01 October 2013

Recommended Viewing: Cleaning Your Bike

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. 

A team mechanic can clean a bike anywhere with the right tools. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®
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.

Sometimes even Gunn-Rita would clean her bike after a ride. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®
Gunn-Rita in the back yard on the rollers.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®
Heading off on a training ride, they loved visiting Boulder, Colorado.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®
Sharing dinner with Gunn-Rita and Kenneth in Boulder in 2004.  Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer®