Imaculate bikes
 

As i browse through this forum i see some pretty sweet rides. Some look too good in fact. How do you guys do it. Does it not see the pavement? wax the crap out of it? or is it just a trophy? Seeing those bikes makes me believe that they arent ridden often and not pushed very hard.

A bike without scratches or dings is a bike that doesn't get ridden (much). A bike that doesn't get ridden is not a happy bike. All my bike have dings and scratches.

Photos aren't usually taken to highlight flaws. Photos also tend to not show scratches and small dings.

Yes. Also, a lot of the dings and scratches on my bike, just don't show up at the distance I take my photos at. I take pretty good care of my bike, but it still has a lot of paint gouges and dirt on it. Even though it is white though, it just doesn't show up, and most of the dirt is on the underside of the frame anyhow.

Alot of people probably clean their bikes before photos or take photos after they've cleaned their bike. If I ever get around to washing the grime and grease off my bike, that's probably when I'd do my photos.

+1 for Bike Lust

I only walk my bike around, I would never ride it, that just isn't cool.

I take care of my bikes much like a car. They get a regular wash, polish, and wax to keep them looking good. It's not tough and yes, I ride each and every one of them. They don't just hang in the garage looking pretty.

How often do you think I should clean my bike and wax it to keep it purty?

+1
see pharrel thread for a good example

I throw mud, grass, and feces on my bike, then take pics of it to make it look more "ridden".

My beat and mtb are scratched but my good fixed bike is ridden the most (by far). I hardly ever clean it and it has zero scratches (knocks on wood) and looks brand new. I find the key is not crashing into stuff and being careful when I go to lockup. Some people are just easier on their stuff than other people.

Keeping the frame clean and waxed does protect the paint from the fine road grit that dulls paint and metal surfaces. Cleaning and maintaining your bike regularly prevents large build-ups of grime and grease that are a major chore to clean off.

A wipe-down or so every week or after every wet ride, then once per month, go over the whole thing with a fine-toothed comb keeps everything pretty and in perfect working order.

It's very much a case of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure".

I ride my IRO back and forth to work every day year-round and it still looks bright and new.

I wipe by bike down after every ride on wet roads. Polish the metal bits & condition the leather bits. Keeps it looking good.

1) don't fall
2) get a beater for locking up
3) maintain your whip

There's nothing wrong with taking care of/cleaning a bike you love to ride...

Its called "PhotoShop" not everyone does it, but a bunch of guys over at the Schwinn forum (and Im sure a few here do it to) bragged and posted about their "minty" StingRays, Krates, Phantoms and stuff till it came time to put a Calander together and photo shopping wasnt allowed, boy did they throw a hissy fit then! (They allowed it after that of course) thats one of the reasons Im no longer a member, well that and the fact that I mentioned that, at the time, Schwinn was building crap bikes and slapping the "Schwinn" name on them :rolleyes: The new owners of Harley Davidson did the same thing. Did the orig owners of Harley Davidson ever get the name/business back?

You and Pharrel. :thumb:

I'v had my bike for a month, its dinged up alot already.

you mean... you guys _ride_ your bikes... Mine hangs on my wall like art.

Can't bikes do both? Be ridden and then hang on a wall when not in use? Mine do.

I like bikes that look like they came out of the movie road warrior, that to me has more character than a sparkling dirt-free bike.

The first 3 weeks of getting a bike I am all paranoid about keeping it clean but that wear's off fast. Then I could careless and look forward to when it starts to look broken in.

not enough room in my house :( mine stays in the basement up against the wall in a corner until I ride it and goes back when I'm done.

I ride every day. I have three bikes. A mountain bike, a single speed and a fixed. My fixed is immaculate and I basically use it as a trainer. When I have to go in town, and I know I'm going to be locking up, I'll ride one of the other two.

That is how you keep it nice.