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Of course you want your racing bike to be technically in order, safety comes first. In this blog you can read why you should regularly maintain your racing bike, but also how to do this. Later in this article, we will go deeper into the products you need to maintain your racing bike. After reading this blog you will always be safe on the road.
Index
Why do you need to maintain a racing bike?
It would be nice if a bicycle would always function perfectly without maintenance. Unfortunately it is not that easy. When you take a ride, your racing bike always comes into contact with dirt, this is unavoidable. During cycling, the parts come into contact with, for example, sand, mud, grass and salt. After a while, this dirt can affect your entire bike, for example corrosion and rust.
Dirt that ends up on the chain will spread over the entire drivetrain. In addition to corrosion and rust, this can also cause hitches. The chain will move less smoothly, so you will also make less speed and a racing bike is just meant for making speed. A faltering chain can lead to links at high speeds. So always make sure that your racing bike is completely in order, this way you prevent dangerous situations and you extend the life of your racing bike.
How should you maintain a racing bike?
Maintaining a racing bike consists of the following tasks.
- Cleaning the racing bike;
- Cleaning the chain of your racing bike;
- Lubricate parts with the appropriate lubricants.
Cleaning road bike
If you want to remove all the dirt from your racing bike, you need a special bicycle cleaner. This makes the frame and wheels sparkling clean. You do this by using the following supplies and following the steps.
*Never use a pressure washer, it can remove the grease between the parts of your bike. This will cause wear and tear.
Cleaning racing bike necessities
- bicycle cleaner;
- Bucket of water or a garden hose;
- Brush;
- microfibre cloth;
- bike protector.
Step 1
Apply the bicycle cleaner to the frame and wheels of your racing bike. Do not start brushing immediately, let it soak in for a while. It is important not to let the cleaner dry completely.
Step 2
You can now wipe all the dirt off your racing bike with a brush.
Step 3
Connect a garden hose to the faucet or fill a bucket with water. Now rinse the dirt and cleaner off the bike.
Step 4
Grab a dry microfiber cloth and dry the entire bike.
Step 5
Now spray the frame of the bicycle with a bike protector, this gives your racing bike a dirt and water-repellent layer.
Cleaning the chain of your racing bike
For the chain you need a chain cleaner. This will remove the most stubborn dirt from the chain.
Cleaning chain supplies
- chain cleaner;
- Bucket of water or a garden hose;
- Brush;
- microfibre cloth;
Step 1
Spray the chain cleaner over the entire chain or drivetrain. Let it soak in for a while, but don’t dry it.
Step 2
Remove all debris from the chain and drivetrain with a brush. Also wipe well between the links.
Step 3
Now wash the chain with a bucket of water or garden hose to remove all the dirt.
Step 4
You can now dry the chain with a microfibre cloth.
Lubricate parts with the appropriate lubricants
When your chain is clean and dry, you need to lubricate it again. You can do this with wax or lube, which one is right for you depends on your situation. We will tell you more about that later in this blog. To lubricate the chain you will need the following.
- Lubricating the chain
- wax or lube;
- Microfibre cloth.
Step 1
Drip the wax or lube on the chain, then turn the wheel. This allows it to spread well over the entire drivetrain. Let it soak for about 15 minutes.
Step 2
After 15 minutes you can remove the excess wax or lube with a microfibre cloth.
Use mounting paste
Not only the chain must have a greasy layer, but also the handlebar stems, seatposts, bolts and threads. This helps you with replacing and adjusting parts. In addition, mounting paste ensures less wear, squeaking and creaking, but also a better grip. When you apply it for the first time, you may use a little too much mounting paste. You can easily remove the excess paste with a cloth. After a few maintenance visits you will know exactly how much mounting paste you need.
Which products are needed for road bike maintenance?
You can use the following products for the complete maintenance of your racing bike.
- Velorest Bike Cleaner;
- Velorest Chain Cleaner;
- Velorest Chain Wax or
- Velorest Chain Lube Wet;
- Velorest Bike Protector;
Velorest Bike Cleaner
This bicycle cleaner has been specially developed for removing grass, mud, sand, salt, oil and grease. Velorest Bike Cleaner has been extensively tested for safety and best performance. The combination of ingredients is safe for every part of your racing bike. It has no adverse effects such as damage to the paint or bearings.
Velorest Chain Cleaner
Use Velorest Chain Cleaner to clean your dirty chain. Just like Bike Cleaner, this chain cleaner is safe for all parts of your bicycle. It helps you to remove sand, salt, mud, grass, oil and fats. Velorest Chain Cleaner is highly concentrated.
Velorest Chain Wax
Thanks to Velorest Chain Wax, your chain turns smoothly and quickly again. In addition, it gives your chain a dirt and water-repellent layer. Velorest Chain Wax is best used on dry and warm days. Of course, the wax will not work less well during an unexpected rain shower. Velorest wax is 100% vegetable and biodegradable. It is free of microplastics and has packaging that you can recycle in its entirety.
Velorest Chain Lube Wet
During the cold and rainy days it is best to apply Velorest Chain Lube Wet on your chain. The lube from Velorest gives your chain a water-repellent layer and allows your chain to do its job smoothly. The disadvantage of lube is the dirt-attracting effect.
Velorest Bike Protector
If you want to give your racing bike some extra protection, it is best to spray it with Velorest Bike Protector. This is a 100% organic and vegetable protector, it is 100% free of microplastics and has a recyclable packaging. Velorest Bike Protector gives the frame of your racing bike a nano-coating that is dirt and water repellent. This way, corrosion and rust will develop less quickly.
Do you want a total package for the maintenance of your racing bike? Then the Velorest Total Bundle is the best option! You will also find an excellent bike care bundle below.
€21,90
€18,95 Incl. VAT
Clean your bike with the Velorest Bike Cleaner and protect with the Velorest Bike Protector.
€50,75
€44,95 Incl. VAT
This Total Bundle from Velorest consists of 5 top products; Bike Cleaner, Chain Cleaner, Bike Protector, Chain Wax and Chain Lube Wet.