Recommended Video Today shared by: Cycling Tips on
how to clean your bike
For all of us who love the relaxing routine of cleaning our bikes after a bike ride, this demonstration video features an Omega Pharma-Quickstep team mechanic:
Video link: http://youtu.be/Sf80DnCgHRQ
Team mechanics clean a lot of bikes, so they know quality and efficiency of work. Note the cut-off water bottle to hold soap and brush, the chain keeper, the many specialized brushes, the order of cleaning, and his method of applying oil to the chain.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6lCIrNIwcOzeXNp0PhT6H7-x0S3yxCgyzuaCCJ7uT7bvuHbH7G9fM750IIv0GTmw3rY2KWOLitYAbp5AaPl-GsvBp2_NY6swrPydvXZeByoR8CBDewIWe2ng7pcDS6sOTCQzeSQ3uqDj/s320/Mechanic+cleaning+a+team+bike.jpg) |
A team mechanic can clean a bike anywhere with the right tools. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
Most of what I personally learned about cleaning bikes came from watching Kenneth
Flesjå. Kenneth and his wife, Gunn-Rita Dahle
Flesjå (Mountain Bike Olympic Gold medalist, World Champion and National Champion from Norway), used to come to Boulder, Colorado, for training once or twice a year and would stay with me and my ex-boyfriend. I watched Kenneth wrench or clean the bikes daily after their road or mountain bike training rides.
I learned a lot from both of them, and have fond memories of their visits and meals shared together. They loved to ride and cook, and I loved Gunn-Rita's homemade salmon and leek spaghetti.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCaWqiAViMTAZmkBIbrouTA3cQw31AcHydHIdnGWw29LBLG_0H9rdjOnGyk11hM-WxI6osdsLHWg0iU-iQviPavoxNO4Iq4GksKKY3ZP0nn37BbzQ2_rieev8uJq18pRKnEKgu7neWSZY/s400/Gunn-Rita+cleaning+her+bike+after+a+ride.jpg) |
Sometimes even Gunn-Rita would clean her bike after a ride. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBZojYkq6R3VlIzFlKLuAhMrFvyq33MQQw_R_rJNwkptlHAMwGLhGjufgh5UYGdptP4D8MxumEbqkdym5g_GMlilTLAJegokNaXJhqR60QulxANmkxC7ZdPQlnaaH6Sb9_aWnsAE0gGWq/s400/Gunn-Rita+in+the+back+yard.jpg) |
Gunn-Rita in the back yard on the rollers. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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Heading off on a training ride, they loved visiting Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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Sharing dinner with Gunn-Rita and Kenneth in Boulder in 2004. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |