Mountain Biking - Cleaning a muddy bike

Hi,
How does everyone clean their bike? And at what intervals? I went out for a cycle today in a very muddy area, when it was raining so there was mud everywhere. By the time I had finished, the bike and myself were completely coated in mud. Is there anything wrong with getting a hose and spraying the whole thing down? Should I then re-oil everything afterwards? Thanks for the help! :)

Chris

i need to know the same thing

Quite a few posts on that subject.

I'm new here as well, and have probably read at least 5 threads related to cleaning in 2 weeks.

I say spray away, but others claim that high pressure is a no-no, robbing lubrication and getting water in places you don't want.

Use the search function, there's plenty of info.

(how about some pics of the delightfully dirty ride? ;) )

what about low-pressure? just from a hose to get the mud cake off...then wipe with towel?

Use the search function pal.. tonnes of threads on it. Here's but one.

I blast my bike with a cheap high pressure washer.. some people avoid water all together.

everybody will have a different answer....

me, i just stop by the self service coin operated carwash and spray her off. all the worries about fing up your bearings with high pressure seams to be a bunch of hogwash to me.

Is that high-pressure hogwash?

Why is there not a sticky on this topic!?:mad: :)

Take you & your bike to the Jiffy Jet carwash & power wash your selves down.

Hi,
I went out for a cycle today in a very muddy area, when it was raining so there was mud everywhere.


Chris
I hope you weren't on the trails!:mad: Don't you know that is bad for the trails & gives mtb'ers a bad rap?:rolleyes:

Hi,
How does everyone clean their bike? And at what intervals? I went out for a cycle today in a very muddy area, when it was raining so there was mud everywhere. By the time I had finished, the bike and myself were completely coated in mud. Is there anything wrong with getting a hose and spraying the whole thing down? Should I then re-oil everything afterwards? Thanks for the help! :)

Chris

Chris: as you see, opinions vary, but fwiw: do NOT use a high-pressure wash UNLESS a) you are a really good wrench, and would enjoy cleaning/regreasing bearings every time; b) really like unnecessarily spending lots of money on replacement bearing sets/hubs/headsets/bb's, etc. or c) don't care if your bike quickly ceases to function smoothly/quietly/efficiently. Mud etc. on the outside can't hurt a thing; water/grit inside destroys things--quickly! Doesn't matter how good the bearings/seals are -- highpressure water WILL drive water/dirt in, and grease out. You can get everything clean with rags and a bucket + LOW pressure 'drizzle rinse'; clean off/lube the chain, job done, and your hubs etc. will last one h_ll of a lot longer. Just sayin!:)

I hope you weren't on the trails!:mad: Don't you know that is bad for the trails & gives mtb'ers a bad rap?:rolleyes:


You know, I was just thinking that as well. (not sure if you're serious or not)

I've been guilty of this myself, no denying that, but more and more trails are being 'offically' closed to cyclists because of this (I still ride them, of course).

Try to avoid the slop when you can. It sucks, because I've always enjoyed getting mucked up, but the damage you do is pretty obvious, especially to the ever increasing sensitivty of the walking folk.

With regard to the water thing, I just hose my bike down and then I use WD-40 on everything joint and bearing.

You know, I was just thinking that as well.

I've been guilty of this myself, no denying that .

I still ride them, of course



Me too, secretly of course.:D

But i always kick down a few bucks to the office(IMBA) & trail repair so they should be taking care of things, so i don't have to worry about it.

everybody's all trail nazi around here... they are too smooth, need more ruts so they arn't as boreing....

everybody's all trail nazi around here... they are too smooth, need more ruts so they arn't as boreing....

If your trails are boring due to lack of ruts, you need to find some better trails. The child-sized rocks and python-like roots that compose the surface of most of the trails around here are far from boring, and can get downright dangerous when the gaps between them are eroded into oblivion by mud-bikers. Easy to catch a wheel in a hardened rut on the other side of a log/rock/root and pitch it over the bars.

That said it's one thing to ride a muddy patch on an otherwise dry trail (it can't be avoided in some areas) and wholly another thing to go out when it's raining or has been raining and intentionally mud it up. Sacrificing one day of fun for oneself for the prospect of continued years of enjoyment for oneself and others is called delayed gratification (in one sense) and it's a sign of maturity.

You're supposed to clean the mud off?

Thanks for all the replies! :)


I hope you weren't on the trails!:mad: Don't you know that is bad for the trails & gives mtb'ers a bad rap?:rolleyes:
Actually, whether you meant that seriously or not, thanks for saying that, as I'm not yet aware of trail 'etiquette'. Luckily I wasn't on a trail, It's just a big forest round where I live, which, judging by the tracks in the mud, is only travelled by myself + a few people wearing wellies. :)


(how about some pics of the delightfully dirty ride? ;))
I missed this post by about 10 min lol, I've just come in from having finished cleaning the bike after another trip in the mud.

This is the method I've used twice now, it certainly cleans it, as for long term damage, time will tell I guess!

Use a garden hose to spray down the entire bike, using a sponge to wipe the frame clean.
Use a towel to dry everything off that I can do.
Leave bike for about an hour or two for it to finish drying.
Pretty give the whole bike a wipe/spray with WD-40.
Re-oil the chain with some bike oil (Can't be any more specific then that, don't know the name).
Chris

I do what ChrisCummins said (above); nothing very high-pressure. I wipe the frame down with Pledge spray after I wash it; sort of like a fast and easy wax job (hey, it's a new bike! ; )

i like to blow my bike off using a air compressor, wipe it down with Simple Green, and finish with some quick lubing of derailleurs