Are bikes drip-dry?

[Kizibu]

Went out on new bike today. Got it muddy. So gave it a gentle hose off afterwards. Wondered then what else I'm supposed to do...or can I just leave it to drip dry in the garage?

 

[Will1985]

It seems to work when left alone, but I prefer to dry down the tubes and especially the headset area with a small towel.

 

[ColinJ]

I pick my bike up and drop it a few times (onto the tyres!) to shake off as much water as I can. A quick backward spin of the cranks gets most of the water off the chain. I usually give it a quick wipe down after that.

 

[fossyant]

I assume you washed it with car shampoo not just a hose - yep drip dry......

They dry better outside with a bit of wind. If my road bikes have been washed and I know they won't be used for a week - I stick a desk fan on them. If you have looks, tip them up.

The MTB/Commuter just drips dry in the garage...as it's on the road within a few hours again.

 

[Leadlegs]

I don’t tend to hose mine down, but use a sponge and buckets of water. Starting at the top and working my way down the frame. Once clean I leave it out in the wind and sun wherever possible to dry. If I can’t I’ll give it a bump as per ColinJ and oil the chain before putting it away in the garage.

 

[dodgy]

Drip dry and I have a cheap fan heater with a timer that I leave pointing at the bike for 10 minutes in the garage.

 

[longers]

I like the bumping idea, will do that tomorrow. Ta.

 

[Kizibu]

Shampoo ? Blow-dry? You're having me on now. Aren't you?

 

[numbnuts]

Shampoo ? Blow-dry? You're having me on now. Aren't you?

I put mine to bed with a drink of WD40

 

[fossyant]

Shampoo ? Blow-dry? You're having me on now. Aren't you?

See I'm not the only one.....

 

[jimboalee]

Yup, Bikes are drip dry. Better so if they are waxed and polished.

But remember any bare metal parts will not like H20 and O2.

 

[ASC1951]

I think the hard cases let theirs dry upside down, so that any moisture in the frame dries out in the seat post instead of corroding the bottom bracket.

Then you'll find yourself parking the chain on the smallest sprocket, so as not to strain the derailleur spring....

 

[Cubist]

I bump and spin off the excess water and then, I'm sorry to say, I wipe the whole bike down with a synthetic chamois leather, wax the paintwork every couple of washes, squirt GT85 onto the gear mechs, all lever points, cable ends and bearing points, and lube the chain. My 1980s CroMo bigeavybasterd is hard enough without having to fight stiff shifters and corroded cables!

 

[fossyant]

See there are folk as nuts as me........ la.la.la.la.la......

 

[Tharg2007]

Shampoo ? Blow-dry? You're having me on now. Aren't you?

I gave mine a perm too