Originally Posted by cyccommute
Keep the drive train lubed and wear the grime with pride! It shows that you spend your time riding and not cleaning
All my bikes carry their dirt as a badge of honor
+1 -- I'm impressed by cyclists, not bicycles
When I do wash my bike (every other year?) I use the auto brush/dish soap/and gentle spray method.
In general though, I gently hose it down after riding in the rain. Other than that, there's really no washing going on. Note that this has had zero impact on the durability of my bikes. I've been riding seriously for 16 years, and my first bikes are still actively ridden and working fine. The only time any of my bikes have ever been in a shop is prior to purchase.