The dirty bike thread
 

My commuter / errand bike gets the most use. It is the only bike that I ride in any weather, sun, rain and snow. I seldom take the time to clean it, aside from the chain and other small things. I don't care when it gets dirty and it doesn't complain that I don't care. It's my most practical bike. Easy to repair and free from all fussing.

Despite wanting to take a "pretty" bike on vacation I decided to take my commuter. I spent this sunny morning cleaning up my bike for the first time all year. The fenders and extra long mud flap really did a great job of keeping the crud to a minimum. I also took some time to switch the 28mm Paselas for the 32mm tires hanging in my basement.

Post pictures of your filthy C&V bike if you have them.

I started taking pictures after I was 3/4 done cleaning. I should have more "dirty" pictures.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/...c3b69caa_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/...6102bf69_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/...be165e79_b.jpg

All cleaned up:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...73f0f7ce_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/...b68024f6_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/...aef70778_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/...44683d92_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/...ca5a2327_b.jpg

My U-lock is able to stay handy in the rack:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/...cd1eb327_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/...31dbd55a_b.jpg

It really used to sparkle, a but that is in the past. Here is an old picture:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...4f98da5c_b.jpg

Cool bike.

My Schwinn Varsity grocery getter sees grab-and-go use in all weather and I don't really give much thought to what I ride through or over.

Here's a shot of the seat tube all covered in road grime

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_C_ZmRsQylO0/TH...2/IMG_1701.JPG

Unfortunately these dirty pictures are not at all atypical of many of the C&V bikes I've purchased.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...Forums/BBa.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...ums/Crank2.jpg

This one had more issues than just dirt, but was well worth the extra effort:

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...g-1974002a.jpg

Oh man thats nothing, I don't have too many saved photos sadly, but you should see what my commuter ends up looking like in the heart of winter here, I only have this photo which should give an ok example though, this from April, after I swapped all the winter parts off it minus the fork which eventually got changed later too, I didnt clean it once all winter.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2733/...e335ea8f_z.jpg

Oh I found this, this is from late january of the winter derailleur:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/...a44bd6e3_z.jpg

Winner! Your rear derailleur looks like swamp thing.

Edit: I do have a Walmart Roadmaster that I was riding in the winter also, that did get pretty bad too but I never took a picture.

To the OP,

very pretty daily commuter. Here is mine after a cleaning:
http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...les%200810.jpg

Here's a shot of the mudflap on my former commuter when I was doing 5 miles in the mud. It's almost C&V - a '93 Univega. IT's currently hanging up, but will eventually emerge a 29er mountain bike (and yes, fenderless).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._5360873_n.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6..._6821711_n.jpg

I'll have to take shots of my Bianchi mountain bike too...I think it was blue...

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=167456Looks better in the pic. but it's covered in a protective film of road stuff, it gets washed when it rains and once when the basment flooded. It seems to thrive on neglect.