I was told: "Never clean your bike with a pressure washer"

[Dec66]

Fair enough, I thought, I'll live with the crud.

I've just watched the film "Clean Spirit", about the adventures of the Argos Shimano team in the 2013 Tour de France.

Guess what the mechanic cleaned their bikes with?

 

[marzjennings]

Pressure washers are fine, just don't point the jet directly into any bearings.

 

[Lonestar]

Fair enough, I thought, I'll live with the crud.

I've just watched the film "Clean Spirit", about the adventures of the Argos Shimano team in the 2013 Tour de France.

Guess what the mechanic cleaned their bikes with?

Oil?

 

[Pale Rider]

Fair enough, I thought, I'll live with the crud.

I've just watched the film "Clean Spirit", about the adventures of the Argos Shimano team in the 2013 Tour de France.

Guess what the mechanic cleaned their bikes with?

As with many things cycling, what the pro teams do has no real world relevance to an ordinary cyclist.

Unless you have limitless access to bikes and new components, the services of several skilled mechanics, team vehicles to follow you around, etc, etc.

 

[screenman]

I have pressure washed all mine for over 30 years without problems.

It is not the tool that does the damage but the tool holding the tool.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Pro bikes go through daily servicing/bearing replacement etc etc. Well above what the cleanest of clean freaks would do in a week.

 

[screenman]

Pro bikes go through daily servicing/bearing replacement etc etc. Well above what the cleanest of clean freaks would do in a week.

I do not do that to mine daily. A pressure washer will do no more damage than rain, unless of course you use it wrong.

 

[sackville d]

Guess what the mechanic cleaned their bikes with?

Wet wipes from Lidl?

 

[Cubist]

As above. There are parts of a bike that will not suffer from pressure washing, but plenty that will. If you make sure you avoid any bearing components, ie wheels and cranks, headset then it's fine. There's never any need to pressure wash a chain, and I'd avoid hydraulic brakes. More important than the method of washing is the drying and relubing afterwards.

 

[screenman]

As above. There are parts of a bike that will not suffer from pressure washing, but plenty that will. If you make sure you avoid any bearing components, ie wheels and cranks, headset then it's fine. There's never any need to pressure wash a chain, and I'd avoid hydraulic brakes. More important than the method of washing is the drying and relubing afterwards.

I always jet wash my wheels, keeping away from the hubs. What damage can a jetwash used PROPERLY do that rain cannot?

 

[gasinayr]

I use a alloy wheel cleaning brush with car wash solution and water to clean my bikes. The brush is great for getting in behind the chainrings and other bits.

 

[raleighnut]

My Karcher came with 2 different lances, 1 that will almost cut steel and another that is adjustable.
The adjustable one is perfect for bike cleaning.

 

[Venod]

My Karcher came with 2 different lances, 1 that will almost cut steel and another that is adjustable.
The adjustable one is perfect for bike cleaning

I can recommend the one that will almost cut steel for removing frame transfers regardles of if you want them removing.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Fair enough, I thought, I'll live with the crud.

I've just watched the film "Clean Spirit", about the adventures of the Argos Shimano team in the 2013 Tour de France.

Guess what the mechanic cleaned their bikes with?

I've been ignoring the advice in the title with my mtb's since the mid 90's. I'm not dead yet and neither are any of my bearings.

 

[Dec66]

I do have a pressure washer, a generic thing from Argos.

Given that it's powerful enough to take render off my exterior walls and splinter my decking, I don't think I'll be putting it anywhere near my front or rear derailleurs.

However, I don't see why an ordinary hose with a multi pattern attachment would be out of the question?