Bike Washing?

[RacinJason]

I clean my bikes every time itthey leave the garage but I never ever wash it.

If water touches my bikes it is because I got them muddy and I carefully wash it with a rag and the spray bottle or hose. then I dry it off right away and re lube everything.

Then I use pledge and simple green and WD40 to clean the rest.

I use WD40 on the metal with a small rag. Never sprey it on your bike you might get it on your discs.
I use simple green to get the muck that the hose didn't get if in fact this is the rare occasion that I actually used water on my bike
Then I use lemon sresh pledge on the rest or Honda polish or Harley polish its all the same thing.
This helps keep the water jumping off of your bike and helps with the dusting/dry cleaning procedure.
When I am done I use a micro oiler to lube the Puleys and all the moving parts on the der and pivot loacitions. In the oiler I use either merphys mystery oil mixed with tri flow and small amount of synthetic motor oil . Or just straight Tri flow.

This Procedure helps my bike parts on my demo bikes and my personal bikes last much longer.

[downhiller91]

i ussualy go at mine with a steammer and wipe away the extra water
or if im feeling like really clleacning it out i tear the whole thing down and steam relub and put back together

[Pain Freak]

I use water but never,ever get it around the bottom bracket or the head set. I use it sparingly when I do have to use it which is not very often. I usually just let the dirt dry and then brush it off. I also occasionally will reapply PAM and it does work but I only put it on after every 5 or 6 rides. Drivetrain gets a thorough cleaning. Treat your chain right and your drivetrain will last twice as long.

[RacinJason]

Who is is this Pam you speak of?

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I use water but never,ever get it around the bottom bracket or the head set. I use it sparingly when I do have to use it which is not very often. I usually just let the dirt dry and then brush it off. I also occasionally will reapply PAM and it does work but I only put it on after every 5 or 6 rides. Drivetrain gets a thorough cleaning. Treat your chain right and your drivetrain will last twice as long.

[Drop D]

Pam: isn't that an aerosol can that you spray on your frying pan so anything you fry wont stick? whats cook'n?

[RacinJason]

So who washes every time?
I clean mine every time.

[jamisjake]

Originally Posted by jiminoc

Just curious how often if ever everyone washes their bike or does a detail job on it?

What are your steps?

What I've been doing every 2-3 rides is hose it down on light shower setting, then filling a bucket with dish lotion and water and using a bottle brush to scrub everything down. Then getting a toothbrush into the rear derailleur and crank teeth, then a cassette brush to get the cassette. Next I use a chain tool with some degreaser to get the chain. Hose it all down, then fire up the air compressor to air off all the excess water.

During that time I go through all the components to make sure there wasn't any damage during a ride.

I pretty much do the same exact thing except for the chain. For the chain I use an old toothbrush, some simple green and a old rag. For drying I just use an old towel as I dont yet have an air compressor.

[slo65]

I haven't ridden either bike since I went on overnights 3 weeks ago I'm always so wiped out. I need to get back on it