Originally Posted by TransitBiker

A few things... For one.... I live car free. Added to that, automotive brakes are nothing like those found on bicycles and the drums & rotors often weigh more than a single seat bike. I wiped the rims down on both of my old rim brake bikes after wet rides. It made a difference the next time i took them out in stopping distance & decel rate, and it made the pads last longer. Also, keeping the critical safety parts of any human powered vehicle clean should be a priority. A quick spin of the wheel with a cloth on the rotor, simple. In winter when you get the salt & grit on the roads it can cause abrasion to the rotor and pads.

Most of the folks i know do this for the reasons listed.....

- Andy