Cleaning:

Clean bikes work better, so:

• Use warm soapy water and give the whole bike a good old sponging
• For those hard to get places then try an old toothbrush... if you don't have one then that annoying person that lives down the corridor from you that no one likes probably does ;-)
• If you're really feeling hardcore then you can even use degreaser to remove all the black grimy stuff on your chain etc, although just getting the worst of it will probably do
• When you're done, rinse it all off and lube it up (see below)

*Avoid putting anything but water on your wheel rims/ disc breaks or you might find that the soap means you can no longer brake!

Lubing:

Lubing everything up will help to eliminate those annoying creaks as well as stop your bike from rusting in the delightful rain of York. The two main options for lubing after cleaning are:

• Spray everything that's metal and moves with oil- GT85 is best but WD40 will do. Don't, under any circumstances, spray oil on your wheel rims or you won't be able to brake!
• Leave it for a while and then wipe off any excess

-The above option is probably the one most of you are going to follow after cleaning and it should allow your bike to run better than it otherwise would. However, the other lubing option will help your bike last even longer:

• Spray some oil (GT85 is best) on the chain whilst rotating it in order to cover its entire length. Don't use too much or it'll clog and ware quicker. When you've done this, wipe off any excess with a rag/ that tea towel in your kitchen that's so dirty no one's claiming to own it anymore
• Carefully oil the pivot points on the front and rear derailleurs (cages that move the chain when you change gear) and brake pivot points.
• Apply grease (cycle specific or similar) to any of the exposed cables on your bike, changing gears and pulling breaks to ensure you get full coverage. Only a tiny amount is needed and one tube will usually last you a year or more.
• Occasionally grease your seat tube too as well, to ensure it doesn't seize into place.

It is best to oil your chain every few weeks in dry weather and more often in wet weather to ensure that everything remains in smooth working order and doesn't rust up. Remember to remove any excess oil each time.