partyandBSHow often do you clean your bike? I ride lift access literally everyday (today was day 14 in a row!) so I am able to spray down my bike but really that only gets the mud off. I’m worried spraying it too often will lead to rusting. It that a real thing? What about like a deep clean?? Are there certain soaps to use? How often are people lubing their chain, checking/adjusting shock pressure, etc.? What’s something I should be doing that you bet I’m not?
Washing your bike every day is best, if you wash your bike often your components will last much longer and your bike will feel much better. Washing your bike is also very important because it helps you to notice issues before they become serious, expensive problems.
As long as the chain is lubed every ride or two, nothing will rust, the bikes are designed to be ridden in bad weather. When lubing your chain, make sure to wipe off the excess and use dry lube, as it will greatly extend the life of your drivetrain.
As far as soaps to use, dish soap works well enough for everything except for the drivetrain, which may require bike specific degreaser. I would recommend investing in bike-specific brushes as they work great for getting into the hard to reach spots of the bike.
Shock pressure shouldn’t change much, I would watch a few videos and play with volume spacers and your suspension adjustments to find what works well for you. Suspension is the most important factor on how your bike feels, and takes a lot of time to get right, so it’s best to start early playing with it.
I’ve only been biking for about 6 years now, and I’m still learning a lot, but that’s some of the most important things I would’ve liked to know in the past.
