How often do you wash your bike in the winter honestly?

[Deleted member 26715]

When it stops me riding it, either the mud is stopping the wheels going around, or the rust is stopping the chain going around, puddles & rain are designed to wash bikes.

 

[chris-suffolk]

Clean yes, rag and toothbrush - wash no.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

My commuter gets a ’bed bath’ at work when I am on-site. All others, especially the mountain bike, gets washed after use.

 

[ColinJ]

Plus; by definition - "looking' over the bike while you clean helps you notice changes, maintenance that's needs doing, wear and tear etc.

That is definitely true. That's how I spotted this... (cracked square taper crank)

The owner of this bike clearly had not done enough cleaning so his bike rotted, and he did not spot it in time...

He was very lucky that it failed on a flat road a couple of km after a very fast descent! His front mudguard had started rubbing against his tyre so he dismounted to investigate and discovered to his horror that his fork was snapping off!

 

[Jameshow]

I wash after a mucky ride.

Usually using a 2l milk bottle with hole stabbed in lid, filled with hot water and a dash of fairy. Spray it over the bike repeat with clean water if needed.

Spray metal parts with wd40, then lube before next ride!

 

[ClichéGuevara]

Never. I always do it dishonestly.

 

[ColinJ]

I wash after a mucky ride.

Usually using a 2l milk bottle with hole stabbed in lid, filled with hot water and a dash of fairy. Spray it over the bike repeat with clean water if needed.

I'm lucky to have a large back yard with a hosepipe permanently attached to an external tap out there. When I do decide to clean the bike it only takes me a couple of minutes to get most of the gunk off.

 

[wafter]

I'm not sure that I've ever washed a bike in winter.. both for the reasons given in the OP and the fact that I'm pretty much a fair weather cyclist.

The road bike never goes out in the winter (or at all tbh) and the Genesis ideally not in the wet. The Fuji has seen a few wet & muddy forays this winter, and tbh so far has held up very well - certainly to the point where I don't feel that it needs washing. The drivetrain is sparkly-clean thanks to the waxed chain, while the Longboards have done a great job of keeping the frame / other bits clean; with splatter largely confined to the forks, a bit on the chainstays / seatstays, rack and the inside faces of the pannier bags.

While it'll doubtless need a wash at some point, so far it seems to be fending off the rigors of winter very well

 

[geocycle]

The Spa Ti bike just gets a wipe down and attention to the drive chain every couple of rides. The Thorn is the daily workhorse with its hub gears and goes longer between cleaning. I just keep an eye on lubrication and mud clogging the guards. It will have to dry up before it’s worth having a major clean. Don’t we just love winter!

 

[vickster]

Can you do the honours please you were correct

What do you want me to do?
you need to report your post (or Just delete and repost where you want it)

 

[Peter Salt]

When I come back from a ride, I put the bike inside, then let all the dirt, mud, etc. dry out. Then I bump it against the floor a few times and use a hand brush to get rid of everything that didn't fall off and clean the floor. Done.

 

[tyred]

Basically never.

 

[tyred]

When I come back from a ride, I put the bike inside, then let all the dirt, mud, etc. dry out. Then I bump it against the floor a few times and use a a hand brush to get rid of everything that didn't fall off and clean the floor. Done.

I knew a builder who cleaned his wheelbarrow like that - leave it overnight for the cement to harden and then turn it upside in the morning and hit it with a sledge and all the cement fell out.

 

[Peter Salt]

I knew a builder who cleaned his wheelbarrow like that - leave it overnight for the cement to harden and then turn it upside in the morning and hit it with a sledge and all the cement fell out.

Sounds like a solid job to me

 

[fossyant]

The road bike never goes out in the winter (or at all tbh) and the Genesis ideally not in the wet

Blimey, so you ride hardly ever ! You'd be buggered in Manchester !