Winter cleaning

JoeSoap76

Brrrrrrrr...

According to my little weather clock, it's -0.5 degrees outside today. I've just spent two hours out in it cleaning my bike. It's the first below-freezing wash I've ever done and it wasn't pleasant.

At one point I had to use lit matches to melt the ice that had formed in the screw-hole so I could reattach my pannier! :shock:

It got me wondering - how does everybody else care for their bikes over winter? Judging by the amount of dirt on it, winter is probably when my bike needs to be cleaned the most but standing about in the cold for two hours is not something to relish.

blackworx

Aye it's baltic through here too. I've just been out to the shops two minutes away on the gf's runaround and I forgot to put gloves on - seriously cold hands - so props to you for spending so long out in this cold!

Apart from cleaning, lubing and adjusting the important bits (i.e. drivetrain, brakes) I pretty much leave it during the winter. I do the occasional quick dicht but nothing serious. It only takes minutes in winter for it to end up a grimy mess again. Come late spring/early summer I treat it to a whole day's pampering, finished off with a few layers of wax

coffeecup

I give it a good wash, degrease and rinse outside with the bike in a stand. Takes about 15 - 20 mins

then bring it into the garage to lube it and tweak anything

I probably do this every other weekend. Would like to do it every weekend but can't always be bothered...

AndyManc

It's too cold to do anything you don't have to, legs up in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate, leave the cleaning till the temps are in double figures.

2tired2ride

Just a degrease and relube, cleanning......too much hassle.

JGS

Quick once over with the hose, a brush down with a soapy brush, hose off all the soap and then leave in the study to dry (my girlfriend hates the fact I have a room especially for bikes!). Once dry a quick re-lube and then leave it to keep warm over night with the other bikes.

andyrr

I sprayed some cleaning stuff on my brakes yesterday : about 30 mins later it had frozen so I had to take bike into house overnight to ensure it defrosted in time for 6:45am commute.
I thought it might have had a lower freezing point than plain water but obviously not significantly : maybe better to leave bike dirty than clean it and risk non-functioning brakes !

fossyant

I wash the bike after wet rides and re-lube, lives in the garage so generally OK - although the freewheel froze this morning. :?

Headhuunter

Degreaser on the chain and mechs then just use a bucket of warm water and a little washing up liquid or specialist bike cleaner and wash it all down with a soft brush, using finer brushes to get into the little nooks and crannies. Warm water doesn't freeze and keeps you and your hands warm as you wash the bike (at least that works in London, not sure about Scotland!). I then dry it with and old towel and re grease/lube everything up

Headhuunter

Degreaser on the chain and mechs then just use a bucket of warm water and a little washing up liquid or specialist bike cleaner and wash it all down with a soft brush, using finer brushes to get into the little nooks and crannies. Warm water doesn't freeze and keeps you and your hands warm as you wash the bike (at least that works in London, not sure about Scotland!). I then dry it with and old towel and re grease/lube everything up