snowmx14

i washed my bike today for the first time in awhile i'm just wondering how u guys wash ur bikes and what u use....


first i hosed and then used a cheap version of ajax (powder stuff) then used a the rough side a sponge to wipe everything. i learned this technique isnt too good because it gave everything a dry white streak also the rought sponge left very vine scratches.

so then i had go crazy with simple green used and a rag to wipe and stuff then i washed i did this a few times before the residue was gone.. then i blasted the frame and everything with wd40 to help dissapate moisture in the little nooks of the derailur and stuff also wd40 keeps the mud from sticking as much...then i lubed everything up...

this is how i somewhat was my dirtbikes.. and it works great so i carried it over into mtbiking

Stregone

I just hose off the clumps of mud after a ride, if any. If I feel like seeing it nice and shiny I'll use some windex and a handful of paper towels, works great and you don't risk getting water where it shouldn't be.

DjRider04

I usually hose everything down, wipe it with a papertowel, spray some bike lust on it...polish, then wipe down again. Use my park cleaner with some pedros citus de-greaser...then lube everything back down.

vanillagurilla

i spray my bike down with simplegreen then let it set for a few minutes before hoseing it off. then i lube what needs to be lubed.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Stick the hose on it, get a tooth brush in the chainrings, get a cotton bud in the cassete, get a towel on all the big bits.... Sorted

hooligan

Umm...what happens to water that mightve gotten in housing and in the frame? How do you prevent rust?

DjRider04

Aluminum doesnt rust, and there is a very very slim chance youd get any water in the housing.

unrelated

I am new to this. I called 2 shops and they are strongly agains power washer. One even warned abt pressured water. Both suggest tooth brush for the gears.

So I used tooth brush with soapy water for the gears and used one of those water spray for hair to rinse them. It's less messy and you can actually do it indoor!( especially when it's cold outside) Hasn't cleaned my frame cus it's not dirty enough.

Then of course I lubed everything.

operator

never hose down your bike, especially with a power washer.

iovnow

The LBS I got my bike from just suggested using compressed air to get all the dirt off... Donno if it works yet or not.

my58vw

I just a light dripping of water from the hose... and then a wet cloth... and lots of small brushes...

jwetsch

After she's clean I like to use a coat of Meguiar's #20 Polymer Sealant on the frame. It has a mild cleaner in it to get rid of the stuff embedded in the paint. It also seems to attract less dust than the waxes.

DjRider04

I really dont care what bike shops say, pressure from a hose is not going to damage a bike that smashes rocks, and gets flung periodically. I dont use toothbrushes, the park set of brushes is quite nice though.

enduro

A light spray with the hose, not directed at bearings or seals, is safe and effective. I doubt you'd get very far in removing dried mud with compressed air. WD40 isn't great to get on plastic parts or seals; it contains solvents that can damage them over time. Dishwashing detergent is a good mild cleaner/degreaser.

Raiyn

You not "u" your or you're not "ur" This isn't some AOL chat room please follow our rules.
https://www.bikeforums.net/mountain-biking/73630-aol-ese-stops-here.html

AllDownhill

Raiyn shutup and i heard your supposed to use windex

Funkychicken

i avoid hosing since excess water (if not wiped off properly) causes rust on my chain and the outside of my bb - there's some there already from a previous ride

i generally use a wet cloth for the body and citrus degreaser for the drivetrain. chain gets removed and cleaned every 3 or so heavy rides.

operator

Lmfao.

WorldWind

I buy used hotel towels that are cut in half and sold by a local commercial laundry as rags to the various shops in town. An onion sack of towels costs me $20. and lasts me a couple months.

Road bikes and mtn bikes get a little different treatment because road bikes just get mildly dirty and then get cleaned and polished for display to come inside and sit by the piano, hang in a window etc.

Mtn bikes come back from the trail muddy and usually in need of some type of work. Heavy mud is removed at the trailhead before it goes up on the car rack. I use a pump up sprayer that gets loaded up with the rest of the bike stuff. It has a 200/1 solution of water and citrus cleaner.

Once home the frame gets placed in the work stand buy its seat post. The rear wheel is removed and placed in a wall mounted spread fork I use as a cleaning station. It holds the wheel at an angle that can be adjusted. I spray the cassette well with WD-40 and place a towel on the bench below the hub to catch the dripping.

The saddle gets attention with Hyde-food a leather cleaner that I have been using for a long time.

The chain comes off and goes in the solvent tray and the chain that was in their come out and gets hung up to drain. Each bike has 3 chains that I cycle through. One on the bike, one in solvent, and one cleaned and lubed and wrapped in a clean oiled rag ready to go. The road bike has two, one for training and one for racing.

Towels placed on the floor under the derailleur and BB catch the runoff from the WD-40 drenching. Brushing and spraying until I can’t get anymore black grit to flow out of the parts.

I then start at the top of the bike and work down with Windex and a clean towel. Then everything gets spray dried with compressed air.

Next the cable housings get released from their adjusting cups at the levers and shifters and the cables get tri-flo. (on my mtn bikes I use old style flat drawn cables and XT housing)

To clean the cassette I use the towel that was under the BB. I fold and stretch a section and slide it from the bottom, between the last and next gear. Sawing back and forth with the towel the wheel will start to spin as the cassette ratchets back and forth. When the space is clean refold the towel and move to the next gear, spraying periodically as you clean. Keep your fingers out of the spokes and slow the wheel often as you work. When you are done the rag goes directly into the trash. Do not make the mistake of having a pile of oily rags anywhere that could spontaneously combust, as that is a fire hazard.

I guess I go through a large can of WD-40 a month, it’s cheap and it works for me. I buy it a case at a time at Home Depot. I don’t use it on my road bike because I wax the chains on that bike.

anthonaut

Ive found a good way to clean cassettes. Take thw wheel out of the bike and spray the dry cassette with WD-40 (spray it before you start washing). Leave it for five minutes then spray off with high pressure cleaner or just a hose with a fitting.

Leaves it sparkly clean.