Bike Wash
by CyclocrossWorld’s Stuart Thorne
There's a lot to washing a cross bike, both in the pits during the race and after the race itself. More than one would think. There are a couple techniques that will make the job quicker and easier.
During the Race:
How and where you wash the bike will depend on whether or not the promoter has supplied the pits with some type of water source. UCI rules state that for a UCI sanctioned race the promoter must supply water for washing. In Europe the common wash set up will have about a half a dozen pressure washers along with wooden pallets arranged so that your not standing in a pile of mud while you watch some cigarette smoking Euro douse your bike. That쳌Œs right, somebody else typically does the washing.
Here in the States, you'd be lucky to find a puddle. In fact, during the '98 Super Cup, Steve Elmes of Independent Fabrication, was washing his riders spare bikes with water scooped up from a large puddle. The pit at this particular race was as far from any real water source as could be. It was also the furthest from the parking area, so that put a cramp in hauling lots of equipment to the pits. A far cry from Europe, indeed, but you must do with what you have available.
If there is access to a hose, start washing from the top of the bike working your way to the bottom. Spray lightly and make sure that you get the whole bike. There isn't much time to wash and prep the bike to get it back to the rider, so make it count. It helps to have some type of brush to loosen up the mud. The pedals, drive train and wheels are some of the more important areas. Back pedal the drive train and hit it with a light stream of water. Don't overdue it. Thoroughly wash the braking surfaces of the rims. The whole process is made easier if you can elevate both wheels. Most types of workstands will work fine for this.
In the absence of a hose, use the old tried and true method, a good old bucket of water. Pedro's has the best bucket for this purpose. The Pedro's Super Pit Kit covers all your needs for performing the ultimate bike wash. The coolest part about it is that it has a screw top to keep the water from sloshing out in transit from the water source to the pit area. To make washing the bike out of a bucket easier, you have to have a sponge. Again, starting at the top and working your way the bottom is the best way to wash. Use a brush to loosen up the mud caked in the drive train, pedals, and braking surface of the rims. Then rinse it with a sponge soaked in the water.
After washing the bike, dry it off as much as possible, paying careful attention to the bars, shifters, saddle, and down tube of the frame. Basically, any point that the rider has contact with the bike. They'll have more control if they aren't slipping around trying to grab the bike in the exchange. Finally, lube the pedals and chain and your ready to do it all over again when the rider comes back into the pit.
Now that the racing is over you can give the bike a complete and detailed wash. This is a great time to thoroughly inspect and clean the bike from top to bottom. Washing your bike immediately after the race prolongs the life of the frame and components, while making sure that it is one hundred percent for the next race.
Start by removing the wheels and spraying the cassette with a degreaser or citrus cleaner. Set the wheels aside and let the degreaser work its magic. Install a chain guide, like the Pedro's Chain Watcher, to facilitate cleaning the drivetrain. Shift the chain up onto the large chainring. Using degreaser and a brush scrub the chain, chainrings and derailleurs. Inspect the chain for any abnormalities at this point. Scrub the cassette with a brush. (I always use the same brush for cleaning the drivetrain. It keeps the other brush free from the grease that would otherwise muck up the rest of the bike.)
Please note: CyclocrossWorld.com provides these instructions as a service to our customers. We will not be liable for any use or misuse of products or techniques described here. Remember, cycling is an inherently dangerous sport!
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