WASHING DAY
Do you have a garden or garage at home with a water connection? Then you can count yourself lucky. Regular maintenance is just as much a part of the mechanic's daily routine as changing nappies on the kids. One item has proved particularly useful for daily washing in front of the BIKE workshop: In the Proceed bike stand for around 25 euros, the bikes stand securely even when fully broadsided and are easily accessible from all sides. Cleaning buckets and brushes from the DIY store take care of the finishing touches. A robust sprayer for the garden hose can usually also cope with coarse dirt. If you don't want to waste any time, use a high-pressure cleaner. But be careful: this will quickly remove the lubrication from the bearings and chain. If you don't have a water connection, your only option is to use a mobile pressure washer or a traditional sponge and cleaning bucket.
These three clean up properly:
"Lubricants don't belong in the residual waste." Interview with Martin Meier, Head of the "Waste Management" department at LFU Bavaria
Where do you dispose of old bicycle tyres and inner tubes?
Only small quantities of used tyres and inner tubes are usually generated in the private sector. They can be disposed of in the residual waste bin. In the recycling cycle for car tyres, bicycle tyres and inner tubes are a problem because they have very little rubber on the tread and different rubber compounds.
And chain oils, brake fluids or fork oils?
This is usually hazardous waste. It must be handed in at the municipal hazardous waste collection centres (recycling centres, Giftmobil).
What do I need to bear in mind when washing my bike?
Oils and lubricants are produced here, especially when cleaning agents are used. They should not end up in bodies of water. There is no reason why biodegradable cleaning agents should not be used, but then washing must take place on paved surfaces that are connected to a combined or waste water sewer. If occasional cleaning is carried out exclusively with water in private areas, the bicycle can also be washed on overgrown ground (lawn, meadow).
You can read this article or the entire BIKE 11/2015 issue in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or buy the issue in the DK shop reorder:
Stefan Frey
Editor
