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Regular Cleaning of Roadie

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Regular Cleaning of Roadie

Old 04-21-06, 07:57 AM
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Regular Cleaning of Roadie

How often should I wipe down/clean up my bike? I ride it daily about 12-15 miles and about 30-40 on the weekend.

What is the most suggested/common method of cleaning up a bike for regular maintenance?
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Old 04-21-06, 08:02 AM
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How much do you like your bike? With that much riding I would wipe it down at least weekly and add any time you see a wet road surface. I clean and lube my chain every week as well. Also clean the brake surfaces of your rims regularly to help braking performance.
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Old 04-21-06, 08:50 AM
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All depends on how anal you are. If you're like me, you'll pull the chain, cassette, chainrings and soak them in mineral spirits every ~500 - ~1000 miles depending on conditions. Chain gets done more often though. I clean up the frame with Honda motorcycle polish every 3-4 rides. I always clean the sweat off after the ride, very damaging stuff it is.

I also know a guy who puts around 300 miles a week on his titanium bike and hasn't cleaned it once. Just regular chain swap out. His bike looks like hell though.
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Old 04-21-06, 09:17 AM
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I'll wipe down my main ride once a week and clean the chain about every 300km or if it looks bad earlier. Other than chain cleaning the only time my beater sees water is when it rains or a puddle.
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Old 04-21-06, 09:58 AM
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Obviously depends on how dirty it is getting, for example you have clean to after every single four hour ride in the pouring rain!
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Old 04-21-06, 01:52 PM
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If I rode in a damp conditions? I clean it right away, otherwise I'll give it a wipe down Friday night after I make any necessary tweaks. I see no point in spending all sorts of bank on bike just to neglect it.

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Old 04-21-06, 02:00 PM
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When to clean it? When its dirty. Whats dirty? Depends on how picky you are. I ride my bike 3-5 times a week, I probably wash it about every 3 months. But the main reason for the wash is clean the drive train and the wheels. I really couldn't care about the frame luster but I clean it anyway since I'm already there.
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Old 04-21-06, 02:39 PM
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I'm pretty sure the day to day condition of my bike would send most here screaming for the hills. Oh the humanity...
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Old 04-21-06, 02:44 PM
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Howdy,
In the winter I clean mine a couple of times a week because UDOT uses straight salt and alot of it. In the summer it's every Sunday night. I have to do it that often because I commute and it gets real gunky by the end of the week.
I'll also give it a good cleaning before centuries and races, it's pretty much an ego thing, I don't want to be seen on a trashy looking ride.

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Old 04-21-06, 02:52 PM
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I hit it with the baby wipes after every ride.
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Old 04-21-06, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by San Rensho
When to clean it? When its dirty. Whats dirty? Depends on how picky you are. I ride my bike 3-5 times a week, I probably wash it about every 3 months. But the main reason for the wash is clean the drive train and the wheels. I really couldn't care about the frame luster but I clean it anyway since I'm already there.
Wow that sounds almost exactly like me except it applies for my two bike stable. I'll add a bit, though: livining in an apartment with limited hose access, I find the bath tub with a plant/flower watering can to be very handy for cleaning, especially after a ride in the the rain.
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Old 04-21-06, 03:28 PM
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I do it probably once a week during the months when I ride consistently. Kinda hard with school and all.
I just make sure the chain is clean and lubed.
It's a bike and it's guranteed to get dirty. That means you actually use it. So, dirt and wear on it is a badge of honor I guess.
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Old 04-21-06, 04:50 PM
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Mine could use a good cleaning with all the sand and crap on the roads from winter. Supposed to rain all weekend, maybe I'll do it then.
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Old 04-21-06, 05:45 PM
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That reminds me. I need to go clean my bike!
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