Hello, I joined today, so I'm getting use to the site. Would this thread be the appropriate place to ask questions about the cleaning, care and detailing of my new-to-me Centurion? Most of the photo's I see show very clean and polished bikes that make mine look, well, not clean and polished. Thanks

Sure ask away. But do be specific in what you have , what you hope to end up with after. "Detailing" isn't a term usually used by bike people. Spend time reading others' posts and threads (search the archives using various terms like polishing, cleaning, restoring). The C&V sub forum might be a good place to also post in. Andy

If it were not for my son feeling embarrassed about the cleanliness of my bike when we go riding, mine would be pretty dirty too. Don't know why that bothers him. I certainly can't tell how clean the bikes of others are when passing or being passed. But I suppose it's those few moments at crossings when stopped that count.

Maybe I be in trouble if he moves so far away we can't get together for a ride. But then maybe my wallet would have more left in it for "me" stuff.


Oh... cleaning is just what ever it takes to make it look good. Don't go overboard with special cleaners and stuff. Sometimes a damp rag is all that is needed. If spending time on cleaning and stuff makes you feel good, then fine. I've got a friend that loves to tinker with engines and electrical so much that when we went to go sailing, sometimes we'd sit at the dock for hours while he "tinkered". As long as the rest of us had beer it wasn't a big issue, but we missed a lot of sailing for "tinkering".

Great! I won't get tied in a knot over the cleaning. It seems different with this new road bike than with the other. The mountain bike didn't get cleaned but in the beginning and end of each season of riding. Maybe the "new" element will wear off and I'll be OK. It's a little like my cars over the years. The Yukon's were washed every once in a while. The Corvette's and Camaro were washed all the time. Even polished. I've been trained to appreciate maintenance on mechanical things, so that is probably more the concern than polish, who knows! Thanks again.

If you want to really clean then toothbrush, degreaser and a cloth to polish.

I find the best general purpose cleaner is a disposal baby wipe. There's usually a bit of alcohol in it and the wipe itself is great for scrubbing dirt and mud from wheels and tires and for scrubbing chrome parts clean. The only thing a wipe won't touch, in my experience, is old gluey grease, but you probably don't run across that in general cleaning. This is typically how I clean my bike -- I very often don't use any water. I'll often just use five or six baby wipes. They're wet enough to lift dirt away, but not so wet that it drips all over the shop floor.

Honestly, a rag and a mild cleanser. I like Bike Lust if you want to pick up something bike specific as it's a pretty good cleaner and also acts as a polish. Denatured alcohol for the rims so as to not contaminate the braking track. Toothbrush can be useful.