Washing dirty, muddy bikes
 

whats the best way to do it without causing bike damage?

Everyone has an opinion but I seldom put water to a bike. I let the mud dry then I knock it off with a large paint brush and rag. I have special brushes to clean the cassette and chain rings. If you must wash, then use a bucket and a rag and gently wipe down the bike being careful not to saturate the bottom bracket and components. You must thoroughly dry everything! Afterward make sure the chain is properly lubed and the paint waxed and polished. I like Pro-Link and Lemon Pledge.

+1 on just letting it dry. Afterwards, you can just take some sweet jumps and the dirt will fly right off. If it doesn't come off, it's yours forever...

I guess I could just say +2 but I won't. If you're like me and you like your bikes to be clean then do what I do. I use the same brushes and bucket to hand wash my motorcycle. Just fill the bucket with soapy water, no harsh detergents, and use the brushes to get after it. I also use Simple Green after the soapy wash and do the frame and stuff with a clean rag. After that I have an oversized sponge that I use to squeeze clean water over the bike to rinse the soap. Don't spray the bike down with a hose. Lube the chain after that and you're done.

Damn, Pete got in just ahead of me with the spray it down with a hose bit. To each his own I suppose.

Salsa sometimes uses one of those bathtub cleaners with the teflon in it after it's clean & dry - makes alot of the mud just fall off in the 1st place.

the objective is to get it clean. you ride your bike for hours in the rain and mud and wont put a hose to it? makes no sense. wash the thing. 27 years no issues just make sure you maintain the bike.

Just don't use a high pressure hose on it.

Use Easy-Off BAM!
http://www.easyoffbam.us/images/prod_eobam.jpg

I just let the dirt fall off over time.

[Edit] ...because I'm lazy....

i'd let it dry, but i'm rocking a steel frame. is rusting a real big issue of i periodically soak it?

Hmm, I thought there would be more people who like to lick their bikes clean.... maybe that's just my thing.
Or I take a hose, no thumb, no nozzle, and rinse off. Wipe with wet towel, dry with dry towel, lube. Usually I let that mother get real filthy before I commence to lick..um..clean it.

Hmmm. I thought there would be more people doing the "let it dry, then kick it" thing. I just find that it's a waste to scrub a bike clean when it's going to get dirty again a day or two later. Besides, most of the mud around here is clay with pebbles in it. It doesn't rinse off easily like more organic soil does. Actually, I will wash the bike off if I've been riding through a cow pasture. Patties are very organic, and rinse off fairly well. Mostly. :(

what about the front deralleur, ive been dumping warm soapy water over it so the mud doesnt build up in that tight area. as long as it dry's its a safe thing?

I use a hose with a fairly strong stream to knock the big stuff off. If it's already totally nasty (a given at this time of year around here) what's the diff?

Yeah, simple green is good too but if I want to make it all sparkly I'll hit it w/ a wet rag.

This teflon stuff sounds interesting though, esp. for the bottom of my shoes. (crazy?)

i stop by the quarter car wash on my way home from the woods. just spray her down, along with the car.

i really wish i didn't have to bother, but i keep my bike in the house during the night and in my office when i ride it to work.

like this?

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/2c621848.jpg

rub it lovingly with a diaper and oil

kiss it and put it to bed.

Clarification - Don't use a high pressure washer hose to push dirt into your hubs. No prob on the rest of it - but you know that, Pete. :D

so whats the best thing to lube your chain with?

bicycle chain lubricant

well if i dont have any right now is there anything else that would work. I work at an oil change place and we have tons of cans of some kinda silcone based lubricant as well as tons of wd-40. i just figured wd-40 would collect more grime and drit

Spray off with hose. If aluminum air dry, if steel, dry off with something soft, hand towel, terry cloth.

Just an obersvation here, but it looks like the "let it dry" camp mostly live in dry climates while the hosers live where it's wet.

Don't put your bike away wet and muddy if it means waiting months for it to dry out. Just hose it off.

WD-40 will work just fine, no need in spending $7 on a magic bottle of chain lube from the bike store. Some will say WD is not a lubricant but it is, go read their website if you don't believe me. I clean my chain and rings often and use only WD-40 on the chain and I have no problems what so ever. lack of maintance is the biggest problem you'll encounter with the drive train, any lube is better than none.


As for cleaning, I hose my bike off, spray it down with Simple green, then hose it down again and let it air dry. Bearings are sealed in most headsets and BB so water can't get in them to cause problems. Good hubs are sealed also so washing it often does no damage.