Deep Cleaning

I apologize if this is a recurring topic/question, I am new here and attempted to do due diligence using the search function (I think I did) and couldn't find anything close to bullseye with what I want to ask so starting a new thread.  Mods ... delete or merge if redundant.

How often do y'all deep clean your gravel bikes?  I have been cycling for a while and have a pretty good annual maintenance schedule set up for my road bike but I just don't think I took into account the amount of routine maintenance that will be needed for an active graveler's bike.  With my road bike, I have been doing a deep clean (remove wheels, fork and crankset to clean and lube)  about twice a year, but after about a month or so of solid graveling the noise my girl is making coupled with the performance degradation, I feel its already needing to be deep cleaned.  I am afraid to look at my bottom bracket.

Thoughts, guidance and experiences requested.  Thanks

Hi Richard, I believe you will get lots of different advice on a topic like this. But here's my two cents. You mention above that you experience noise after a solid month of graveling and I believe this is quite normal.

In clean road conditions things will continue to work well for a long time, but if you ride off-road things deteriorate pretty quickly. Just for reference, I worked with a professional cyclocross team for several years and the bikes get a complete overhaul after every race. So that's about 45-60 minutes of riding, before the bikes are completely cleaned.

I clean and lube my drivetrain after every off-road ride and at a minimum I do a full cleaning of my bike once a month, usually more than that depending on the conditions.

If you ride a lot off-road you will have to do a lot of cleaning to keep things running smoothly. I would keep my main focus on the drivetrain, keep that clean and lubed all the time. The rest of the parts are much better shielded from dirt and grime.

Hope that helps.

Oh and don't use a pressure washer, you'll likely do more damage than good.

I'm pretty meticulous about cleaning, and I really only do it when necessary.  It's really more prevalent for me during cx season since there is a race every weekend, vs gravel where we don't have as many opportunities.  I loved the dry cx races because all they required was a quick wipedown of the frame and drivetrain.  For the muddy races, I was forced to take the wheels off, sometimes the chain/cassette, get out the brushes and go to town.  Same with gravel, really.  If its a dry dusty day give the drivetrain some love, but unless it's a mudfest leave everything else alone.

I don't know how wet your bike gets, but fenders are great.  Sacrilege, I know - but I laugh when I hear squeaky drive trains or see mud stripes up people's backs.   I tend to leave a rear fender on all the time, and slide the front fender on if its really nasty. 

I have a Ti frame so I am not too worried about corrosion (not saying I put her away wet either), so ...

-hose off then a good wipe down with attention to components (chain, chain rings, cassette, cranks, pedals and derailleurs) after every ride

-a deep clean once a month unless a muddy ride dictates sooner (pull cassette, fork, crankset and wheels ... clean, lube and grease where applicable)

-add 2oz sealant to tires every 3 months unless bike has been sitting around a lot (I live in the south so not too worried about low humidity necessitating sooner)

Forgetting anything?

EDIT:  Never had hydraulic disc brakes and not sure what to do maintenance wise

chas wrote:I don't know how wet your bike gets, but fenders are great.  Sacrilege, I know - but I laugh when I hear squeaky drive trains or see mud stripes up people's backs.

Fenders are the best! Try living in Seattle and riding year round, fender are just about my most valued add-on for the bike.
 

chas wrote:I don't know how wet your bike gets, but fenders are great.  Sacrilege, I know - but I laugh when I hear squeaky drive trains or see mud stripes up people's backs.   I tend to leave a rear fender on all the time, and slide the front fender on if its really nasty. 

Chas curious which rear fender you use as I have seen quite a few different ones so far. Pic would help also.

Thanks
Zman

Seeing this, I recalled reading Guitar Ted's recent take on gravel bike cleaning (basically, never use water). I may give this a try this year with my bike.   https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/2019/01/how-i-clean-my-bicycles.html

Zman - Here is my Roker Comp set up with Velo Orange 650b Wavy Fenders 58mm.