Cleaning bike

[007fair]

After getting the bike all muddy I hose it down and clean the gunk off it
Then a quick spray of lubricant to the chain and cassette etc before leaving in the garage
Is this OK?
I was unsure about leaving it dripping wet but don't exactly want to blow dry it !

 

[Cubist]

Make sure there's no standing water left in places where it will cause corrosion. Personally, if I have hosed the bike down I bump the excess water off it, then give the bike a wipe down with a j-cloth or whatever, followed by a coating of GT85 applied on a rag. All the drivetrain gets dried and a squirt of GT 85 to drive out water. The chain then gets lubed. Final act is to use brake cleaner on the rotors to get rid of any overspray or whatever.

It's pampered, but then again it cost a lot of money, and works better if it's clean and lubed.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Make sure there's no standing water left in places where it will cause corrosion. Personally, if I have hosed the bike down I bump the excess water off it, then give the bike a wipe down with a j-cloth or whatever, followed by a coating of GT85 applied on a rag. All the drivetrain gets dried and a squirt of GT 85 to drive out water. The chain then gets lubed. Final act is to use brake cleaner on the rotors to get rid of any overspray or whatever.

It's pampered, but then again it cost a lot of money, and works better if it's clean and lubed.

What he said ^^^^^^^^^

 

[2Loose]

Translation: Hose it down, bounce it on the ground to shake off standing water, put it in the shed.

Oil and grease as per normal.

(Cuddle occasionally if it deserves it)

 

[007fair]

Cheers guys advice taken on board

 

[Friz]

Not sure about leaving it in the shed where spiders and bugs might make it uncomfortable..


Would you not find somewhere nice and warm inside for it? I find the kitchen and sitting room make fine storage places.

 

[007fair]

Not sure about leaving it in the shed where spiders and bugs might make it uncomfortable..


Would you not find somewhere nice and warm inside for it? I find the kitchen and sitting room make fine storage places.

I take it you're not married

 

[Friz]

I take it you're not married

-cough cough-



Not anymore....

 

[007fair]

-cough cough-



Not anymore....

 

[WychwoodTrev]

I am anouther who prefers to store my bike in the kitchen,mind I do have no2 bike in the shed

 

[John90]

I thought hosing down was not good practice - forces water into places it shouldn't be and forces grease out of the places it should be. Is that wrong?

 

[Muddy Ground]

Water from a hose isn't at that much pressure by the time it gets to your bike. It's the pressure washers that cause the trouble. Just avoid hosing down any suspension parts. At the end of the day a mountain bike is designed to take a little water, so don't fret over a garden hose.

PIJ

 

[02GF74]

-cough cough-



Not anymore....

poralby due to keeping bikes in the kitchen.

anyways, back on topic; I use a soft bristled brush and washing up bowl with water + a dab of wasing up liquid to clean the muck/mud off, to rinse, a garden hose. pressure hose is a definite no-no.

 

[Huggies14]

so would people not advise using a pressure washer for cleaning the bike? I don't know how else to clean the chain and the back near the derailleurs (sorry, don't know the names of many parts on the bike). How do you clean hydraulic brakes and the forks, or is a pressure washer ok?

 

[Alun]

Don't use a pressure washer as the water can get into the bearings and ruin them. I use degreaser and a paint brush for the oily bits and hot water with car shampoo for the rest, although MucOff is a good alternative, rinse off with low pressure from the hosepipe. A proper chain cleaner from Park Tools helps as well.