How pristine is your bike?

[Herbie]

No matter how careful I am, my year old Tricross seems to attract scratches and scuffs. From cables wearing away paint on the stem to scratches on hood covers etc. I don't wash my bike every time I go out, mainly because I hate cycling in the rain, but I degrease, clean and oil the chain and moving parts regularly as well as the occasional hose down with Muck Off. My previous bike was a second hand secteur and, despite being a year old it was immaculate, as were the owners other bikes so I presume some people must lavish a lot of care and attention on their machines.

Am I just an average cyclist regarding cleaning and maintenance? Does your bike glisten and gleam in the same perfect state as when it first arrived or does cosmetic appearance not really matter?

When I first got my Dawes Galaxy I hated whenever it rained and got wet but now 6 years down the road it still looks quite good...it gets regularly cleaned and looked after but it has its fair share of tiny scratches and wee scuffs but this don't bother me as it adds a wee bit of character and afterall a bike is for riding and enjoying no matter what conditions...no point having a great looking gleaming machine if your not gonna enjoy it

 

[Shut Up Legs]

 

[potsy]

3 main bikes in various states of disrepute-
Bike 1 Oldest and most used, quite scratched and beaten up but still runs well.
Bike 2 Off road and main commuter now, gets extremely dirty but is fairly well looked after and has no marks or scratches other than a bit of damage after a recent off, needs new bar tape.
Bike 3 Newest of the lot, still immaculate after 4 months of mainly dry weekend riding

 

[ColinJ]

I keep my bikes mechanically sound, but only clean when I have to, I'd rather ride them than clean them, scuffs, dings and scrapes are part of the bikes character, a reminder of the good times you've had together, a pristine bike without a mark on it looks sad, like it hasn't been used for its purpose, being ridden.

A mate who assembled my Basso slipped with a tool and scratched the frame before I even got to ride the bike. I was irritated for about 10 seconds, but then I thought it was quite a good thing really because I would never need to worry about scratching its immaculate paint job!

(It turns out that the Basso's paint is really soft and easily scratched or chipped. I get new marks on it every few hundred miles of riding.)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A mate who assembled my Basso slipped with a tool and scratched the frame before I even got to ride the bike. I was irritated for about 10 seconds, but then I thought it was quite a good thing really because I would never need to worry about scratching its immaculate paint job!

(It turns out that the Basso's paint is really soft and easily scratched or chipped. I get new marks on it every few hundred miles of riding.)

My Verenti's like that, marks very easily, my Pearson is as hard as nails, its six years old now and has very few marks on it.

 

[the_mikey]

My bikes are cleaned occasionally, I spend more time ensuring the tyres, brakes, chain and derailleur work properly than worry about the appearance of the bike. Scratches are just a side effect of using the bike.

 

[Trickedem]

My bikes are always immaculately clean always.
Leisure bikes cleaned after every ride.
My commute bike fully cleaned every week, sometimes more often.

It has been known that I clean my bike mid-ride

I don't mind dings or scratches, add's character to a bike.

I keep my bikes clean at all times. However if I am going for a ride with Ian I make sure I do a very thorough job. His is that clean

 

[Cuchilo]

Im just about to go for a ride in the rain on my new bike any cleaning tips for when I get back ?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

@potsy has the cleanest bikes I have ever seen*









*Warning this post may contain traces of a lie

 

[lukesdad]

My bikes are usually in Crap state but not quite as bad as Lukesdads bikes.

Keep the drive train clean as possible rest is just cosmetic. Bikes are for riding.

Eh ?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Im just about to go for a ride in the rain on my new bike any cleaning tips for when I get back ?

Yes - pay particular attention to your feet, as they can get a bit sweaty in those cycling shoes!

 

[Banjo]

Eh ?

Just checking you were about Have to say the Litespeed was spotless last time I saw it.

 

[Banjo]

Yes - pay particular attention to your feet, as they can get a bit sweaty in those cycling shoes!

I think the oily chainring imprint on your calf looks like a tribal tattoo from a distance.

 

[Teuchter]

Another vote for keeping them mechanically sorted and running smoothly but not worrying so much about keeping them clean. I'll wipe the frames down with an oily rag (clean oil!) relatively regularly, particularly in winter and the wheels may get a proper clean every couple of months.

Riding in all weathers, I am fairly OCD about chain lubing.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

My slightly grubby bike -