Recommended Video Today shared by: Cycling Tips on
how to clean your bike
For all of us who love the relaxing routine of cleaning our bikes after a bike ride, this demonstration video features an Omega Pharma-Quickstep team mechanic:
Video link: http://youtu.be/Sf80DnCgHRQ
Team mechanics clean a lot of bikes, so they know quality and efficiency of work. Note the cut-off water bottle to hold soap and brush, the chain keeper, the many specialized brushes, the order of cleaning, and his method of applying oil to the chain.
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| A team mechanic can clean a bike anywhere with the right tools. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
Most of what I personally learned about cleaning bikes came from watching Kenneth
Flesjå. Kenneth and his wife, Gunn-Rita Dahle
Flesjå (Mountain Bike Olympic Gold medalist, World Champion and National Champion from Norway), used to come to Boulder, Colorado, for training once or twice a year and would stay with me and my ex-boyfriend. I watched Kenneth wrench or clean the bikes daily after their road or mountain bike training rides.
I learned a lot from both of them, and have fond memories of their visits and meals shared together. They loved to ride and cook, and I loved Gunn-Rita's homemade salmon and leek spaghetti.
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| Sometimes even Gunn-Rita would clean her bike after a ride. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Gunn-Rita in the back yard on the rollers. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Heading off on a training ride, they loved visiting Boulder, Colorado. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
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| Sharing dinner with Gunn-Rita and Kenneth in Boulder in 2004. Photo by Karen Rakestraw at Pedal Dancer® |
