Working out at home during the pandemic has brought new fitness challenges to millions of people. One of the best ways to get cardio exercise at home is to ride a stationary bike.
However, after you finish working out, have you been cleaning the bike thoroughly? With this in mind, here are a few tips for cleaning a stationary bike after a workout.
Consistency Is Critical
If you want a clean ride every time you get on your stationary bike, you must clean it often. One of the main areas that gets dirty after a workout is the bike’s frame because sweat and water make contact with it.
For this reason, you should identify all the wet spots on your bike after you work out and wipe them down with disinfectant wipes. Some common areas where wet spots might appear are on your handlebars, the frame, the pedals, and your seat.
Controlling your sweat will help you avoid common exercise bike riding mistakes, but you should still clean your bike after every use, regardless of how often you ride. Doing so will prevent unnecessary deterioration and corrosion on your stationary bike.
Maintain Your Chain or Belt-Drive System
Whether your stationary bike uses a belt or chain-drive system, you need to maintain it so that your bike can operate smoothly. First, determine which type of system your bike uses, then find the proper lubricant.
You should apply lubrication at least once a month, but you can do so every three weeks if you want to go the extra mile. Also, you should know that chain-drive systems require more maintenance than belt ones, but they offer a closer riding experience to traditional cycling outdoors.
Keep Your Brakes in Top Condition
Even though you’re not going anywhere when you ride a stationary bike, the brakes are still important. Stationary bikes have either magnetic brakes or contact ones, and they both require different cleaning procedures.
Magnetic brakes stop your flywheel with the power of magnetic force, so you don’t have to clean them since they don’t make contact with your wheel. On the other hand, contact braking systems press against the wheel, so you will have to maintain and lubricate them for your bike to function correctly.
Overall, it’s a little too early to start thinking about choosing a lock for your bike, so stationary bikes are a worthy alternative. Now that you know some tips for cleaning a stationary bike after a workout, you can look forward to some amazing riding experiences right in the comfort of your own home.