There are now as many bicycle cleaners and chain oils as there are grains of sand, but not all manufacturers have the environment in mind. The new F100 Bio Bicycle Cleaner and Bio Chain Oil, however, consist of at least 90% natural and renewable raw materials – we have tried out the bike care products.
General Product Information about F100
Proper bike maintenance significantly contributes to ensuring that the rider enjoys it for a long time and that the flawless function of the components is guaranteed. Aggressive and acidic cleaners, on the other hand, are not only bad for the environment but can also negatively affect the material under certain circumstances.
F100 has now taken a completely different approach with its Bio Bicycle Cleaner and Bio Chain Oil. Both products consist of at least 90% natural and renewable raw materials, so the environment benefits in this case. However, this was not enough for the manufacturer of bicycle care products, so the bottles were also designed to be ecologically sustainable. Both the bottles and the labels are made from recyclable material.
F100 Bio Bicycle Cleaner
The biological bicycle cleaner is also free from fragrances or dyes and guarantees PH-neutral. Since it is completely acid-free , the material compatibility with sensitive materials such as carbon or matte paint is also guaranteed.
The composition of the cleaner is intended to ensure that dirt (dust, mud, oil) can be effortlessly removed from the bike. The bicycle should simply be sprayed on and rinsed off with a garden hose after a contact time of 5-10 minutes.
F100 Bio Chain Oil
Particular emphasis was placed on the biodegradability of the biological lubricant or chain oil, so that nature is not further burdened. This biodegradability is even certified according to the OECD 301 (F) standard. In addition to the benefits for nature and the material, there are of course also functional advantages. F100 guarantees a high smoothness of all components, a high wear protection and a high lubrication performance, corrosion protection, a high creeping and adhesion effect, a noise reduction of the moving parts and long lubrication or maintenance intervals.
The F100 Bicycle Care Products in Test
From a nature perspective, both the bio-bicycle cleaner and the bio-chain oil score points. The advantages are obvious and everyone should seriously ask themselves whether environmentally harmful cleaning and care products should still have a place in the bicycle workshop. However, this decision is preceded by the question of whether the bio-bike care products can also convince in practice. We tried it out.
Our Octane One OMG test bike was anything but clean after some test rides in the wet autumn and thus the perfect basis for our F100 bicycle cleaner test. The instructions state that you spray the cleaner on the dirty bike, wait 5-10 minutes, and then rinse off dirt and cleaner with a strong jet of water.
Said and done. The pump head of the spray bottle is easy to use and sprays the cleaner properly, so that the bike is quickly and efficiently sprayed . A light foam forms directly on the surfaces and after a few seconds, you can see that the cleaner, along with dust and mud, begins to follow gravity downward. The F100 bicycle cleaner thus ensures that the dirt is directly removed from the surfaces.
In stubborn areas where the mud was thicker and dried hard, we helped a little with a wet sponge after the cleaner's exposure time. After that, the garden hose, not a high-pressure cleaner, was completely sufficient to rinse the bike spotlessly clean. Even in tricky corners, the F100 bike cleaner did a good job, so the bicycle became really tip top clean. Except for the stubborn areas, we did not use a sponge or brush and still achieved a very respectable result, so the initial question is clearly answered for us: out with the chemical cleaners and in with biological products like the F100 cleaner!
Afterwards, we naturally also attended to our chain. The biologically-based chain oil should first be shaken and then applied thinly to the chain. Since the oil is nice and thin, this goes very well and quickly. Despite the relatively thin consistency, the oil adheres well to the chain as promised in the description and does not drip - a clear plus point.
After further rides with the freshly lubricated chain, we cannot bring up any negative aspects. The chain runs smoothly and quietly, and even after a longer ride in rain and mud, the chain was still sufficiently coated with an oil film.
Conclusion
Both the bike cleaner and the chain oil from F100 have done an excellent job and convinced us not only on the functional side. The biological facts of the products clearly speak for disposing of chemical agents in the home workshop and opting for sustainable products like those from F100.
