Mountain Bike Maintenance: Cleaning, Lubrication, and Safety Checks

Washing and Lubrication

This is not only for cars and motorcycles but also for our mountain bikes. To extend the life of your machine and always keep the paint bright and the pieces polished, you have to dedicate some time to washing, working, and lubricating your bike. We will take steps so that once you get to work, you do not leave a corner uncleaned.

1. The tools we use include: a brush, a container or can to pour the liquid degreaser, a chain cleaner, a sponge, a bucket, a bottle of dish soap, and a pot of solid grease.
2. Hang the machine securely, with the wheels removed if possible. Start by cleaning the areas to remove the most difficult dirt because all the dust or mud sticks through the oil that lubricates the transmission. With the wet brush or scouring pad, clean especially the rear wheel (ruletitas) until there is no trace of viscous oil.
3. Now, we go with the front derailleur, rubbing it with the brush and moving it with the controls to let the degreaser reach the areas that are barely visible. Next, make a paste (or several) for the dishes, another difficult area to remove dirt, preventing it from scouring inside the bottom bracket.
4. For the chain, which is the component of the transmission that is hardest to clean (because more oil is needed), make several passes with the brush dipped in degreaser. This can also be done with a convenient mechanical chain cleaner (see photo).
5. The next step is to clean the brakes and the shoes, as they collect a lot of dirt. Give a good scrub to both.
6. The pinion, another component of the transmission that accumulates a lot of grime, we rub it well with the brush and degreaser fluid, avoiding the core. We also clean the brush with a pass through the tire walls.
7. If you want to maintain the brightness of the rims, make a pass with the brush dipped in degreaser on the outside to remove dirt from getting stuck at the intersections of the spokes, while also preventing the liquid degreaser from reaching the hub axis.
8. We leave the brush and go to the bucket, the bottle of dish soap (which is also a degreaser), and the sponge. Wet the entire machine with water first and then apply soapy water to all parts, including all components that have been previously degreased. Rinse off all the soap as quickly as possible and dry your bike with a clean cloth.
9. With the machine clean and dry, use special bike oil (because not just any oil will do) to lubricate the entire transmission. Pour a few drops onto the axles or drive shafts that hold the structures of the derailleur, jockey wheels or rear derailleur pulleys, and a few drops onto the chain, continuing to spread the drops across the chain.
10. Use the solid grease to lubricate the brake cables and less frequently changed parts like the seat post, stem, and handlebar tape (cintra).

MTB Equipment and Materials

• Team: This includes clothing and footwear, but consider the material as specific elements derived from the needs of each activity.
• MTB Essentials: Helmet, gloves, and goggles are INDISPENSABLE.
• Optional/Recommended: Cyclocomputer, mudguards, orientation elements (map, compass, GPS), and rack system.
• City Riding: Lights and bell.
• Hydration and nutrition.
• Repair equipment and first aid kit.

Group Departures

• Each rider carries sufficient equipment to solve small individual faults.
• Heavier and larger tools are shared among group members, as is equipment in common use (permits, mobile phone, first aid kit, orientation tools, etc.) between the monitors responsible for the activity.

The Wardrobe

• Culotte: Chamois to relieve tension in saddle contact areas.
• Jersey: Back pockets, zipper from neck to chest. Follow the three-layer rule (1st layer = sweat wicking, 2nd layer highly breathable and thermal insulation, 3rd layer evaporates sweat and prevents rain and cold from entering).
• Buff/Handkerchief: Multipurpose (face, neck, head, etc.).
• Footwear: Low or mid-cut and compatible with automatic pedals (rigid and resistant soles with no fasteners to hook the chain, brambles, etc.), breathable and waterproof.
• Helmet: Mandatory use. Must be approved. Vented and adjustable to fit your head.
• Gloves: To prevent blisters, strengthen grip, protect from cold, brambles, falls, etc. (short and long).
• Glasses: Essential to protect from sun rays, wind, rain, mud, small stones, etc.

Travel Safety

• Repair materials.
• Communication, orientation, and identification equipment.
• First aid kit.
• Food & Drink: Snacks are crucial to avoid dizziness (which can lead to falls). Consume and distribute fast-absorbing snacks during the route, depending on effort and duration.

Bicycle Wheel: Maintenance and Spoke Replacement

The wheels are the most pampered part of the bike. Aim for perfect lateral and vertical alignment for a perfect ride: no vibrations or friction with the pads that reduce your effort.

• Besides the frame, the wheels have the most influence on a ride. After the paint, the wheels are the most important element for bicycle performance.
• Riding with well-maintained wheels (correct pressure, appropriate tire type, no friction, etc.) is a pleasure.
• Spokes provide strength to the wheel.
• Applying weight on the wheel causes spokes to lose tension.
• Without proper tension, tires are in danger of deformation (losing level and balance).

Parts of a Wheel

• Hubs: The core of a bicycle wheel. It consists of a shaft, bearings, and the hub shell, which has two metal flanges to which the spokes are attached.
• Spokes: Each bar rigidly connecting the central area (hub) with the perimeter (rim). (Typically 36 spokes).
• Rim: The piece, usually metal, that holds the tire.
• Tire: A toroidal rubber piece placed on the wheels. Its main function is to provide adequate contact for adhesion and friction with the pavement, allowing starting, braking, and guidance.
  • Tire Types: “Tube” and “tubeless.” Tubeless tires have a special rubber layer inside, called a liner, which ensures air retention. Tires should be mounted appropriately, using special valves.