Why should your bike always be clean? Because cleaning is the first step to good maintenance. Washing your triathlon bike is essential for every triathlete, ensuring their bike is ready to perform to its full potential.
Perfect aerodynamics
What distinguishes a triathlon bike from a racing bike is primarily aerodynamics. A triathlon bike is certainly much more similar to a time trial bike than to a traditional racing bike. In fact, it's not at all easy, much less recommended, to ride the classic road race routes, especially the climbs, with the bike used by triathletes. Triathlon bikes are designed for speed on almost completely flat courses. The bike sections in triathlon races are essentially time trials, races against the clock where the athlete competes primarily against himself. Therefore, aerodynamics are a primary aspect of all triathlon bikes and must therefore be maintained, primarily through constant and efficient maintenance .
Always at the top
Cleaning your triathlon bike isn't just a crucial step, it's crucial to its proper functioning. Frequent washing, proper lubrication, and regular maintenance will keep your bike performing at peak performance. Let's find out how to keep your triathlon bike clean .
How to clean your triathlon bike
Keeping your bike clean isn't just a matter of aesthetics... it's also true that appearance matters. There's no doubt that true bike enthusiasts, those who care deeply about their bikes, are often busy cleaning and washing them. However, these procedures must be carried out correctly and with the necessary care. Here are the steps to follow.
Preliminary washing
First, remove the wheels and give them a light preliminary wash with water to remove any surface dirt. Important: don't use a very high-pressure jet and avoid using very hot water.
Degreasing
Now it's time to degrease, and for this procedure you can use a commercially available degreaser spray, suitable for the frame, gears, chain, and all other bicycle components. Avoid household products commonly found in supermarkets, as they are too aggressive for your bike. Spray a small amount of degreaser onto a cloth, then wipe it by hand over the parts of the bike you want to degrease. For stubborn dirt, use a sponge soaked in water and mild soap.
The most delicate parts
The chain, derailleur, and cassette can get much dirtier than the rest of the bike and are the most delicate parts, requiring the most attention when washing your triathlon bike. If there is stubborn dirt on these parts, you'll need to use a specific product or the appropriate chain cleaner. For routine cleaning, simply run the chain through a cloth to remove impurities. We recommend using specific degreasers and lubricants that are partially or fully biodegradable.
Wheels are also a very delicate component, so clean them carefully and with specific products. Find out which are the best wheels for triathlon bikes .
Rinsing and drying
After thoroughly cleaning every component of the bike, rinse thoroughly but gently. Rinsing should completely remove even the slightest trace of dirt, but it shouldn't be too harsh, as this could damage the more delicate components. After rinsing your triathlon bike, dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Lubrication
Once the bike is completely dry, you can proceed with lubricating the chain, one of the most important parts of cleaning and maintaining your bike. We recommend using quality products that, with just a few drops of lubricant, guarantee excellent results.
Professional check-up
Every now and then, at least twice a year, it's a good idea to take your bike to an expert mechanic for a general checkup on the functioning of each component. Regular maintenance is essential to keeping your bike in top condition and riding worry-free.
Conclusion
We've covered the essential steps for keeping your triathlon bike clean. These are simple, yet very important procedures that should be followed consistently. Triathlon is a demanding discipline, testing both the mind and body of athletes, pushing them to extremes. Therefore, it's even more important that your bike is always in perfect condition, ready to give it your all. With your bike clean and performing, you'll be ready to achieve great results, no matter what distance you compete in.
