How do you wash your bike?(merged)

I wait for rain and ride it.

Man, it is a mess right now.

 

Wow, can I bring my bike over?

When I clean my bike I take a cotton pad and put some rubbing alcohol on it and run my disc brakes through it. I find that helps clean them w/o causing problems.

Worse case, if you do nothing else you should take good care of your chain.

 

I carried these over from my motorcycle racing days since I still have 1) street bikes and 2) leftover stock:
- Honda Pro Polish (now must be bought outside of CA as of 2006)
- Repsol Chain Lube (no it doesn't attract dust)
- CRC Brakleen (if I'm really annoyed w/ grease)

 

dont listen to adam his bike is really clean

 

Bike Washing?

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.

 

just when it needs it, but i do clean the chains and drivetrain after a ride.

 

Squirt bottle with Simple Green/water to clean the bike surfaces. I just use a shop rag and wipe everything down including the derailleurs. I make sure I clean the gunk off of the derailleur pulleys. These days it's mostly dust and a bit of mud, so it comes off pretty easily.

Cassette, chain, and chain rings go in the ultrasonic cleaner for 8 minutes and they come out sparkling afterward. The ultrasonic cleaner has a heated solution Simple Green/water mixture. I rinse each piece in the sink very quickly and let it all dry before reassembling and lubing. No scrubbing, no toothbrushes like I used to.

No hoses get pointed at our bikes. I learned that the hard way with water in my headset that forced out the grease. That's bad.

 

i usually use a wet cloth to clean the frame/components, simple green kicks ass too.

 

My suspension has been squeaking lately and I'm wondering if water may have gotten in somewhere from the hose

 

Road bike gets a spray down with Pedro's Frame Lust and wiped. The MTB gets a spray cleaner to clear the mud then Frame Lust. The drivetrains I clean when they get noisy. Every 700-1000 miles I pull a full on overhall and strip the frame (mostly because I like to, no really because its needed.)

 

My bikes live in the house with us so they get sprayed down after every ride so no bovine/horse/dog/cat/etc poop ends up on the living room floor. The roadie gets a wipe down after every ride as well.

As for actually washing them ... maybe once a year.

 

I never hit any of my bikes with a hose. Compressed air and then a damp rag with warm water if there is crusted mud on it.

 

The only reason to wash my bike is if I think I might have a cracked frame

 

I'm with Rob.I never use a hose.Damp rag and/or a brush to clean the dust/mud off.Clean the chain,der.,and gears with a shop cloth and re-lube chain.In So.Cal.you shouldn't need to wash or spray your bike,unless you keep them in your house.Just my.02 worth.- Lloyd

 

I've only ever washed my bike after it's been through a particularly muddy ride. I use a hose, but don't point it directly at any bearings. just let it dribble down the frame to wherever I need the water. Only done that twice though.

 

Once or twice a week I would Hose it down (shower setting) brush then wipe then disassemble my bottom bracket (its not that hard) re-lube then re-assemble, even my rear der. pulleys are disassembled as well for cleaning and re-greasing. I don't hose the top part like the Head-set area and seatpost area, they only get dusted off or wiped clean.

 

IMO, the compressed air is as bad or worse than a pressurized water hose -- it will drive water & grit in where you don't want. I prefer gentle water as needed (not very often, and soap and brushes only when necessary) then towel it dry.

 

I never wash my bike... I like Mud all over it.. :lol:

I've seen a few people use armor all wipes though, cleans the bike pretty nice and doesnt make a mess.

 

Try"Pam"cooking spray.Spray it on a shop towel,then wipe it on the down tube,back of forks,seat stays,etc.Mud comes off very easy. - Lloyd :wave:

 

I wouldn't remove the BB too often. It's easy, but the threads in the frame or BB can get worn out quickly by constant removal and installation.