When do you clean your bike? After each ride?
07-08-17, 05:22 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Posts: 265
Bikes: Giant/HARO/ Exitway
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When do you clean your bike? After each ride?
I must be getting lazy or lethargic. I go MTB almost daily. And since it's starting wet season here..the trails get muddy, sometimes really muddy.
My bike and clothes are sometimes, a wee bit dirty but most of the time with mud splash all over.
I usually clean my clothes and bike every time I get home, before I have a good shower and a bath.
Do you folks clean your bike after every ride?
I wonder if you can clean your bike after every 2 rides .....just asking...
My bike and clothes are sometimes, a wee bit dirty but most of the time with mud splash all over.
I usually clean my clothes and bike every time I get home, before I have a good shower and a bath.
Do you folks clean your bike after every ride?
I wonder if you can clean your bike after every 2 rides .....just asking...
07-08-17, 05:27 AM
#2
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
I clean my bike when it's dirty and I'm feeling especially energetic. I don't clean it if it's only going to get filthy again the next day - lots of rain at the moment so I'm only concerned about the chain. I ride on the road, not in the mud and that probably affects my practices.
07-08-17, 05:38 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: US
Posts: 811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 184 Times
in
120 Posts
My Kona Sutra is my first adult bike experience with fenders. I used to have to clean road grim on my road bike if I rode in the rain, but not with a fendered bike. I've had the Sutra since October of 2016 and have never had a need to clean aside from inspecting the chain and gearing components.
07-08-17, 05:55 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
If my bike gets muddy I clean it. Leaving mud on your bike to dry is what gets all the small bolts and steel pieces to begin rusting, spoke nipples to start corroding, ect since mud obviously has water in it. That's even worse for rust than just the bike getting wet and air drying.
07-08-17, 05:58 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Posts: 265
Bikes: Giant/HARO/ Exitway
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If my bike gets muddy I clean it. Leaving mud on your bike to dry is what gets all the small bolts and steel pieces to begin rusting, spoke nipples to start corroding, ect since mud obviously has water in it. That's even worse for rust than just the bike getting wet and air drying.
07-08-17, 06:22 AM
#6
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Since I dont ride my bents on dirt, I only need to wipe them down once in a while. I do wipe the chain before every ride.
07-08-17, 06:30 AM
#7
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
You can be as fussy as all &^%$ and your bike will rot.
You can be as lazy as all &^**$ and your bike will rot more quickly.
It's like 'training', work out what suits you and live with the consequences.
Some years ago, I converted to fixed gear riding exclusively. After twelve months, I suddenly realised that my geared bike of the time hadn't been cleaned after its last use... and that had been in rain. A careful clean up and it was okay, though the year old brake pads needed replacing (as they all do after an Aussie summer) and replacing the three year old cables led to improvements in shifting and braking.
I think HOW you clean your bike is more important than the frequency. Obviously, if you're mountain biking in muddy conditions, you've little choice than to squirt the thing down and use lots of water and after every ride makes sense.
My bikes tend to live on the roads. Wet roads can get them pretty grotty and covered with sand though. As I get home from a ride, I bounce them on their wheels a couple of times to knock off any loose water and crud. Once the bike is dry, I spread a canvas on the floor of my sitting room. Then, with the television on in the back ground, hopefully with an interesting program showing and the bike on a stand, I begin to clean. I clean using Mr Sheen, a furniture polish that loosens and washes off crud, dissolves and removes grease and leaves a nice, waxy, protective layer - I got onto Mr Sheen during my aeromodelling days when I used it to clean down my models and it's then I learned about it's oil removing abilities. I use paper towels. Squirt the towel to get it wet, then wipe down part of the bike. You can get into all sorts of places. Do the drive train. Clean each spoke individually, etc. You wind up with a sparkling bike that has a nice waxy feel that sheds dirt next time it has to. It takes an evening. You use a lot of paper towel. You get frustrated with all tiny, hard to get at places. But it's worth it. That sheet of canvas you laid down will be covered with sand and crap which is why you need it - just gather up the corners, take it outside and shake it.
It takes a time but I find it very satisfying... but I'm not tempted to do it toooooooo often
You can be as lazy as all &^**$ and your bike will rot more quickly.
It's like 'training', work out what suits you and live with the consequences.
Some years ago, I converted to fixed gear riding exclusively. After twelve months, I suddenly realised that my geared bike of the time hadn't been cleaned after its last use... and that had been in rain. A careful clean up and it was okay, though the year old brake pads needed replacing (as they all do after an Aussie summer) and replacing the three year old cables led to improvements in shifting and braking.
I think HOW you clean your bike is more important than the frequency. Obviously, if you're mountain biking in muddy conditions, you've little choice than to squirt the thing down and use lots of water and after every ride makes sense.
My bikes tend to live on the roads. Wet roads can get them pretty grotty and covered with sand though. As I get home from a ride, I bounce them on their wheels a couple of times to knock off any loose water and crud. Once the bike is dry, I spread a canvas on the floor of my sitting room. Then, with the television on in the back ground, hopefully with an interesting program showing and the bike on a stand, I begin to clean. I clean using Mr Sheen, a furniture polish that loosens and washes off crud, dissolves and removes grease and leaves a nice, waxy, protective layer - I got onto Mr Sheen during my aeromodelling days when I used it to clean down my models and it's then I learned about it's oil removing abilities. I use paper towels. Squirt the towel to get it wet, then wipe down part of the bike. You can get into all sorts of places. Do the drive train. Clean each spoke individually, etc. You wind up with a sparkling bike that has a nice waxy feel that sheds dirt next time it has to. It takes an evening. You use a lot of paper towel. You get frustrated with all tiny, hard to get at places. But it's worth it. That sheet of canvas you laid down will be covered with sand and crap which is why you need it - just gather up the corners, take it outside and shake it.
It takes a time but I find it very satisfying... but I'm not tempted to do it toooooooo often
07-08-17, 06:42 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
If there's significant mud, I'll usually rinse the bike using water from the hose before bringing the bike into the house. I don't really enjoy riding in mud, in part for the very reason I don't like having to clean everything afterward.
07-08-17, 06:44 AM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Posts: 265
Bikes: Giant/HARO/ Exitway
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can be as fussy as all &^%$ and your bike will rot.
You can be as lazy as all &^**$ and your bike will rot more quickly.
It's like 'training', work out what suits you and live with the consequences.
Some years ago, I converted to fixed gear riding exclusively. After twelve months, I suddenly realised that my geared bike of the time hadn't been cleaned after its last use... and that had been in rain. A careful clean up and it was okay, though the year old brake pads needed replacing (as they all do after an Aussie summer) and replacing the three year old cables led to improvements in shifting and braking.
I think HOW you clean your bike is more important than the frequency. Obviously, if you're mountain biking in muddy conditions, you've little choice than to squirt the thing down and use lots of water and after every ride makes sense.
My bikes tend to live on the roads. Wet roads can get them pretty grotty and covered with sand though. As I get home from a ride, I bounce them on their wheels a couple of times to knock off any loose water and crud. Once the bike is dry, I spread a canvas on the floor of my sitting room. Then, with the television on in the back ground, hopefully with an interesting program showing and the bike on a stand, I begin to clean. I clean using Mr Sheen, a furniture polish that loosens and washes off crud, dissolves and removes grease and leaves a nice, waxy, protective layer - I got onto Mr Sheen during my aeromodelling days when I used it to clean down my models and it's then I learned about it's oil removing abilities. I use paper towels. Squirt the towel to get it wet, then wipe down part of the bike. You can get into all sorts of places. Do the drive train. Clean each spoke individually, etc. You wind up with a sparkling bike that has a nice waxy feel that sheds dirt next time it has to. It takes an evening. You use a lot of paper towel. You get frustrated with all tiny, hard to get at places. But it's worth it. That sheet of canvas you laid down will be covered with sand and crap which is why you need it - just gather up the corners, take it outside and shake it.
It takes a time but I find it very satisfying... but I'm not tempted to do it toooooooo often
You can be as lazy as all &^**$ and your bike will rot more quickly.
It's like 'training', work out what suits you and live with the consequences.
Some years ago, I converted to fixed gear riding exclusively. After twelve months, I suddenly realised that my geared bike of the time hadn't been cleaned after its last use... and that had been in rain. A careful clean up and it was okay, though the year old brake pads needed replacing (as they all do after an Aussie summer) and replacing the three year old cables led to improvements in shifting and braking.
I think HOW you clean your bike is more important than the frequency. Obviously, if you're mountain biking in muddy conditions, you've little choice than to squirt the thing down and use lots of water and after every ride makes sense.
My bikes tend to live on the roads. Wet roads can get them pretty grotty and covered with sand though. As I get home from a ride, I bounce them on their wheels a couple of times to knock off any loose water and crud. Once the bike is dry, I spread a canvas on the floor of my sitting room. Then, with the television on in the back ground, hopefully with an interesting program showing and the bike on a stand, I begin to clean. I clean using Mr Sheen, a furniture polish that loosens and washes off crud, dissolves and removes grease and leaves a nice, waxy, protective layer - I got onto Mr Sheen during my aeromodelling days when I used it to clean down my models and it's then I learned about it's oil removing abilities. I use paper towels. Squirt the towel to get it wet, then wipe down part of the bike. You can get into all sorts of places. Do the drive train. Clean each spoke individually, etc. You wind up with a sparkling bike that has a nice waxy feel that sheds dirt next time it has to. It takes an evening. You use a lot of paper towel. You get frustrated with all tiny, hard to get at places. But it's worth it. That sheet of canvas you laid down will be covered with sand and crap which is why you need it - just gather up the corners, take it outside and shake it.
It takes a time but I find it very satisfying... but I'm not tempted to do it toooooooo often
07-08-17, 06:45 AM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Posts: 265
Bikes: Giant/HARO/ Exitway
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hate rinsing a bike too often, water might go into the BB and hubs.
07-08-17, 07:10 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
I don't sweat these risks too much. I don't want my enjoyment of cycling to be marred by chasing a few percentage points of component lifetime, especially when there's no measurements or wear data to go on. People will surmise one thing or another, and the right answer often lies in individual circumstances -- for example, the difference between spraying water against the bike versus letting the water run freely out of the hose.
I store my bikes inside my home. That's my only storage option. If I lose a few percent of bearing life, then that's just part of the price that I pay in order to enjoy cycling.
I store my bikes inside my home. That's my only storage option. If I lose a few percent of bearing life, then that's just part of the price that I pay in order to enjoy cycling.
07-08-17, 07:35 AM
#13
Member
I clean my bike just before going on a group ride. No kidding. I'd rather just ride and not work on the bike until I have to. If the bike works okay I'm just going to load it with what I need and ride. I don't care what it looks like until a group ride with people I don't see all the time.
I guess that's kind of like washing and waxing the truck just before the family reunion.
I guess that's kind of like washing and waxing the truck just before the family reunion.
07-08-17, 08:00 AM
#14
Senior Member
Only after I rode in rain. I'll wipe the chain, gears, rim, brake pads and if they are not forecasting rain for the following day, frame and mudguards as well. If the chain starts to make noise, I'll relube.
Since this Spring, I has rained much more than usual here so I'm getting fed up of cleaning it. Luckily, it hasn't rained since Tuesday so it gave me a break
Since this Spring, I has rained much more than usual here so I'm getting fed up of cleaning it. Luckily, it hasn't rained since Tuesday so it gave me a break
07-08-17, 08:26 AM
#15
TeeOhPea 2tha DeeOhGee
I do it as needed with both my road and mtb's.
If it was really sloppy out, for sure I wash down gingerly with hose.
When I note light dirtiness I'll clean it up. Girlfriend got some kind of foamy spray for the road bikes that works really well doing a light clean on the road bikes.
Just this year I've taken to cutting up old t-shirts and underwear and keeping it in both my road, mtg bag, car, and garage, so that I can be a little better just ragging them down more often whenever I see stuff.
Sometimes it's better when dirt dries and you can just dust / flake it off.
I do think you have to be careful overwashing and getting water/ soap into parts / areas it shouldn't be.
If it was really sloppy out, for sure I wash down gingerly with hose.
When I note light dirtiness I'll clean it up. Girlfriend got some kind of foamy spray for the road bikes that works really well doing a light clean on the road bikes.
Just this year I've taken to cutting up old t-shirts and underwear and keeping it in both my road, mtg bag, car, and garage, so that I can be a little better just ragging them down more often whenever I see stuff.
Sometimes it's better when dirt dries and you can just dust / flake it off.
I do think you have to be careful overwashing and getting water/ soap into parts / areas it shouldn't be.
07-08-17, 08:37 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
I'll usually clean mud off pretty quickly (road bikes, not MTB) but that's about it. Counting commutes each way as a "ride" I have about 500-600 rides per year, and clean my bikes about a dozen times, if that. I'm sure I'd hose off a muddy MTB though ... but a full wipe-down, getting everything sparkling, between the cogs with a pipe-cleaner etc, not a chance.
07-09-17, 12:06 AM
#18
Senior Member
It's ten times more exhausting to clean the bike than to ride it. If you live in a house you can use a hose to rinse the bike freely, but not in an apartment.
07-09-17, 12:22 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Posts: 265
Bikes: Giant/HARO/ Exitway
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 82 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
As I have said, I cleaned my bike after every ride. I just woke up today and its lunch time. I slept at 4.30 in the morning due to some issues in the neighborhood. It cost me my riding time today and I'm annoyed. So its best that I lube the bike I rode yesterday.
07-09-17, 10:19 AM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,617
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1068 Post(s)
Liked 781 Times
in
503 Posts
90 miles on the Paramount and the other 101 miles on my Giant yesterday and both being cleaned now. The only bike not cleaned after every ride is my BEATER BIKE, that being my 2002 $100.00, 7speed Magna Hybrid from Target.
07-09-17, 10:44 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,023
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 223 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I clean my bikes when they get dirty enough to bother me. If I was riding through wet/muddy conditions I'll hose it off real fast and spray the chain etc. with WD40 and re-lube the chain before my next ride.
About once a year I'll pull everything apart on all my bikes, do full maintenance and replace anything that needs replacing...which can take a while when you've got 10+ bikes
Last edited by manapua_man; 07-09-17 at 10:50 AM.
07-09-17, 10:50 AM
#22
Senior Member
I clean my bike just before going on a group ride. No kidding. I'd rather just ride and not work on the bike until I have to. If the bike works okay I'm just going to load it with what I need and ride. I don't care what it looks like until a group ride with people I don't see all the time.
I guess that's kind of like washing and waxing the truck just before the family reunion.
I guess that's kind of like washing and waxing the truck just before the family reunion.
07-09-17, 03:15 PM
#24
Interocitor Command
My bikes seldom get very dirty. Not trying to brag or anything, but I seldom ride through puddles of water, I don't ride in the rain, I avoid mud. I can get by with cleaning a bike once a year.
I don't wash them down with a hose any more. I just use a wet rag and to clean the frame. I don't let any type of water near the hubs or bottom bracket.
I don't wash them down with a hose any more. I just use a wet rag and to clean the frame. I don't let any type of water near the hubs or bottom bracket.
07-09-17, 03:16 PM
#25
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NoVA - DC Metro
Posts: 1,037
Bikes: 1987 Schwinn Prelude
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
5 Posts
I clean the bike if I ride in rain, as soon as I get home. It doesn't really get dirty otherwise...maybe a wipe down here and there. I ride on the roads mostly though, with a smidge of gravel. I just use baby wipes & rags for cleaning.
Last edited by Hardrock23; 07-09-17 at 03:19 PM.