Cruisers are meant for easy and relaxed riding, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to be looked after. Luckily there’s a particular type of bike cleaning product called “bicycle-specific detergent” which is specially formulated for your bike. You may also like to read what is the best cruiser bike?
How to wash cruiser bike?
To start with, you’ll want to choose the right place for this. Cruiser is a big bike, hard to clean it in small bathrooms or bedrooms. Also, it will take you some time and space to wash your cruiser correctly. To find the right environment (a backyard would be the best).
You’ll want to give yourself enough room to work because your cruiser is large and heavy – you won’t be able to take it downstairs or prop it onto a table, so make sure you have enough room.
Get all your necessary supplies ready – bucket with water and dish soap, sponge, an old towel to dry the bike off, bicycle-specific detergent for removing dirt and grease. You’ll also need some wire brushes to get into hard-to-reach places.
Start
Start by removing both wheels and the seat post from the frame. Then, give a clean water rinse to your cruiser, trying not to let it soak – you should just wet it enough so that there are no more soap suds left on the surface of the body or tires. This will prevent soap from drying out on your cruiser, making the job harder later.
After you finished rinsing your cruiser, inspect it thoroughly for any dents or scratches. This is where wire brush comes in handy – you’ll want to use it to remove accumulated dirt and rust on brake calipers, derailleurs, or long bolts which hold Seatpost or wheels.
You will need to scrub it hard, so take precautions – wear gloves and eye protection because wire brush can damage your eyesight.
Flip your cruiser upside down. This will allow you to inspect both sides of the tires for any cuts or holes which could appear later on. If there are any, this is the time to patch them up – if more time passes, they will become harder to repair.
Now you want to give the frame a good wash – take a sponge and some soapy water, scrub away at grimy areas on your cruiser. You can use a brush for this as well, but be careful not to scratch the paint. After you’ve done with this, rinse the frame with clean water and dry it up using a cloth or towel.
Next
Now you’ll want to scrub the dirt and gunk off both wheels and tires – this is probably the most important part of bike cleaning since we ride our cruisers on these tires every day. Take your time here, because if there’s debris left, they could damage your road or even puncture it. Be thorough but gentle – you should be careful not to damage tire valves using a wire brush.
After both wheels are clean, inspect them for cracks and splits in the rubber. If there are any, they will need replacement. You can patch up small holes with a special glue used for this purpose, but it’s risky and if the hole is too big, you will need to get rid of the tire altogether.
Now put your wheels back under your cruiser – make sure they’re securely fastened before you stand the bike upright again. Then, give both tires a fresh, clean water rinse and leave them to dry for 5-10 minutes.
When the tires are dry, you should put some sealant or glue for puncture protection. The upside of using glue is that it won’t leak once applied. Sealing liquid can run off your tire if exposed to strong elements like water or heat. Use only recommended glue/sealant for this purpose.
Now give your cruiser another clean water rinse and dry it up. You can use a towel, but be sure to give it a wipe-down afterward. So no visible streaks are left on the paint. This will look bad and could cause corrosion if not removed.
Leave the bike somewhere dry and dust-free until the next time you’ll need to use it.
Conclusion
Cleaning your cruiser is a simple process, but you need to be careful and patient. Since the frame is large and heavy. Don’t let the water soak your bike – just give it a rinse with soapy water. Be careful not to damage or scratch delicate parts. After rinsing the frame, inspect it for any dents or scratches which need to be sanded. You can find more tips on Outdoorxsports.com.
