Now I bet that after every ride, you head straight into the bath or shower. Of course, it’s hard to overlook the needs of your own body, but when it comes to the bike, things can slowly creep up on you over the weeks with road dust turning to dirt and then grime.

Before you know it, your slick shifting has slowed, the headset feels ‘notchy’, and your cables have taken on tell-tale signs of corrosion.

The first place to start when looking to give your bike a new lease of life is by giving it a good scrub. Degrease the chain and cassette and re-lube.

Give the frame and wheels a full once over with the bucket and sponge (hot, soapy water to clean, and cold, clear water to sluice).

Dry immediately and with care. A cheap-as-chips tyre inflator from your local motorfactor will perform the same function as the powerful airlines routinely used by WorldTour mechanics, blowing moisture clean off components and cables, and with it, any residual muck and grime from difficult to reach places.

An old, but clean towel is a safe bet for larger areas like frame, forks, wheels and tyres.

You’ll be amazed at how in the space of an hour your sad and somewhat abused bike can transform into an object of lust once again ready to take on the Sunday chain gang. After all, you know what they say “a clean bike is a fast bike”. Fact!