With regular use, your Golf Bike will inevitably get dirty. Just a wipe down with a dry or damp cloth after a ride can do a lot to keep your bike clean, but on occasion, a more thorough job is needed. To wash your Golf Bike, you’ll need: a bucket, some rags, a cleaner (diluted dish soap is fine, or use a dedicated bike wash product), clean water, a degreaser or solvent (for the really gummy parts) and a soft bristled brush. If you use a hose, use a spray rather than a jet, and don’t spray too much around bearing packs, including the bottom bracket (where the cranks go through the frame), hubs, or headset (where the fork attaches to the frame).
Clean your Drivetrain. Spray your chain with a cleaner/degreaser, and clean it with a rag. There are various chain cleaning gadgets that enable you to wash a chain without removing it from the bike, but a good wipe down with a rag and some solvent does a pretty good job, too. Wipe down the derailleur, and remove any gummy deposits from the pulleys on the derailleur cage. Also move a rag in between the rear gear cogs to clean out debris.
Wet your Bike. Give your bike an initial rinse; either with rags or a hose, to loosen caked on dirt.
Wash your Bike Frame and Wheels. Go from top to bottom, front to back, using a diluted soap or a dedicated product and the soft bristled brush. Use the brush to scrub the braking surfaces of your rims.
Rinse your Bike, being careful not to shoot high pressure water at bearing packs such as wheel hubs, headset and bottom bracket.
Dry the Bike. Bounce the bike on the ground a couple of times, and then hand-wipe the bike. Apply a bike polish occasionally if you like.
- Lubricate your chain and other components as needed. Lubricate your chain only after it is clean and dry. And always use a dedicated bicycle chain lube.
Cleaning and lubing your Golf Bike on a regular basis helps keep your drivetrain from wearing prematurely and will keep your bike’s components running smooth. Just be sure to always dry your bike completely and apply bike chain lube to a clean, dry chain for best performance.
Before every ride, it is advisable to do a short pre-ride safety inspection.
Tires: Squeeze the tires to make sure they are firm. If not, pump each tire to approx. 40 psi.
Brakes: Squeeze the brake levers to make sure the brakes are working properly and the levers don’t pull to the bar. If the brakes are loose, you can tighten them slightly at the barrel adjuster where the cable enters the lever. Also check the brake levers to make sure they are secure on the handlebar.
Nuts and bolts: Use your handy multi tool to check the crank bolts, kickstand bolts, seat post clamp bolt and rack bolts to make sure they are snug.
Wheels: Be sure to also check the front and rear quick release skewers on the wheels of your Golf Bike to make sure they are tight.
Bags: Check the side and middle bags to ensure they are secured to the frame properly.
Routine maintenance should be performed every 10 rides or so.
Drivetrain: Clean, dry and lube the chain and gears.
Brake and shift cables: Periodically put a drop of chain lube in the housing onto the steel cables of the brakes and shifter. Although your Golf Bike is equipped with stainless steel cables, periodic lubing will keep the cables pulling freely through the housing with minimal friction. Inspect the brake pads for wear. If they are grooved or worn it is time to replace. Inspect the cable ends for fraying. If they are frayed it is time to replace them.
Hardware: It is a good idea to periodically check every nut and bolt on your Golf Bike for tightness. A multi tool is ideal for this routine check. Pay special attention to crank bolts, pedals, stem bolts, wheel skewers, rack bolts, kickstand bolts, seat clamp bolt and even the little water bottle bolts on the frame of the bike.
Rear derailleur: Clean the rear derailleur and wipe off any debris from the pulley wheels. Put a drop of lube on the pivots after cleaning.
Pedals: Once in a while get a pedal wrench and check the tightness of each pedal. Riding any bike causes vibrations that eventually loosen the bolts and other hardware and parts on your bicycle. So it is a good practice to check these often.
Clean and Inspect: Clean your Golf Bike according to the general cleaning instructions. After cleaning your bike it is a good time to inspect the parts for any wear and tear. Look at the tires for cuts or wear. Check the seat, grips, handlebar and frame for any signs of fatigue, wear or cracking.