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What do you use to clean your bike?
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Author:  Inconceivable [ Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:  What do you use to clean your bike?
In general, I don't really need to have a super clean bike. A post-ride cleaning will typically go like this:
- Wipe off shock/fork stanchions with a semi-clean rag
- If chain was making noise, clean it with one of those chain cleaner tools and re-lube
- Occasionally use Simple Green to spray down the frame and other parts and wipe off w/ paper towel

I only use an actual water hose on the bike maybe 3-4 times a year, since I've heard so much about how that's bad for your bearings/seals, and I don't really need a super clean bike anyway. It is, after all, a mountain bike. For the times I use a hose, I'll use a bucket of water with some Dawn dish soap as the cleaner.

However, I have recently been told that Simple Green is BAD since it oxidizes aluminum and might even mess with the paint on your bike. Therefore, I am considering some other options for the 90% case when I simply want to spray down the bike and wipe it off while it's in my garage. Here are my options:

- Keep using Simple Green. Let inertia/laziness win! Plus my bike is mostly carbon, anodized aluminum, and steel anyway.
- Use a fancy bike-specific cleaner like Muc-off, WPL, etc. which claims to be safe for bikes but will cost a lot more. (Although, let's be real... the cost of post-ride beers is way more than any cleaner)
- Put Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle and use that
- Put isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle and use that. I would assume the evaporation rate would be fairly high on this, but the official Fox/RS manuals say this is the way to go when doing fork lowers services. This wouldn't leave any residue but I dunno how well it'd do with actual dirt/mud.
- Something else?

Anyways, lemme know what you do!
Author:  avidtest [ Tue Feb 18, 2020 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
Low pressure hose and a brush. No detergent. Bounce the shit out of it to knock off the water. Towel dry the whole thing. If really ambitious, I'll hit it with the air compressor and final towel down (I don't do this too often).

We should ask the rider with the cleanest bike at all times. Harley, what's the secret?
Author:  tfitz [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
I don’t clean the frame. I use a toothbrush or small rag to remove the debris from the sanctions. I use air pressure to blow off the drivetrain and oil every four rides unless I’m out and then I just brush and oil. I don’t ride through water but if muddy I will use a hose to get it off. When I have to do maintenance the bike eventually gets a cleaning but that’s only when totally necessary.
Author:  Big Clyde [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
I have been riding mountain bikes for
over 30 years.
I use soap and water with brushes and cloth.
I spray the whole bike, yes, right into bottom
bracket, shock pivots, and headset. I scrub wheels,
tires, and drivetrain with brushes. and soap down
the rest with a cloth.
I dry with WD40, compressed air and towels. I'll
lube pedals, chain and derailleur.
I don't wash after every ride, I'll wipe down and
lube chain very couple rides, depends on how dirty
the bike is or how it's performing.
Or most important, to IMPRESS!

I believe the cleaner bike works much better than
a dirty one, less noise and better performance from
the drivetrain and suspension.

I think my stuff lasts as long as anyone else. As long
as I preform maintenance and replacement as needed.

Plus it looks good.....................................





:cheers:
Author:  avidtest [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
Big Clyde wrote:
I have been hiking mountain bikes for
over 30 years.



:cheers:



I fixed it for you. :ninja:
Author:  Big Clyde [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 11:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
avidtest wrote:
Big Clyde wrote:
I have been hiking mountain bikes for
over 30 years.



:cheers:



I fixed it for you. :ninja:




HEY!

I remember my hiking experience
has fixed your bike a few times.............






:cheers:
Author:  J.A.M. [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
I do what you do.

Clean chain and drivetrain almost every ride.
Clean dropper and suspension almost every ride.

Every now and then, spray with very diluted dish soap (degreaser in spots if needed) and brush. Then rinse with gentle spray. Wipe off and ride around a bit to dry. Lube chain.

I don't mind a dirty frame. I keep the important parts clean.
Author:  Dirtrider [ Wed Feb 19, 2020 9:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
I spray it off lightly with the hose. If it's dirty/muddy, I'll use a drop of car wash/water mix on a old rag to wipe off and then rinse clean. Blown dry with a compressor to get all the water off the chain, gears, cracks, etc.
Wipe off the chain by hand and lube after every ride. Wipe off the whole bike with a soft towel and clean off the rims. Also wipe down the fork & shock to remove any dirt by the seals.
Author:  325racer [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
When doing a full clean.

I hose bike down with light spray to loosen/knock off loose dirt
Then spray all over with bike wash (used to be whatever was on sale at Performance, last bottle was Finish Line, now switching to Muc Off.
Then scrub down with soft bristle bike brush (probably from a bike cleaning kit)
Spray down drivetrain with Muc Off degreaser, then scrub when needed
Spray down drive train with water after
Dry bike
Use Meguiars Ultimate Compound on frame to remove any scratches or scuffs
Wax frame with Meguiars Ultimate Wax
Lube chain with Muc Off C3 Dry (during summer)
Lube other derailleur points with various lubes (whatever the mood feels)
Lube pedals with whatever lube I just used above

I don't really do anything special for shock other than a wipe with a rag
Author:  Canaan [ Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to clean your bike?
After every ride I wipe down the stanchions and shock; clean the drive train by backpedaling the chain through a shop rag, and cleaning the rear cassette with a Park Tool brush and the front chain ring and rear derailleur jockey wheels with a tooth brush; and wiping down the rims with a dry rag (nice way to discover loose spokes before they get out of hand). Like a lot of you, I don't care too much about dirt on the frame - I wash my bike maybe 3-4 times a year, and when I do I use very diluted car wash detergent and low-pressure water. Bounce it off, hit it with the leaf blower, and towel dry to finish.
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