Best way to wash/clean your bike

:wave:

Flock you, Nam:wave:

But I used to pay my son to do it when I got home.

Just wipe it down or spray the stuff we get every year from the Mt SAC race.

I think it's called Bike Shine,

 

Believe it or not I use the smaller size car magic duster (the red looking one). This gets off a ton of dirt. I go over the hard to reach areas with a soft paint brush, and finish with a mild diluted soap on a rag. I don't dig on trickling water on my bikes.

 

After I'm done cleaning the bike off, I use Pledge or some other type of furniture polish. It leaves a nice glossy sheen which not only looks pimp, but helps repel dirt and makes further clean-ups much much easier. I've done this after almost every ride and my bike still looks brand new after three years.

 

If I'm on a race winning streak, I don't wash mine at all...a little superstitious. Other than than that, I MIST it with a hose to soften the dried stuff, then wipe it off. MIST again to get the rest off, then Pedros Bike Lust. My wife teases me about Bike Lust. How's that for support?

 

i used to do this to my sport bike, i should transfer this in to mtbing.

when i do clean my bike, its something like everyone else said, a little water and simple green, and a brush to get those hard to reach places

also if i just want the bike to look pimp but its just a bit dusty, i just use a rag and some 409 on the frame.

 

Does anyone go as far as taking your derailers/ cogs, etc apart and soaking them in a solution of degreaser?

 

once a year is take apart all things moving and repack/regrease/relove them. its theraputic if nothing else. i still have 15yr old dllr pulleys that are running just fine due to my lovin.

 

I use the “Wax On Wax Off” method......maybe that's TMI :-k

 

Get it wet
spray simple green on cassette, chainrings, derailler, chain, etc..
spray armorarll tire shine on the tires
sit and wait for a while
scrub drivetain with brush
wet again to remove degreasser
Wipe down bike with towel to remove excess dirt and to dry
get another towel and spray pedros bike lust and wipe down with clean towel
re-lube

 

I have been accused of being obsessive compulsive, but for me it's a 6 pack of Bud, proper tools, full (or partial) disassembly and reassembly. Nothing beats a few hours of "alone time" with my "girlfriend" (that's what my wife calls the bike) on a Friday night.

I'm meticulous about having everything perfect, you'll never see me with a mechanical unless something physically breaks.

Also FWIW, unless it's CAKED with mud.... water is bad. If it IS caked with mud, it's ok to rinse with water to get the mud off, but then a full rebuild would definitely be in order. NO PRESSURE WASHERS

Maybe it's just me though. It's a $4,000 bike, and a few hours of my time ensures it stays as perfect as possible.

 

Simple Green + hose (no spray) + brushes & sponges + elbow grease + towel dry + immediate lube = clean happy bike

 

Never ride it! That way it will stay clean forever.


Seriously tho: I use diesel to get grease and crud out of the drivetrain and then re-lube it. I wipe the bike down every now and then with Pedro's bike lust.

 

cmon, you have to dust it off once in a while. washing it between rides is more like a guideline really.

 

I use rubbing alcohol (with a trigger-spray top) as a general cleaner for the frame and parts. I put the chain in a can of rubbing alcohol, shake and drain. If the residue is dirty, repeat. Hang to dry. Then relube the chain with Pedro's Ice Wax.

Cogs (SS) can be sprayed and wiped clean.

 

Try these previous posts:

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/general-discussion/1001-bike-wash.html

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/general-discussion/8122-how-do-you-wash-your-bike.html

 

My preferred method:

[youtube]lDeqTAvezZ4[/youtube]

 

Pedro's bike lust and assorted brushes(stiff and Paint.)
With a coat or two down, dirt and mud just brush away.

Haven't hit my bike with water since the slop race at Fontucy. People think I'm a noob because my bike is lusted out and shiny. Takes maybe 15-20 min to clean the whole bike.

 

Air compressor, Brushes (assortment), bike stand, rags, simple green, chain cleaner, rock n roll lube, tri flow and rubbing alcohol. I only use water to clean the tires and hoops (take the wheels off the bike). Not sure how anyone cleans a bike w/o a compressor……that must take hours???
For a thorough cleaning I'll take the chain and cassette off and soak/clean them in gasoline. Then give the chain a tri flow & pro link bath.

 

That pink stuff in the spray bottle works AWESOME!!

 

Has anyone tried pedro's bike lust on a carbon frame? Mine lost it's shine where the frame meets the bike rack (it was the previous owner though #-o, I'm a maniac with that kind of things!), so if I could get the shine back I would add some extra padding in those areas to preserve it...


Anyone out there? Maybe there's another product that would help...