# Almost Pro Bike Mechanic **URL:** \ **Category:** Pub\ **Created:** [October 3, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868 "2013-10-03T16:17:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/581 "2019-09-04T00:59:27Z")
compact cranks are literally satans works (meant pejoratively). ---
**Author:** ![heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetal/32/69_2.png) [@heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/u/heavymetal)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/582 "2019-09-04T04:09:08Z")
you’re such a hardman. ---
**Author:** ![Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/sh0rtsie/32/3289_2.png) [@Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/Sh0rtsie)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 5:00am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/583 "2019-09-04T05:00:55Z")
Literally? What are you, Catholic? ---
**Author:** ![AL9000](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/al9000/32/7_2.png) [@AL9000](https://fixed.org.au/u/AL9000)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 5:51am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/584 "2019-09-04T05:51:58Z")
liturgically? [](https://www.catholic.org.au) ---
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2019, 7:45am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/585 "2019-09-04T07:45:28Z")
nothing to do with hardman, all about sensations and tbh mainly appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/sh0rtsie/32/3289_2.png) [@Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/Sh0rtsie)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/586 "2019-09-05T21:45:29Z")
Can anybody tell me how to clean a bike. What do you use? I do it like every 6 months and I always feel like im doing it wrong. I use kero for cassettes and chains, gerni for frames and a soapy toothbrush for wheels. Am I doing it wrong? What do you use? ---
**Author:** ![diddy](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@diddy](https://fixed.org.au/u/diddy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/587 "2019-09-05T22:00:41Z")
6 months is a long time between washes! I hope you’re cleaning the chain more regularly than that. You’re making the job harder by leaving it so long. I probably clean my commuter every 2 or 3 months, but keep my proper bikes clean so that they are in good nick when going for longer or harder rides. For my gravel bike or mountain bike if it’s muddy I just high pressure hose it at the car wash at the end of the ride and then oil the chain when it’s dry. I don’t have a yard so can’t hose it at my place, or hang it on my bedroom wall if it’s too muddy. Other times if it’s not too muddy I’ll leave it and let the mud harden and then use a brush to get it off before following the procedure below. For my commuter or roadie for regular road grime I just use an oily rag. I squirt some rock n roll chain lube on the rag and wipe everything down with the same thing. I just use the flat edge of the rag between cassette teeth spinning it through as I go - but I can’t say I clean the cassette every time, as long as I’m otherwise regularly cleaning the chain it’s not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![dannat](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@dannat](https://fixed.org.au/u/dannat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/588 "2019-09-05T22:02:31Z")
I use sponge + dishwashing detergent, for all bits, then wipe down with Coles brand furniture polish [lke mr sheen, makes next clean easier] chain goes into petrol, then I wax it - this keeps the whole drivetrain much cleaner than lube, so cassette & derailleur wheels stay clean also ---
**Author:** ![rolly](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/rolly/32/280_2.png) [@rolly](https://fixed.org.au/u/rolly)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/589 "2019-09-05T22:09:50Z")
my bikes would be fucking stoooooooked if they got cleaned that frequently. haha the MTB gets a spray with the hose when it’s muddy i guess. ---
**Author:** ![Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/sh0rtsie/32/3289_2.png) [@Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/Sh0rtsie)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/590 "2019-09-05T22:30:52Z")
I always plan to clean every couple of months, but by the time I get around to it, it always seems like 6 months How do you wax? And how often do you reapply? I find chain lube no matter how much I wipe off just Grimes up my drivetrain ---
**Author:** ![dannat](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@dannat](https://fixed.org.au/u/dannat)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/591 "2019-09-05T23:18:42Z")
depends on bike usage -mtb I wax about every 400km, depending on conditions -1 area I find really helps is in summer with dust -the dust doesn’t stick to the wax on gravel/cyclocross get about 600 or so -obviously a very muddy cross race I’ve prb have to clean roadie/fixed I get about 750km, but I tend to do 2-3 chains together so I might just do them anyway I wash in petrol, shake then sit [10mins] then shake I heat my candle wax in a cheap rice cooker [while its sitting in the petrol], I add about 10% paraffin oil -thins it nicely…chain its in melted wax about 10 mins, take out to coo down, throw on bike -the excess wax on the plates just falls off… I bought some teflon powder to add, but don’t use anymore - oct of the commercial bike waxes have this NB chain is bit noisier with wax, im getting longer life out of my chains though -a good 25% give or take ---
**Author:** ![ryanryanryan](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@ryanryanryan](https://fixed.org.au/u/ryanryanryan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2019, 11:38pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/592 "2019-09-05T23:38:26Z")
My everything bike looks like it was dragged out of a swamp at the moment. Save for the bits that get rubbed by clothing. I only clean and lube the drivetrain when it starts to get noisy. ---
**Author:** ![jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jaseyjase/32/187_2.png) [@jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/u/jaseyjase)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 2:17am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/593 "2019-09-06T02:17:16Z")
Baby Wipes 20 charac ---
**Author:** ![P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/p_n20/32/177_2.png) [@P\_N20](https://fixed.org.au/u/P_N20)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/594 "2019-09-06T02:30:05Z")
> [@jaseyjase](#): > > Baby Wipes Yep. I rarely clean my bikes - not sure if I’ve ever cleaned my Kona. I _should_ clean my McBain but always manage to put it off. My Pinarello got a thorough clean recently and I used baby wipes mostly - the non-detergent ones are best as they don’t leave much/any residue. Having said that I try to keep my drive trains clean, but it’s rare that I actually remove the chain to do that. If I do it’s a soak and brush with turps and hang up to dry overnight. Guess what I’m saying is I like riding and working on my bikes more than cleaning them. ---
**Author:** ![Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/sh0rtsie/32/3289_2.png) [@Sh0rtsie](https://fixed.org.au/u/Sh0rtsie)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 3:21am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/595 "2019-09-06T03:21:13Z")
“roadie/fixed I get about 750km” that’s not many kms. To then have to take your chain off and redo, guess you could have a few chains on the go. ---
**Author:** ![heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetal/32/69_2.png) [@heavymetal](https://fixed.org.au/u/heavymetal)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 5:59am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/596 "2019-09-06T05:59:31Z")
I wipe down my chain every few hundred KMs and reapply lube. I use rock n roll red dry lube cos it hardly ever rains here, and just do it after whenever I ride in the wet. I usually wipe the frame down at the same time, check for cracks and whatnot. I only take the chain off when it’s time for a new one. ---
**Author:** ![dannat](https://fixed.org.au/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@dannat](https://fixed.org.au/u/dannat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/597 "2019-09-06T08:04:09Z")
no, it only takes me 25 mins to do it, most of that time i’m doing other things ---
**Author:** ![HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/heavymetalcyclist/32/209_2.png) [@HeavyMetalCyclist](https://fixed.org.au/u/HeavyMetalCyclist)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 11:30pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/598 "2019-09-06T23:30:43Z")
Do what the pro mechanics do. Bucket of soapy water, soap that bad boy. Then rinse with lowish pressure hose. If you do that semi-reg the chain won’t be too claggy. ---
**Author:** ![swuzzlebubble](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/swuzzlebubble/32/3766_2.png) [@swuzzlebubble](https://fixed.org.au/u/swuzzlebubble)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/599 "2019-09-08T08:57:04Z")
Since i started selling this stuff I’ve been more conscious of using it myself. It certainly makes the job easier to have the correct products available compared to the old soapy water and/or kero etc. ---
**Author:** ![jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/jaseyjase/32/187_2.png) [@jaseyjase](https://fixed.org.au/u/jaseyjase)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868/600 "2019-11-26T01:38:21Z")
Changing the gearing on the niner, looking to go from a 34 front with an 11-38 to a 32 with a 11-42 cassette. Changed the front no problems. Changed the cassette and new chain, no problems. Bit of a spin and the cassette was all over the place…wtf. Turns out cassette was loose cos i didnt keep the spacer from the last cassette. Doh. Put that on, all sweet. no wobble Now it wont shift to the biggest gear, derailleur wont stretch…turns out chain was a tad short. Rejoined with the pin, only to snap the pin before actually installing the extra chain length. doh doh… luckily had a spare. finally all good, shifts like a champ. [Previous page](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868.md?page=29) [Next page](https://fixed.org.au/t/almost-pro-bike-mechanic/62868.md?page=31)