Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NC
Posts: 837
Bikes: Serotta, kestrel, Raleigh, Cannondale, Proflex, Santana tandem, Santana Stylus (single), Trek, Schwinn, Azuki, Scattante (fixed)
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I wash my bike after every ride or so. Simple liquid soap with a degreaser, and two cheap 4 inch paint brush. Mist the bike, run some liquid soap over the chain as I circle the pedals backwards, then use one of the 4 inch brushes held lightly against the chain as I continue to circle the pedals backwards. I use the other brush to wash the rest of the bike with a bit of liquid soap. Mist the soap off, then dry as best as possible with a towel. I leave the bike in the sun for the rest of the afternoon so it bakes the moisture out of the hard to get spots. Re-lub the chain and hang it till the next ride. About a 5 minute process not counting the drying time.
If the chain gets really crusty, I use a bit of WD 40 on a brush, then the liquid soap process.