One. Introduction
　　As a mechanical device, a bicycle requires regular maintenance to ensure it remains in good condition. Mountain bikes are used in relatively harsh environments, making this even more important—especially in rainy or muddy conditions, where maintenance should be carried out as soon as possible after riding.
　　Various component manufacturers provide detailedmaintenance instructions; please refer to the relevant documentation. This article focuses on routine cleaning and basic upkeep. 
　　II. Cleaning
　　When your bike is covered in mud, the cables and hoses are dirty, and it's generally unpleasant to use, it’s time for a full bike wash.
　　Keep in mind that bicycles contain many bearing components, which are very sensitive to water. Therefore, avoid using high-pressure water streams during cleaning, and be especially careful around areas with bearings.
　　Step 1 Start by cleaning the chain. Refer to the cleaning section in “Cleaning and Lubricating the Chain.” The difference here is that since you’ll be cleaning the whole bike afterward, you don’t need to dry the chain completely—just wipe off the cleaning solution.
　　Step 2 Prepare the cleaning solution in a container. Dish soap from the kitchen is fine. Avoid using highly corrosive detergents like laundry powder—even though they clean well, they can lead to rust on screws afterward.
　　Step 3 Wet the entire bike with a hose to soften and loosen dirt. For areas with stubborn grime that aren’t near bearings, you can use higher water pressure. It’s okay if some dirt remains; later steps will take care of it.
　　Step 4 Skip this step if you’re not using a disc brake system.
　　Use a clean sponge (preferably one designated for disc brakes), apply the unused cleaning solution prepared in Step 2, and clean the disc rotor and caliper. Set the sponge aside after use—you’ll need it again later.
　　Step 5 Use another sponge with the cleaning solution to wash the entire bike’s exterior, including the handlebar, fork, frame, brakes (non-disc), saddle and seatpost, derailleurs, rims, spokes, crankset, pedals, and cable housings. Rinse with water afterward.
　　For hard-to-reach spots on the front and rear derailleurs where the sponge can’t get in, use a long-bristled brush with the cleaning solution.
　　Step 6 Use a long-handled stiff brush to clean the chainring and cassette. Apply cleaning solution to the brush, press it against the chainring and cassette, then rotate the crank. After a few turns, shift gears to move the chain away from its current position on the chainring and cassette, then press the brush back onto those areas to clean underneath. Rinse with water afterward.
　　Be careful not to let water enter the hub or bottom bracket—especially with products that have poor sealing. Some poorly sealed hubs should not be cleaned this way.
　　Step 7 Use a wide stiff brush to clean the tire surface. Apply the cleaning solution to the brush and scrub the tires to remove dirt and stones from the treads. Rinse clean afterward.
　　Step 8 Rinse the entire bike with water to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
　　Step 9 Skip this step if you’re not using a disc brake system.
　　Use the disc brake–dedicated sponge set aside earlier to clean the disc rotors and calipers again. Do not use contaminated cleaning solution—the residual cleaning solution on the sponge is enough. This prevents the disc rotors and calipers from being re-contaminated during earlier cleaning steps.
　　Step 10 Now, give the bike a final rinse with water. The cleaning process is complete.
　　III. Drying
　　After washing, move the bike to a drying area and follow these steps.
　　Step 1 Lift the bike about 20–30 cm off the ground and drop it gently a few times to shake off water droplets.
　　Step 2 Some bikes have drainage holes. Lift the front wheel to nearly vertical and allow any remaining water inside the frame to drain from the bottom bracket, frame, and other drainage points.
　　Step 3 Wipe the entire bike dry with a dry cloth, paying special attention to cable surfaces and the inner walls of the fork. Disc brake rotors can air dry naturally, or you can use a dedicated cloth for them.
　　For quick-release wheel sets, you can also remove the wheels to facilitate drying.
　　Note that the chain should be dried as much as possible.
　　If there is sunlight, letting it dry in the sun for a while is beneficial, as it helps dry the inner parts of the chain and other hard-to-reach areas—cloths alone cannot completely dry them.
　　After the exposed parts of the brake and derailleur cables are dry, adjust the brakes and derailleurs, loosen the brake and derailleur cables, dry the inner parts of the cables inside the cable housing, and continue airing them out.
　　IV. Lubrication
　　If you previously removed the wheels, reinstall the wheel set first and ensure the quick-release is properly locked.
　　The lubrication steps below will not apply to parts containing bearings; bearing maintenance needs to be done separately.
　　Step 1: Apply lubricant inside the derailleur and brake cable housings, then reinstall the housings.
　　Step 2: Lubricate the moving parts of the brake levers and derailleur levers (trigger shifters).
　　Step 3: Lubricate the moving parts of the front derailleur.
　　Step 4: Lubricate the moving parts of the rear derailleur.
　　Step 5: Lubricate the chain. Please refer to the lubrication section in "Cleaning and Lubricating the Chain."
　　Step 6: For clipless pedals, lubricate the locking mechanism to prevent rust.
　　Step 7: Lubricate the inner walls of the fork stanchions.
　　Finally, wipe off any excess lubricant from the surface of the parts.