Need to clean dirt and mud from your bike?  Use an inexpensive pesticide sprayer with an adjustable nozzle.  Just fill it with warm water, pump it up, and start spraying.  Don't forget to clean under the seat.

I purchased a plastic 2.5 gallon sprayer from Home Depot for $20.

 Need to cut grease and road tar from your bike?  Use Dawn brand dish washing liquid, it really does cut grease.

  Buy a can of compressed air at your local computer center and use it to clean the moving parts of your deraileurs.

Never under any circumstance should you use WD-40 on a bicycle.  It will just collect dust and dirt and provide very little useful lubrication.  Just stay away from all aerosol lubricants.

 Clean your drivetrain at least once a month. (Yes this is a lubrication tip.  If you don't remove the old lubricant and the dirt, then don't bother to add fresh lubricant.)

Use a chain cleaning tool with the proper cleaning solution.  Park Tools make an excellent chain cleaner that is available at most bike shops.  Also keep those old toothbrushes to clean your chainrings and deraileurs.

 Use Pedro's Ice Wax on your chain.  This will keep your chain well lubricated, under most riding conditions, which will prolong the life of your drivetrain.

Be sure and add the chain wax at least 12 hours before you plan to ride and let it set for 1/2 hour before wiping off the excess.

I lubricate my road bike chain at least once a week and my mountain bike chain before every ride.

  Use a high quality PTFE (Teflon) base lubricant on your deraileurs and cables. Pedro's Extra Dry is a good example of this type of lubricant.

Apply these lubricants sparingly with a cotton swab, to every pivot point, spring, and exposed cable.  Do this at least once a week.

These lubricants can be quite expensive but it only takes a few drops to properly lubricate your entire bike.  So don't cheap out, buy the good stuff.  A small 2 ounce bottle should last you most of the season.