Green Oil Massive Brush SLR

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it?

According to Green Oil, "It makes bike cleaning easy. It's sustainable and looks great.

What is the Massive-Brush for?

Your whole bike. The Bristles are soft yet tough. Scrubbing your chain and sprocket, but also wheel cleaning, as a claw brush for sprocket sets, for hard to reach bits, wheel rims and spoke cleaning. The bristles are soft enough too for the whole bike frame.

The Massive-Brush has a comfortable handle. It's simply awesome."

I wouldn't use it for chains and cassettes, and the bristles are less effective on ingrained grime common to bar tapes. Otherwise, the large handle and gentle bristle plot are incredibly efficient and effective when cleaning large surface areas, while still nimble enough around the bike's more intricate regions.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product

There's LOTS of info on Green Oil's site, but in brief:

44cm long, handle made from sustainably sourced rubber trees, biodegradable bristle plot.

Brush handle: Sustainably sourced beech wood from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sources. This employs a linseed oil varnish protectant, which can be reapplied annually to preserve and protect the wood.

Bristles are made from Tampico - a Mexican plant that must be grown in wild natural conditions.

The Massive-Brush has a 'cog spike' at the end of the handle. This can be used on dérailleur cogs to remove grime.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It has proven a very gentle yet generally effective brush for cleaning scuzzy bikes. The bristle plot is gentle enough for delicate surfaces, and the tactile, ergonomic handle ensures it sits nicely in the hand and is comfortable for extended periods.

Other than hanging the brush out to dry thoroughly (as should be done with all brushes), I've given the bristle plot a quick post-use shot of degreaser/bike wash concentrate, working this into a lather before rinsing with warm water to remove any ingrained residual gunk.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very well made and the brush is more nimble than its size and weight might imply. The bristle plot also seems kind to plated, painted, and lacquered surfaces.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, though it was less effective than some on ingrained grime – saddles and bar tapes being the most obvious examples.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It certainly ain't cheap. Peaty's Bicycle Brush Set is £34.99 for a pack of four to tackle all areas of the bike, and also has good eco credentials, though Hollis felt the tyre brush merited improvement.

If you aren't fazed by plastics, it's possible to buy a decent brush set for half the price, such as Finish Line's for £24.99, and Muc-Off's 5X Premium Brush Set is £37, though the bristle plots deteriorate noticeably over time.

Use this box to explain your overall score

Overall it's good. It's an excellent design for generic bike cleaning, but there are better options for tackling grimy handlebar tape and oily drivetrain parts, and while I am confident it will repay the investment many times over, £52.99 is pricey for a brush.