Mountain Biking - Cleaning Advice after riding?

So i bought a Gary Fisher Pirhana yesterday and took it for its maiden voyage tonight. So it got really muddy. I was wondering the best way to clean the bike after a ride? Can or should I hose it and wipe it down?

Don't clean it...you're going riding again tomorrow right?

Seriously, all I do is wait for stuff to dry a bit and then brush it off. I use a different brush for the drivetrain. Once that's clean I apply a generous amount of chain lube, shift through all the gears, then hold a rag to the chain and pedal to remove the excess chain lube. If I really want to get the bike clean I'll bucket wash it but I don't recommend spraying it with a hose.

I never understood not spraying a bike with a hose. Sure, don't spray the fork seals, hubs and bb, and it's pretty much pointless to spray the drivetrain unless it's covered in mud, but otherwise, spray away. I guarantee you won't hurt your frame with a garden hose. Finish up with a bucket and rag/sponge/whatever. Towel dry unless taking it somewhere by car, then the ride on the rack will dry it.

Always relube after a wash, or a wet or muddy ride. But that goes without saying, right?

If you have a halfway decent bike it should have sealed bearings so water shouldn't hurt it. The worse that will happen is you'll cause your brake and shifter lines to rust up faster than normal. I spray the entire bike down with a hose.

Spray away.

If a garden hose if going to hurt your frame... you need to reconsider your hardware.

I don't get the whole fear of spraying either.

Just ride it dirty. I know people who spend more time washing their bikes than riding them.

Eeeew.. just, eeeew..

Can or should I hose it and wipe it down?

If you feel the need to clean it a hose is fine. As others have said, don't blast the headset or BB with the hose and relube everything when done.

Typically the only thing I do to clean is over-lube the chain and wipe off excess with a rag.

--quoted from a similar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=281851&highlight=WASHING+BIKE)thread--



http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/249/animation5nv2.gif

last summer when i got my new bike was cleaning it thoroughly after every ride, then i noticed i was cleaning it every day, and going through soap, simple green, wd-40, and bike lube like nobody's business. now i just check it over and see if there's anything that needs cleaned. usually just some stick's and leaves need picked out of the R. Der and/or spokes; the drivetrain might need a wd-40>scrub>wd-40>scrub>rinse>bike lube treatment, but other than that it hasn't been cleaned in a year or so.

Does anything else need lube other than chain and surrounding parts?
How about the shocks?

--quoted from a similar (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=281851&highlight=WASHING+BIKE)thread--

The only useful part of that thread was the discussion on the best smelling chain lubes :rolleyes:

Does anything else need lube other than chain and surrounding parts?
How about the shocks?

If it is just dirty- throw a bucket of water at it if you want to keep it looking clean. If it is muddy then clean it. Hose off the mud and really clean the chain and deraillers. I then spray all the "STEEL" parts with wd40-or similar- to get rid of the water and stop rust. I lubricate the derailler pivots and every other ride or so- I release the cable outers and lubricate the inners. Then there are the Gearchangers and brake levers and I try to get the wd as a lubricant inside them aswell. Leave for a couple of hours and wipe down, and lube the chain. The fork legs I will make certain are clean and just put wd again on the exposed legs.

If you have a halfway decent bike it should have sealed bearings so water shouldn't hurt it.
Not necessarily. The current XTR M975 still uses cup and cone bearings, and even the supposed "sealed bearings" can't hold out high pressure water. If you want to use a hose do so with low pressure, no more than what comes out of the end of the hose without a nozzle or your thumb and avoid spraying directly into the bearings.
Don't believe me? Here's a few other people
http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bikewash.htm
http://binghamcyclery.com/page.cfm?PageID=71
http://www.ehow.com/how_2021407_wash-your-bicycle.html (use the hose, but low pressure only)
http://www.krankdirtwear.com/mountain-biking-clothes-nz/ (use hose to rinse, but states not to spray directly into the bearing)
http://www.bike-habit.com/tips/?category=1 This one's a bit silly "chasing your bearings" :lol:
http://bwbc.bfn.org/CleanYourBike.htm (light dowsing, no high pressure, not directly into the bearings)

The only useful part of that thread was the discussion on the best smelling chain lubes :rolleyes:

suuurrree, if you say so. :rolleyes:

pee on it

pee on it

But only if it's a jellyfish, or has been stung by one.