Some of the best gravel rides end with a bike you can barely recognize. Wet clay packs into the fork crown, coats the chainstays and turns the drivetrain into a grinder. Leave it overnight and it sets like concrete. Here's how to get your bike clean without hurting the parts that matter, plus a few ways to make the next muddy ride easier.
Scrape the packed mud before it dries
The biggest chunks hide where the tire passes closest to the frame: the fork crown, between the chainstays and behind the seat tube. Wet mud comes out easily. Dry mud has to be chipped. So the first job, ideally right at the car, is to scrape out what you can.
Use something stiff that won't scratch paint. A serrated tool works best because the teeth bite into packed mud and pull it out instead of smearing it around. That's exactly why we made the MudBud: a 1 oz mud tool with deep teeth that fits in a jersey pocket. If you're racing in mud, scrape between laps or at aid stations so your tires keep turning freely.
Rinse gently, not with a pressure washer
A pressure washer is fast, but a strong jet can push water and grit past the seals in your bottom bracket, headset, hubs and pedals. Use a garden hose on a gentle setting or a bucket and a soft brush instead. Rinse from the top down so dirty water runs off the bike, not back onto clean parts. Keep the spray off the bearings and aim at the frame and tires.
Wash the frame and wheels
Use warm water with a bike-specific cleaner or a mild soap. A soft brush for the frame and a stiffer one for the tires works well. Don't forget the underside of the down tube, the brake calipers and the inside of the fork legs, where mud hides.
Mud plus chain lube makes grinding paste.
Clean the drivetrain separately
Brush the cassette, chainrings and derailleur pulleys, then run the chain through a rag or a chain-cleaning tool with degreaser. Rinse the degreaser off gently. A clean drivetrain shifts better and lasts much longer.
Dry it and lube the chain
Bounce the bike a few times to shake off water, then dry it with a clean towel, paying attention to the chain and any bolt heads. Once the chain is dry, apply fresh lube, spin the cranks backward, and wipe off the excess. In wet seasons, a wet lube holds up better.
Check your brakes and tires
Mud is hard on brake pads. Look at how much pad is left and listen for grinding on the next ride. Check your tires for cuts, and check your sealant if you run tubeless.
Make the next muddy ride easier
Run a fender.
A saddle-mounted fender keeps the worst of the spray off your back and out of your shorts. The RaGnar MudSlayer is our Number5 x Ass Savers fender that fits under the saddle and installs easily.
Check your clearance.
Wide tires look great until clay builds up. A little extra room between tire and frame makes a big difference on wet days.
Carry a scraper.
Thirty seconds of scraping mid-ride can save you from walking.
Keep riding
Always Pushin