Keeping the bike clean at this time of year can be challenging but Finish Line’s Gear Floss makes it easy to clean the trickier parts of the bike.

Finish Line’s Gear Floss consists of 20 short microfibre ropes per pack that can be used to clean between the sprockets of the cassette. They’re not limited to the cassette though. We found them useful for cleaning other hard to reach areas, around the dérailleurs and behind the cranks.

While we were initially sceptical about being sold bits of string to clean bikes with, we’ve actually found them really useful. There are parts of the bike that sponges and brushes just can’t reach and the floss comes into its own here. Using a push-and-pull technique you can really get every last bit of dirt, grime and sludge from the trickiest parts of the bike.

The microfibre material doesn’t just move dirt and grime around the surfaces you’re working on. Instead the star-shaped grooves grab and remove the dirt. It takes a few pieces of floss to do a complete bike, depending on how dirty it is. We found after a good wash of the bike that two or three was enough. Of course it depends on how fussy you are, and how well you’ve cleaned your bike in the first place.

Once dirty, the pieces of Finish Line Gear Floss can be washed and used again which does go some way to increasing their value.

They would be easier to use if they had hooks at each end. We found looping the ends around fingers allowed us to get better purchase on the floss and the component or part of the bike that was being cleaned.

Verdict

A simple and effective cleaning aid for getting to the hard to reach parts of your pride and joy.

Pros

Great for hard to reach areas.

Cons

A bit expensive for pipe cleaners

Price: £6.99
More information: Finish Line Gear Floss
UK importer: Madison Cycles

What Finish Line says about Gear Floss

Finish Line Gear Floss is the ultimate detailing tool! Perfect for cleaning your rear cassette, front chain rings, derailleur pulley wheels, hubs and spindles, brake arms, bottom bracket / crank interface, and more.

Gear Floss is made of Microfiber. Microfibers work by attracting, removing and holding grime. Other materials simply move it around. Microfiber does this by capturing dirt, grease and particles inside its star-shaped grooves. Dirt is held deep inside the core of the fiber. Microfibers remove grime better than any other material known to man. Microfiber rope is highly tear-resistant and it is washable.

Easy to Use

• Position floss between gears
• Slide back and forth
• Slide into other hard-to-clean areas like derailleur pulley wheels, hubs and spindles, brake arms, bottom brackets /crank interface, etc.

Each Package Contains 20 Ropes

Each Rope = 20” / 510mm Length

MSRP: $6.99