chaadster

Many of us give a lot of attention to making our bikes figuratively slippery via aerodynamically designed components, but how many of us bother to make our bikes literally slippery, by waxing them?

If you do wax, what do you use, and how do you do it?

I used to use automotive waxes, and most recently, up until a couple of years ago, I used Rejex. Before Rejex, I used anything from Zymol to Turtle Wax, but those were a pain in the butt, both in terms of application and removal.

Nowadays, I use furniture polish, e.g. Pledge, and I'm quite happy with it. It's easy, there's no residue, it buffs to a great sheen, it's fairly durable, and smells lemony fresh!

What's your regimen?

Bluechip

I use to wax my chain. For the frame I use to use pledge but have switched to whatever quick and easy spray auto polish I have around.

bikemig 

I like pedros bike lust but the pledge smells better!

f4rrest

I've never waxed my bikes.

loimpact

Not sure if it's relevant to bikes cuz I'd love to do something as simple as pledge but apparently Pledge changed it formula a couple years ago & apparently not for the better.........

Happy Clean Living: Buyer Beware: New Pledge® Furniture Polish

FWIW, anybody else love when the LBS does the "wipe down" on your bike before they give it back to you and it's the same rag they just cleaned your cogs & hands with? (perhaps their noses too)

OldsCOOL

I use the Turtle Wax formula for black paint. Is Pledge faster?

mrodgers

Sounds like the dealer shop in the automotive world. I make sure that they absolutely know never to touch my cars "detailing" them if I happen to go to the dealer for any work. I spend way too much time polishing and waxing the paint to have a shop introduce swirls and scratches the minute they lay one of their wash sponges on the paint.

I've never had my bike back to the shop yet to see if they would "clean" it after the service.

chaadster

First, I don't know that I use Pledge brand exactly, or that it even matters, as I'd guess any spray (furniture) wax would work. Certainly if I do have some newer formulation of Pledge brand-- I'm out of the house right now and can't check-- it works just fine and makes the bike frame, fork, crank arms, stem, exposed seat post, hubs, spokes, and non-brake surface of rims, all very shiny and smooth to the touch.

I usually use it after washing, but will also use it for light cleaning if the bike is just a bit dusty.

lyrictenor1

I use Meguiar's Quik Wax.

chaadster

I don't know the TurtleWax you're talking about in particular, but my TW experience is that it's a paste that needs to be carefully applied, allowed to dry, then buffed off, and which can leave white residue in crevices and crannies. Spray wax like the Pledge is wipe on and off, and does not leave residue or discolor black bits, as auto paste wax can, and there's no waiting for drying or careful application. I just spray the wax on the rag, wipe down the bike, flip the rag over to a dry area, and quickly buff to sheen. Quite fast, really, and certainly faster than paste waxes in my experience.

koiboy4343

It wont do much (or really anything) aerodynamically but it does look good. I use rejex aswell.

OldsCOOL

No white residue. It's the black formula. In the kit is an abrasive cleaner (great for touch ups and repaints), carnauba wax and detailing sprays....all formulated for black paint.

chaadster

[QUOTE=OldsCOOL;17068596]No white residue. It's the black formula. In the kit is an abrasive cleaner (great for touch ups and repaints), carnauba wax and detailing sprays....all formulated for black paint.
[QUOTE]
Ah, that makes sense. My bike doesn't get so beat that I need polish, so just a cosmetic waxing-- well, it does help keep the bike clean, too-- works for me.

chaadster

Oh, I didn't mean to suggest it was more aero, I was just playing with the word "slippery"! Rejex is a great product, especially for cars, but Pledge-like products really have the upper hand with their 'wet-look' shine! That is, if you want the wet look shine!

Smokehouse

Yes...I do. I do it once a year in the winter. A good quality wax will protect the clear for quite some time, it works well on cars and so far it has worked well on my bike.

My bike gets enough crap on it during my main riding season so I want to keep it protected as possible.

coasting 

i used both. the turtle wax is a slower application and i think the pledge is not just faster but a better covering.

coasting 

i highly recommend the lemon pledge. it smells really nice.

Scott P

I use car care products since my bike is painted and not made out of wood. I use a waterless wash like Poorboy's Spray and Wipe to get the light dirt and dust off. I then use an all on one cleaner, polish and paint sealant on it. I just apply with a microfiber towel, let dry and buff off. I don't think it does anything significant to air flow, but it does protect it from the sun and the elements.

Smokehouse

This.

I use automotive wax only...forgot to mention that in my post. Furniture wax is not formulated for a cleat coat on a bike.

OldsCOOL

Put it on the saddle!

gaucho777 

I wax both frame and recently polished alloy parts. I'll either apply wax with a clean cotton rag or apply with the sponge that is sometimes supply with the wax, followed by clean rag. I avoid the all-in-one polish & wash products, since they can thin out the paint/clear over time. I do use either Maguire's ScratchX or ScratchOut polish on frames with older, faded/scratched paint, followed by wax, but I avoid those products for regular maintenance on paint that is already in good condition.

ReLLiK75

How do you wax a matte black frame? I know there is a clear coat on the frame, but I've been told that anything other than basic soap and water will actually cause the matte finish to start to become glossy.

Scott P

Most all in one waxes/polishes/sealants are based on chemical cleaners and do not have the abrasives necessary to thin out paint or a clearcoat over time.

bonz50

best stuff ever. Honda Spray Cleaner/Polish

jareed58

I don't think we would notice the difference aerodynamically, but I remember in the Air Force, the crew chiefs would wax the intakes of the jets and they would perform at measurably faster pace. That being said, I do like the spray on type auto waxes, used them on motorcycles too. Too many knooks and crannies for the paste type wax. You would be forever wiping it off.