Post Ride Wash?

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Aaah this is the part I don't miss from Belfast..!!!!

Where it was wet all the f...g time and I had to clean my commuter once a week.... (hose, soup, brush and sponge) then dry and lube...

Good bike after every ride over there... (Belfast) here I did so many rides already and the bike still clean..!!!!! Is dry so a rag over the chain to get the dust and any possible build up...

If too dusty I would use glass cleaner on the frame and wheels to bring the shine back up.. (and get rid of the sweat drops)

 

[mustang1]

Never!

The first thing I wanna do after a dry ride, let alone a rain ride, is to give myself a hot shower! Washing the bike is the very last thing on my mind.

 

[mythste]

My bike never rides well after a deep clean. I figure all the dirt is holding the drivetrain in some sort of permanent grimey suspension - which I'm kind of happy with! Heh. I do give the chain a wee mickle (forum search it if you're not sure) if its been a particularly wet week.

 

[I like Skol]

I washed my bike today.The last time was before one of @ColinJ rides back in Apr 2012 so nearly 4 yrs/11,000 miles of rides and commuting in between.

Needed to fit new tyres and the bike was rank so decided to risk it and give it a clean.....

 

[I like Skol]

Looks a bit better now but sort of regretting it already. Now scumbags can see I have XT hubs and Mavic rims......

Hardly looks like the same bike now and has some tread on the tyres. I hope it feels ok when I ride it.....

 

[darrentaytay]

Polished up very nicely

 

[HLaB]

Unless I'm at the parents I don't have access to an outdoor tap, so I usually clean indoors with Babywipes. If its wet ride, its straight away but it can be after 4 or 5 rides in good dry weather. So that's every ride just now

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hose it down with a brush attachment with built in soap dispenser. Then dried with rags. Mr Sheen'd, then relubed.

And that's after you've stopped for a coffee!

 

[Fab Foodie]

When I can be arsed/have the time.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Every week or so for my commuter (steel tourer - and it's *really* needed it by then with the recent weather).
Every wet ride or every few dry rides for my best bike (steel ten speed).
Every ride for my MTB (retro steel again).

1) Muc-off spray and wash down outside with a bucket of water, then dry with an old towel
2) Mickle the chain with an old rag, and de-gunk the derailleur and sprockets with rag and pokey stick
3) GT85 on all pivot points and cables
4) Frame polish if I'm feeling like it

Takes a little while but the bike does run sweeter when it's not gunked up with crud and a nice clean shiny bike is somehow plain nicer to ride. It also means I catch potential mechanical issues nice and early before they become a problem (I've had a cracked rim and a loosening BB, both of which I'd have missed if not for regular maintenance).

Cuppa tea and radio three and it's sort of relaxing if I'm not in a rush.

 

[potsy]

Looks a bit better now but sort of regretting it already. Now scumbags can see I have XT hubs and Mavic rims......

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Hardly looks like the same bike now and has some tread on the tyres. I hope it feels ok when I ride it.....

Ruined it

I am more towards the skol end of the cleaning chart than the fossy/Ian end, but do give them the occasional wipe down and lube.

 

[Apollonius]

Just hosed off about 3kg of wet mud. "Dry ride." What do those words mean......?

 

[I like Skol]

Ruined it

I know but I can't undo it now

 

[Jaykun85]

Give mine a wash down after every ride. just to keep the mechs working nicely also i store mine in my house so don't want all the much and stuff on the floor

 

[GuyBoden]

After or before every ride, I do a quick check and clean of the moving parts, then lubricate if needed, I'm not convinced I need to clean the whole bike very often. I feel that using any type of detergent to clean a bike will remove the essential grease, especially if loose bearings are used on pedals, wheels, headsets and bottom brackets. Using excessive water pressure from jet washes etc can get water into the seat/head tube and cause rusting to the bottom bracket and headset.