Actually washed the bike yesterday
10-25-12, 06:57 AM
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Actually washed the bike yesterday
After almost two solid weeks of rainy days, I reached my road grime threshold. I actually washed my bike!
As hard as it rained yesterday afternoon, woulda thought it would just rinse clean on the ride. Alas, it was not to be.
Just coasted across the driveway, into the lawn, got the Simple Green and the hose and washed it in the rain. I can actually see the white paint on the chainstays!
I figure my CX bike is an outside toy, and washing is not a requirement. I am kind of a gritty guy anyhow, I guess. How often do you gents wash your commute bikes?
As hard as it rained yesterday afternoon, woulda thought it would just rinse clean on the ride. Alas, it was not to be.
Just coasted across the driveway, into the lawn, got the Simple Green and the hose and washed it in the rain. I can actually see the white paint on the chainstays!
I figure my CX bike is an outside toy, and washing is not a requirement. I am kind of a gritty guy anyhow, I guess. How often do you gents wash your commute bikes?
10-25-12, 05:40 PM
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If I am caught riding in rain, I wipe the bike down right away. If just giving it a shine, then normally when I lube/clean the chain.
10-25-12, 06:40 PM
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Almost never wash a bike. Fenders seem to catch most of it. Will rag down the frame when cleaning the chain or other maintenance.
10-25-12, 08:27 PM
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Shouldn't have washed it. Caught the flat fairy's eye......with the cell phone at home, a broken pump, and a walk of shame.
10-26-12, 07:19 AM
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Well, I even went a step further - cleaned the cassette while I had the wheel off to put on the new tire.
Forgot the thing was kinda shiny-like.
Forgot the thing was kinda shiny-like.
10-26-12, 07:20 AM
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10-28-12, 05:53 AM
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After almost two solid weeks of rainy days, I reached my road grime threshold. I actually washed my bike!
****
I figure my CX bike is an outside toy, and washing is not a requirement. I am kind of a gritty guy anyhow, I guess. How often do you gents wash your commute bikes?
****
I figure my CX bike is an outside toy, and washing is not a requirement. I am kind of a gritty guy anyhow, I guess. How often do you gents wash your commute bikes?
Speaking of women - girls play in traffic too. I gently rinse my Tricross from a water bottle after each rainy ride, immediately, before stuff cakes up (I can carry on about adhesion and cohesion for quite a while). It is not a display piece, but it is stored just outside my office door at work (high enough on the totem pole) and in the living room leaned against kitchen peninsula at home (it is good to be Wife!).
10-28-12, 08:42 AM
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usually a couple times a year, once before winter to make sure everything is lubed and ready for the snow. I also will use some of the spray on wax to help protect the paint a little. I usually will clean it once more in spring time once the snow is gone and I get everything switched over to summer mode. I also will replace the cables if the winter was really hard on them.
10-28-12, 10:35 AM
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Two? Weeks? Geez....Hugs to your bride. She is one patient woman.
Speaking of women - girls play in traffic too. I gently rinse my Tricross from a water bottle after each rainy ride, immediately, before stuff cakes up (I can carry on about adhesion and cohesion for quite a while). It is not a display piece, but it is stored just outside my office door at work (high enough on the totem pole) and in the living room leaned against kitchen peninsula at home (it is good to be Wife!).
Speaking of women - girls play in traffic too. I gently rinse my Tricross from a water bottle after each rainy ride, immediately, before stuff cakes up (I can carry on about adhesion and cohesion for quite a while). It is not a display piece, but it is stored just outside my office door at work (high enough on the totem pole) and in the living room leaned against kitchen peninsula at home (it is good to be Wife!).
Now to remove my foot/keyboard from my mouth....
10-28-12, 04:57 PM
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With Hurricane Sandy there have been 3 to 4 days raining galore. Allot of dirt the bike cought so I decide to clean it and oil the chain today.
The bike looks spanking new
The bike looks spanking new
10-28-12, 09:37 PM
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I am hoping the fenders I will be adding soon will help keep the bike and drive train clean through the wetter month here in So Cal.
10-28-12, 10:42 PM
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What is this "clean" you speak of?
Having some deja vu. Didn't we have this thread last week?
Having some deja vu. Didn't we have this thread last week?
10-30-12, 08:39 PM
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10-30-12, 08:43 PM
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I kinda felt bad becuse I mainly just lube the chain, air up the tires and wipe off some random obviously dirty part with my lube rag, I really clean it bout every 1000 miles. I thought I was neglecting it.
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11-14-12, 03:35 PM
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just becareful with water usage and frezzing temps. I made the mistake of using water and the next day I couldn;t shift at all. I had to do a field repair in pitch black disassembling my rear cable and housing and reainstalling just to clear the ice and get it working again. I was not warmed up and not dressed for sitting around in the cold. Luckily I had a flashlight so I could see what I was doing. it only took 15 minutes, but still, I wanted to ride, not kneel in snow and fuss with cold fingers
11-15-12, 08:07 AM
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Whenever I was my bikes (or truck), we get a prolonged spell of rainy weather and it gets dirty right away again. Nevertheless, sometimes it gets so nasty that you have to wash them. Wheels are the hard part for me. I can wash the frame in no time, but there's no quick way to clean rims and spokes.
11-15-12, 08:22 AM
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It's gotten worse - I actually lubed the chain yesterday when I got home. The noise was killing me.
Actually, after spending money on bikes and bike stuff almost obsessively in the last 18 months, I am now in a mode of economy. Part of that is, for instance, keeping the chain lubed and somewhat clean so I ain't replacing the chain and cassette any more often than I have to. Gotta save enough gas to afford those Ortlieb panniers, which is about 8 weeks of 5 day a week commuting. Having fun making the economy game out of it.
And I am exploring further this "clean" concept, and will actually wash the bike again before the year is over...
Actually, after spending money on bikes and bike stuff almost obsessively in the last 18 months, I am now in a mode of economy. Part of that is, for instance, keeping the chain lubed and somewhat clean so I ain't replacing the chain and cassette any more often than I have to. Gotta save enough gas to afford those Ortlieb panniers, which is about 8 weeks of 5 day a week commuting. Having fun making the economy game out of it.
And I am exploring further this "clean" concept, and will actually wash the bike again before the year is over...
11-15-12, 08:43 AM
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I usually only address the mechanical bits when cleaning. The rest of it gets clean when I rub up against it with my pant leg or bag while mounting or dismounting...LOL. I think it is a once a year thing though. I will do a full overhaul on it around Christmas, and it usually gets clean then. New cables, housing, fresh grease and the like.
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