You’ve just finished the most vigorous in-home workout on your trusty exercise bike. You’ve got to that point by your own blood, sweat, and tears. But if you’re not careful, your own sweat (and possibly tears) can wreak havoc on your equipment.
In this guide we’ve pointed out four tips that you can use to clean and maintain your cycle bike. And the best part? All of this maintenance can be done at home in a matter of minutes.
Clean Your Frame Regularly
You should be mindful of sweat and water that could have contacted the frame of your cycle bike.
When you dismount your bike after a workout, locate wet spots on your seat, handlebars, frame, and pedals. When sweat oils and water sit on your cycle bike, it can cause corrosion on the frame and deterioration of the soft-touch materials. It’s also advised to disinfect your equipment after every use.
The best way to avoid this is to create an in-home cleaning solution by using 10 percent soap and 90 percent warm water. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and soap and spray the solution on any part of the bike that you may have been in contact with. Quickly dry the solution off the machine with a cotton or microfiber cloth.
Alternatively, you can make a disinfectant solution by mixing half a cup of warm water and half a cup of vinegar into a spray bottle. And store-bought cleaning solutions work just as well.
Regardless of the solution, clean your cycle bike after every use to avoid corrosion and deterioration.
Maintain Your Brakes
Cycle bikes have two types of braking mechanisms: contact and magnetic brakes. Magnetic brakes require virtually no maintenance because they stop the flywheel by using contactless magnetic force. Contact braking systems, such as felt pads, put friction against a fly wheel to stop motion. Contact brakes require more maintenance to work efficiently.
We’ve created an easy-to-use guide on changing and cleaning brakes on you Sunny Health and Fitness cycle bike here. To clean all you’ll need is a cleaning brush and a silicon-based lubricant.
Check Your Belt or Chain Drive
Cycle bikes can utilize either a chain-drive or belt-drive system to engage with the flywheel. Chain-drive mechanisms feel like riding a traditional outdoor bike, but they require monthly maintenance. Belt-drive mechanisms deliver smoother ride but require very little maintenance.
We’ve created this guide on how to properly lubricate your chain drive every month.
Keep A Clean Space
One of the most important things to consider in your home gym is space. Not only do you need a lot of it, but the area surrounding your bike must be clean. You should be mindful of flooring that can cause dust build up in and around your equipment. You home gym should be vacuumed on a weekly basis to ensure the longest life out of your cycle bike.
Also, remember to keep equipment in dry rooms in your home. Never leave your bike outside for long periods of time. Areas that are damp or extreme in temperature can damage the metal frame, soft-touch materials, and drive mechanism on your bike.
And sometimes you need to start fresh with your cycle bike. If you’re looking for a new bike, check out what’s on Sunny Health and Fitness.
