I trail ride in NM and it is always dry, dusty, sandy, and windy most of the time. I clean my bike every weekend to help keep it running. I like to use a bike rack and folding chair to help me from having to bend over all the time. Cleaning routine is still a work in progress and still looking for faster and better ways to improve. I don't do what is listed below every single time; but, get to it eventually.
Tires/Rims:
Either car wash soap or Dawn, soft rag, and brush to clean sidewalls and tread. Use the water hose on light spray just to get the soap off. I sometimes flip the bike upside down and take the rear tire off to clean a little better with a rag if muck starts to build in the hard to reach areas. I have to clean the tread to check for goat head thorns afterward (always pick out 5-15 with a box cutter stuck in the tires).
Frame/fender/rack/rack bag:
- clean bucket of warm soapy water and soft rag and wipe everything down. Sometimes use the tire brush if rack bag is really dusty/dirty
Seat/hand grips:
- use clorox wipes in summer heat mostly because of sweat/body oils. Wipe down the down tube also on really hot days.
Front Suspension:
- use can air for fine dust particles, wipe with soapy rag, and use Finish line MAX suspension spray
LCD/controller/wiring harness/rear hub/battery:
- soapy rag and wipe down when on bike stand
Seatpost:
- a few times a year I clean the post and post hole with Oranj Peelz on a rag and re-grease
Brakes:
- soapy rag to clean just the brake dust off the components. Don't touch the disk brakes with anything.
Chain/Derailleur:
- Use a bike stand and cut a 55gal down the sides and spread out to cover the floor under the front and rear tires.
- Spray chain, gears and rear derailleur with White Lightning Easy Clean drivetrain degreaser and let soak (foamy type degreaser). Rotate the chain also to have degreaser cover it entirely.
- Add Oranj Peelz to my Park Tool chain cleaner device and go to town
- Pop the top off the park tool chain cleaner and use the park tool brush to dip in the solution to scrub muck off rear gears and derailleur
- I use Finish Line Citrus bike chain degreaser aerosol to remove cleaner+muck in the hard to reach areas
- Can air to remove the rest of the cleaner from hard to reach areas
- have soapy bucket of water on hand to clean hands and rims/tires of the harsh chemicals when needed
- wipe degreased parts down with a clean shop towel
- use Finish Line Dry bike Lubricant with teflon on chain, gears and derailleur. Teflon goes on wet and it will dry to help reduce dust/sand/dirt accumulation. I tried the Finish Line wax formula and it worked; but, it caused a waxy build up that didn't look very good.
- fold up the 55 gal trash bag with all the muck and drippings and toss in the trash afterwards (zero mess on garage floor)
On a road trip to the Grand Canyon/Sedona, I just took the 55 gal trash bags, Park tool+Oranj Peelz, aerosol degreaser, and Teflon lubricant. Never had to use the stuff because the RR stayed cleaner than I expected during the week long trip.
What the RR looks like after every trail ride. Second picture on a extreme clean and de-thorn day.
