How do you wash your bike?(merged)

Seals have two enemies, pressure and soap. Pressure can penetrate to some extent. Soapy water can penetrate even more with its lack of surface tension.

I spray non-seal areas with a hose and wipe as necessary. Sealed areas have dirt wiped off, wet if necessary.

I always remove the chain (use a quick-link) and clean the gear teeth (use anything but a file).
The chain is soaked in a coffee can with the cleaner-of-the-day green, orange, or solvent.
The can is shaken and drained. Repeat if the drain solution is dirty.

Soak in denatured alcohol and hang to dry. Measure the full length for wear while it hangs.

 

Single Speeds are inherently simpler to clean but even these can be made almost maintenance free.
My solution is SS chainring, SS chain and Al cog.
I also have a SS bottom bracket that comes with submersible rated bearings.
Ti or SS pedals, SS or Ti spokes and Al rims

Wash only when it gets too heavy or after an encounter with the Phantom Pooper

 

Make sure you use Frame Saver (or frequent use of fogging oil) in your steel frames, or they'll rust away from the inside out.

 

Vlad hit the nail on the head. Thats how you clean a mtn bike

 

Lately it seems like I have to wash my bike after a couple rides because of all the caked on mud in the drive train and near the BB.

My Steps:

1. Mount on Stand
2. Take Wheels off
3. Take Chain off and put in container of simple green.
4. Gently wash/scrub off dirt with hose and brush
5. Clean wheels with bucket of water and brush
6. Brush down the chain
7. Wipe down everything and put in sun to dry
8. Wipe down everything with Pledge and re-assemble

 

With the salt air here I have changed my cleaning ritual thanks to JohnnyDirt.

Now I just give the bike a wipe with Pedro's Bike Lust.

 

I fully submerge mine in a extremely hot jet filled jaccuzzi after each ride...j/k

Actually over the years, and as I have started to use lubes like Rock-n-Roll I *wash* my bikes less and less. I mostly wipe it/brush it down as I am putting it away after each ride, my bike stay pretty clean for long times that way. During the drier parts of the year I may go all summer without "Washing" . During Winter, or if it is has been a particular grimly , gritty or wet ride, I will use minimal water to rinse the cleaners off, usually Simple green / Pedro's or something like that.

 

The quick way to wash your bike is to dip it in the pool , but im sure that isnt good for the components!! or the bike