Bike Maintenance- Oiling

fxe said:

I am new to roadbikes and just bought a Fuji League bike. I would like to keep it in great condition but do not know how to do that. one big question i have is how do you oil your bike chain, gears, ect? also, how do you "clean" you bike? thanks for your help.

Apply a light coat of lube (Pedro's makes some nice ones) to the chain and work it in with a rag while spinning the cranks. Avoid over-lubing as this can cause a heavy build up of grit. I use a cleaner/degreaser about every two weeks with a brush to clean off the pulleys and cassette. I use a bucket of warm soapy water and scrub brush to clean the bike frame, wheels fork etc, and I gently run a hose over it to rinse it off. I dry it off and then occasionally apply a coat of Pedro's bike lust to bring out the shine and add a little protection. Never use a high pressure hose as this can break down some of the grease in the bearings (BB, hubs etc). I'm a bit of a fanatic, but I like to jump on a bike that's in showroom condition. Taking care of your drivetrain will help everything last longer. My lube of choice is Pedro's Ice wax. It requires more applications than some of the oil based lubes, but I have had excellent luck with it.

fxe said:

I am new to roadbikes and just bought a Fuji League bike. I would like to keep it in great condition but do not know how to do that. one big question i have is how do you oil your bike chain, gears, ect? also, how do you "clean" you bike? thanks for your help.

The Zinn maintenance book can be had for $20 or less.

boudreaux said:

The Zinn maintenance book can be had for $20 or less.

Boudreaux, what's your lube of choice? And how are you enjoying the Opera?

I recently discovered that using a 23 gauge syringe works great for lubing the chain. The needle fits right down between the roller and the side of the link. Works great for getting lube in the right place and not all over the chain.