It seems crazy to say it but the biggest killer of mountain bikes is… mud. Yes, all the knobbly tyres, plush suspension and wet-weather gear may help you to battle with the slop but, if left long enough, mud will inevitably win the war.
Most downhill pros will have their bikes sneakily washed behind the pits between runs to keep them in tip top shape and, if you want your ride to stay shop fresh for longer, we reckon you should be washing it after every decent ride – the sooner the better.
“A few minutes’ of elbow grease after a ride or a couple of hundred quid’s worth of repairs, the choice is yours.”
Sure, your bike will run fine after one muddy ride but if left long enough it will really start to suffer. Here are the ways mud can mess up your ride:
Your Parts Will Wear Out
When mud and grit get into your moving parts, very bad and very expensive things start to happen. Suspension seals, bearings and drivetrain parts are all susceptible and will end up creaky or busted if you don’t get the mud off sharpish. A few minutes’ of elbow grease after a ride or a couple of hundred quid’s worth of repairs, the choice is yours.
