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Remco Evenepoel's Specialized Tarmac doesn't look good at all after this ninth stage of the Tour de France 2024 in Troyes. After the dusty gravel race, it looks like it has been covered in brownish icing sugar. The formerly snow-white handlebar tape is more the colour of latte in places, and the fingerprints of the Soudal - Quick Step superstar are clearly visible on the brake levers - these are almost the only clean spots left on the bike.
Fine dust and oil form a thick crust on the sprockets, chainrings, chain and derailleur pulleys, with dirt hanging in every crevice. "Looks like a lot of work," says the TOUR editor. "It's just as quick as ever," says mechanic Guido Scheeren: "15 minutes."
Clean and maintain your bike: ready in 10 to 15 minutes
Scheeren has been a mechanic for professional teams for 25 years and has perfected the skills required to restore a bike to new condition even after dust or mud battles. He also takes care of his own bikes immediately after every ride, especially gravel and mountain bikes. "If you have some experience, it takes ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the condition, no more than that," says Scheeren. Of course, most people have other things on their minds after a long tour: cake, shower, feet up. But the little time spent on the bike is doubly worthwhile, says the professional. "The dirt doesn't stick and doesn't dry. It comes off much easier if you do it straight away. You also find wear and defects and can deal with them straight away instead of getting a nasty surprise on the next ride."
Sure, the professional mechanic is easy to talk to - behind the flaps of his truck are a pressurised blaster, air gun and boxes of cleaning and care products, all ready to hand. But this is not absolutely necessary for the hobby, says Scheeren. "An assembly stand is one of the most important things. A few essential care products, a sponge, brush and garden hose. Everyone has the rest in their household," he promises. We were excited and accompanied Evenepoel's dirt slinger from the car roof to the mechanic's truck. In the following, Scheeren shows step by step how the dusty racer is quickly transformed into a shiny and perfectly maintained racer for the next day's stage - and gives tips for washing at home.
The tool
After the ninth stage of the Tour de France, Remco Evenepoel's Tarmac SL8 looks like it's been pulled through the mud. The shiny chrome paintwork is covered in a thick layer of dust. A thick crust of dirt and oil clings to the drivetrain. The fine dust has also settled in all the gaps, and even the formerly white handlebar tape no longer looks fresh.
Cleaning and maintaining your road bike - here's how: Instructions in 10 steps
1. prepare
Practical are a Mounting stand and a side table, as well as a Chain holder, which tensions the chain when the wheel is removed. A compressed air gun and garden hose save time. If this is not available, the following will also suffice Bucket and towel. The most important cleaning and care products are a liquid Degreaser, Wheel cleaner (alternatively you can also use washing-up liquid), Chain oil or wax and a Spray oil. Suitable for cleaning are a large brush, a soft sponge and soft brushes.
2. loosen dirt - 2:00 minutes
First remove both wheels and install the chain holder. With Degreaser The stubborn dirt on the drivetrain and the lower part of the frame - for example on the chainstays and in the bottom bracket area - is then loosened. When cleaning road bikes, professionals pour some cleaner into a cut-open water bottle that is inserted into the bottle cage. A spray cleaner is also suitable, but you should still clean mechanically. "Dirt doesn't come off by itself, especially on the drivetrain," says Guido Scheeren. A thick, soft Paintbrushes is ideally suited. "It's easy to get into the corners, into the derailleur cages and behind the chainrings." Rotate the derailleur pulleys over the brush from both sides by turning the crank. The chain is pulled through the soaked brush bristles and the sprocket set is also brushed in.
3. soaping - 2:00 minutes
The rest of the bike and the wheels are generously covered with Rinse water washed. Nothing is left out. "You don't have to worry about the bearings or electronics. Everything is well sealed," says Scheeren. For surfaces such as frames, rims and tyres, a Large sponge or a fluffy glove through which even the chain is pulled.
Depending on the surface, you should work with different pressure work: "I can go gently over painted surfaces, as the dirt doesn't adhere well and nothing gets scratched. Tyres or handlebar tape can be treated a little more roughly to get them clean," he recommends. For heavily soiled white handlebar tape - as with Evenepoel - treatment with a brush also helps when cleaning road bikes.
4. clean corners - 2:00 minutes
For hard-to-reach areas on a road bike, such as the saddle frame, the bottom bracket area behind the chainrings or the hubs of the wheels, Scheeren recommends using a large Round brush with long bristles. For the pinions, he uses a large, soft Hand brush. "Too many special cleaning tools aren't good either, you have to change them frequently, which takes time," he says. If there is a lot of dirt, dip the brushes in water and rinse more often.
5. rinse - 1:00 minute
Foam and degreaser are rinsed off with clear water. High pressure is not necessary after thorough pre-cleaning, but rather harmful, says Guido Scheeren: "Our emitters work with high pressure. with very low pressure. It's mainly about the spray mist. It's not more thorough, but it's faster." If you don't have a pressure washer, a garden hose with a sprayer works just as well. But a bucket of clean water and a sponge will also do the trick: "It just takes a little longer, but it's no worse," says the professional.
6. drying off - 3:00 minutes
Before we continue, we need to dry out. With Compressed air allows wetness to be quickly and thoroughly blown out of inaccessible gaps and corners: Saddle, gears, brakes, sprockets. Without an air gun, it takes a little longer ... ... then you should clean cleaning cloths through the spots to remove as much water as possible. Alternative: leave to dry for longer. However, always clean the frame and wheels with a soft towel dry to avoid water stains.
7. check wear - 2:00 minutes
After drying and before fitting the wheels, it is the right time to take a look at critical parts: Are the Tyres damaged or does it contain a foreign object? Are Brake discs and brake pads in good condition? Are Chain, sprockets or chainrings worn out? "If you can act now, you'll save yourself unnecessary trouble," says professional mechanic Scheeren. Because: "Sometimes you can't see weak points when they're dirty."
8. oiling and lubricating - 2:00 minutes
Once the wheels have been fitted, it's time for maintenance and preservation. The chain gets a new Chain oil. Scheeren's tip: "If the bike is washed and maintained immediately after the tour, the oil has enough time to work its way into the chain," he explains. Before setting off, the chain should be wiped again with a dry cloth to keep it clean for longer.
A splash Spray oil After cleaning the road bike, apply scissors to the derailleur pulleys and the joints of the rear derailleur and front derailleur. This keeps them running smoothly. "Especially with electronic gears, you don't notice when they become stiff at some point. Regular maintenance is therefore a good idea," he recommends.
9. check function - 1:00 minute
Finally, after cleaning the road bike, check that everything fits: Shift all gears Gears clean? Are the Brake discs free? Does the Pressure point? Have the Batteries of the circuit or power meter still has sufficient juice and the Tyres still air? If not - take care of it right away. If there is, the racer can go back into the mechanic's truck. Or to the garage, the cellar or the living room wall.
10. ready!
After the refreshing treatment, Evenepoel's racer looks like new, even the handlebar tape looks like it has been freshly wrapped. So it's off to the mechanic's truck for the night. But the work with the star's bike is far from over at the team hotel: together with the bikes on the two car roofs, which have just as much dirt on them, 24 bikes have to be washed.
Tips from a professional on cleaning and maintaining road bikes - what does he think of ...?
Specialised bike cleaners?
Certainly recommended as a degreaser. Not for the whole bike; washing-up liquid is sufficient for most things and costs less.
Ceramic bearings?
What for professionals. They run more easily, but the overall savings are small. They last longer, but if they get dirty, they break quickly. Replacement is expensive. As a hobby rider, I would do without them.
Chain wax?
Those who are not afraid of the effort have advantages. Above all, the chain stays clean for longer. With liquid wax from a bottle, it is important that it dries completely before you set off. And you have to relubricate more often.
Guido Scheeren - about the person
The 55-year-old comes from near Aachen. The ex-racer worked as a race mechanic for Team Telekom, after which he ended up at Patrick Lefevere's racing team and is still employed there today. Within the team, he has developed into a specialist for time trial bikes. In addition to his job at Soudal - Quick Step, he also offers courses on bike care and maintenance. In his private life, Scheeren mainly rides gravel bikes and mountain bikes: "It's more relaxed and less dangerous," he says.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
