Gravel biking is a huge amount of fun, but it can quickly take your bike from shine to grime. I always found that for the best photos of my gravel bike, they had to be at the start of the ride. Unlike road cycling, you will find yourself cleaning your gravel bike much more to keep it in tip-top condition, and you need to learn how to do it properly.
It’s easy to grab a hose and rinse a bike down, then rub the dirt off with a sponge, but many gravel cyclists don’t know the proper process to clean your gravel bike. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know by discussing:
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The Importance Of Cleaning A Gravel Bike
If you look after your bike, it’s going to look after you. Keeping your gravel bike clean is a big part of that and has many benefits. Here’s what you need to know:
Increases Component Life
If you keep as much dirt away from your bike as possible, your components will last much longer. Parts such as bearings and your chain wear down incredibly quickly when they are dirty and don’t last half as long.
Better Performance
If you keep your bike clean, you will get much better performance. Dirty bike components don’t work as well as they should, and you lose valuable wattage from the drivetrain when it can move as efficiently as possible. Clogging the cables up with dirt is an easy way to reduce shifting performance.
It Looks Better
Riding a clean bike looks much better than riding a dirt bike. Many times I have turned up to a club run on my gravel bike and been at the receiving end of many jokes for the majority of the ride. If you want your bike Instagramable, it needs to be clean.
It helps You Identify Possible Problems
After working in a bike shop for many years, I encountered many bike problems, most of which were very difficult to identify as the bike was completely covered in dirt. If you keep your bike clean, you can spot problems before they become issues.
Quiet Riding
A clean bike is a quiet bike. The sound of a dirty drivetrain is horrible. It’s crunchy and sounds awful when your riding along compared to a clean drivetrain which sounds silky smooth and silent.
Related Reading: How to Convert a Mountain Bike to a Gravel Bike
Gravel Bike Cleaning Quick Picks
| Manufacturer | Product | Find |
|---|---|---|
| Muc-Off | Drive Train Cleaner | Check Prices>>> |
| Muc-Off | Degreaser | Check Prices>>> |
| Park Tool | Chain Cleaner | Check Prices>>> |
| Silca | Chain Lube | Check Prices>>> |
| Park Tool | Bike Stand | Check Prices>>> |
How Do You Clean And Maintain A Gravel Bike?
Here’s our step-by-step guide on cleaning and maintaining your gravel bike. You will find my people have different methods. We like this process because it’s quick, efficient, and easy to do after a ride.
What Will You Need To Clean And Maintain Your Gravel Bike?
Here’s what we recommend you have when it comes to cleaning your gravel bike. Some tools are optional but can help you get the perfect clean. You will need the same when cleaning a mountain bike.
- Water
- Bike Cleaner
- Bike Degreaser
- Chain Lube
- Sponge
- Brush
- Clean Cloth
- Chain Cleaner (Optional)
- Bike Stand (Optional)
- Bike Protect (Optional)
- Disc Brake Cleaner (Optional)
The best time to clean your gravel bike is straight after you finish your ride. This is when the dirt is typically still nice and loose, and it comes off much easier than if you were to leave it for a day or two.
Step One: Rinse
The first step you need to take is to rinse the bike. Using your water or a hose, give it a good spray down. We do this to remove the bigger clumps of dirt so we don’t end up scratching the frame when rubbing it down.
You will want to rinse both sides and spend time spraying under the bike, too, as this is where most dirt hides. We recommend removing any electronics, such as your Garmin or any lights you might have.
Step Two: Degrease
Now it’s time to degrease the bike’s drivetrain. You can do this by spraying the degreaser on the chain, cassette, and chainrings. Give it around one minute to soak in then you will need to scrub the chain, cassette, and chainrings down using the brush.
Once you have scrubbed it all, give it another rinse, and you should see your drivetrain gleaming. If it isn’t, repeat the process until you have all the dirt and grime off. If you want the perfect clean, you can use the chain cleaner to really get in all those links or run it through a rag.
Step Three: Sponge The Gravel Bike
Now we have the big dirt off, and the drivetrain completely degreased. You are going to need to fine-clean the bike with the sponge. We recommend first cleaning the wheels while they are on the bike. The tires, spokes, rims, and hubs. When these are complete, rinse the bike and remove the wheels.
Now the wheels are out; you are going to need to sponge and clean the frame. Make sure to get everywhere you can and have a big focus on the bottom of the bike, which typically catches the majority of the dirt. Once scrubbed, rinse and pop the wheels back in.
Ensure not to pull the brakes with wheels out of the bikes as on hydraulic systems, this will adjust them.
Step Four: Dry The Bike And Off Clean The Brakes
It’s now time to dry the bike off. You can either do this by just leaving it or taking the clean cloth and drying it down. You will start by focusing on the frame and wheels, and then once they are dry, focus on the drivetrain.
We recommend using the disc brake cleaner spray to ensure nothing can contaminate the disc brakes from this clean. Spray the pads and the discs and use the clean rag to rub off any excess cleaner after.
Step Five: Checks and Lube
Now the bike is clean, we recommend doing some checks. Look over the bike and see if there are any cracks in the frame, check cables are not worn or broken, and if the components are all in good condition. Also, ensure nothing is hanging loose that could cause you a problem later.
Then you will need to apply some more chain lube. Put a little drop on each link and then run the chain around the system for around 30 seconds. Then take a dry cloth, wrap it around the chain, and run it through. This is so we leave only oil in the links and not on the outside of the chain to collect dirt. Less is more when it comes to chain lubrication.
Your Questions On How To Clean A Gravel Bike
We get many questions here at Gravel Biking and always like to answer what our lovely readers have to ask. Here are some of your questions:
Should I Clean My Gravel Bike After Every Ride?
In a perfect world, cleaning your bike after every ride would be the best way to go. It keeps the dirt off and also makes the job much easier. We appreciate that it’s not easy for most as you might ride every day or could be short on time.
How Often Should I Wash My Gravel Bike?
I try to clean my bike every ride, but when I’m short on time, I might rinse it off with the hose and then clean it after the next ride instead. If your bike isn’t dirty, then you might want to reconsider cleaning, or you could be wasting your time.
What Is The Best Thing To Clean A Gravel Bike With?
A common mistake so many cyclists make is using the wrong things to clean their gravel bikes. I personally have seen cyclists use washing up liquid and even car shampoo to try and clean their bikes.
They work, but unfortunately, they can contaminate your brake discs and pads and ruin bearings. We recommend proper cleaning products from companies such as Muc Off and Finish Line.
Related Reading: What is a Gravel Bike Frame?
What Not To Do When Cleaning A Bike?
When it comes to cleaning a bike, there are many silly mistakes you will want to avoid doing. Here’s what you need to know:
- Avoid power pressure washers, they can ruin paint and bearings.
- Don’t use products such as WD40 anywhere near your brake discs and pads.
- Leave your electronics on the bike while using water and cleaning products.
- Avoid using abrasive brushes on parts such as your frame and anywhere painted.
Related Reading: Gravel Bike vs Road Bike
How Often Should I Oil My Gravel Bike Chain?
The best time to oil your chain is when the drivetrain gets noisy. If you start hearing clicking or crunching on the rear wheel when pedaling, then you need some oil or lube. That’s a sign that the links are dry, sometimes, this will even be visible from above when riding.
The best way to apply lube is to completely strip any oil or lube off the drivetrain, then apply fresh lube on and clean the excess off the sides. If you just keep adding lube on lube, it gets very messy and dirty.
Cleaning For Optimal Performance
When it comes to cleaning your bike, the better job you do, and the more you stay on top of it, the better your gravel bike will perform. The cleaner your bike can stay, the less wattage you will lose too.
Suppose you are looking for some performance gains. In that case, we recommend a very deep clean each time and consider using performance products such as ceramic lubrication or even consider waxing your chain in a slow cooker.
Keeping on top of the condition of your gravel bike is vital for the best cycling experience. We hope you enjoyed our article and now understand the importance of having a clean bike. If you look after your bike, then your bike is going to look after you.
Read More: How to Build Your Own Gravel Bike