I've got a mess of questions or maybe you can point me in the direction to find info. I have only been seriously mt. biking for the summer and I got a new fs bike. I've been trying to find the best way to clean and lube it and I'm afraid of letting the dirt build up. Like in my poll I started out using compressed air which I stopped imeadiately opon finding it was a bad idea. For awhile I was washing my bike with simple green and low pressure water. Now that school started I don't have as much time so I've been wiping it down which I haven't been thrilled about. Is there any other ways to quickly clean my bike?? Some other questions are, how do I go faster downhill, especially in single track? There are a lot of bumps or deep roots at times and I feel like I'm using the brakes a lot, especially the back ones.
Speaking of brakes I checked the rear disk brake pads and noticed it's not wearing evenly... is this bad or is there a reason for this?? Also, when I would pull the rear brake lever it would have less travel than the front brake lever because the screw in the rear brake lever was tightening. I had stuck some blue locktight on the screw but now the brake doesn't release all the way forward. I've tried spraying Triflow in the area as well and it didn't change it. Any suggestions? thanks for your help
I am not sure about the disk brakes... but as for cleaning: I let the dirt dry on my bike and then clean it off with a brush. Hosing down your bike is a bad idea. Water gets in the seals, and then the grease needs to be replaced. A good scrub brush will go a long way, and you can buy a special tool to clean the rear gears at the bike shop. Also, to clean the rear cassette, remove the wheel from the bike, and take a rag, fold it in half and insert the folded part in between each set of gears, then you can kind of turn the cassette with the rag, and keep going till everything is clean. As for the chain, go buy one of those chain cleaners that attaches to the bike, and get some degreaser. I recommend cleaning your drivetrain every 6 or 7 rides, depending on mud. Cleaning your bike does take time, but its worth it if everything works right.
