Restless Minds - Yomoti
Top Glare - Dusty Decks

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📸 Photos - © Velo Collection (TDW) / Getty Images & © Sprint Cycling Agency

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[gcntech]

Have you made any of these mistakes? 😬

[marijn]

Also an important step in my opinion: Once you've prewashed your bike, still be mindful of the order in which you clean the bike. The top tube and handlebars will often be far less contaminated, so start there. Then work your way down and finish with the wheels and drivetrain area where the contamination is highest. Minimized chance of scratching or smearing grease everywhere.

[CustomAwesome]

I love how Arizona was the exception for drying your bike, because that's where I live and that's exactly what I do after rinsing everything - leave it sitting for about 20 minutes and it's bone dry!

[kriSfor]

Could you please make a video on longer term bike maintenance related stuff? Do I have to lube moving parts like the derailleur or shift leavers? When should bottom bracket and headset bearings be serviced/regreased? Thank you.

[alanfreeman]

I would advise the 2 bucket method 1 bucket with the cleaning shampoo and 1 of clean water with the grit gard to wash your mitt off after ever time it contacts your frame so the dirt stays in the clean water bucket not in the shampoo bucket
Alternative several clothes in one bucket and put them to one side once used

[jarekp]

Having a double-coated dog like a Labrador led me to discover a fantastic bike drying hack. Dog dryers work perfectly because the airflow strength is very similar to that of compressors. So, I blow out my dog's undercoat other times I use it to dry my bike. Drying the bike takes no more than two minutes. I highly recommend it!

[dewindoethdwl]

Washing? That’ll happen in the next rainstorm. Old dirt off, new dirt on. Go ride.

[SimonHBS]

Tip: Wippermann Connex quicklinks are reuseable for the lifetime of the chain (often longer!) and can be assembled by hand without any tools. I highly recommend them. 👍🏻

[daveplatten]

For drying if you don't have a compressor, I recommend a leaf blower. Near as good as a compressor and many homes have one.

[albertomorales]

If you wash your bike often, be aware of accidentally creating potential rust spots. These are hidden and even blowers will not get to them. (1) Brake lever hoods, fold them open to allow the water inside not to rust the bolts in there; also clean that area dry and if salty, use alcohol to clean up. (2) the bolts that attach your back brake, those bolts get wet and rusted. Remove one at a time dry it, grease it and clean it, put it back, then do the other one; removing one bolt at a time retains the position of the brake assembly.

Thanks Ollie for another great and informative video x I have an air dryer for my bike thanks to my partner, it's hand held and wasn't cheap but certainly not unattainable :)

[mcradical]

Great video! I felt like a knew these things already but i still found a lot of great tips - actually it was amazing advice on the pressure hose, just stand further back! So simple!

[cwgrivett]

Can we have a bike cleaning option for those of us in small flats with no outside space…

[christiancondin]

It's that time of year again. The gcn bike cleaning video😂

[dmitrypalaev]

Not everyone has a garage or a backyard. My bike takes shower in the bathroom right before i do )

[serisingh]

Please make a version of this video for people who live in an apartment and don’t have access to a hose or even a bike stand. I have a balcony and a bucket. That’s it.

[mrflaxtv]

The brush ollie keeps holding up saying don't use on a frame is tge MucOff frame brush! Defo getting me a microfiber mitt for xmas though!

[greatestgunner]

Looking for a video from a person that washes/details their car with 2 buckets, this guy is the man I need to listen to

[ktube]

I use a dust blower to dry the bike. I've used my leaf blower but it seemed excessive. Either way, blowing the water out of bolt heads and those little spots in your crankset is great. Air compressor was too targeted, I think it wants to blow the air INTO the headset bearing area for example.

[space.youtube]

1:19 "..if you're the kind of person who washes your car in one of those mechanical car washes with the swirling brushes ...."
I really wanted you to suggest they should stick their bike on the roof racks and wash both at the same time.