Bike cleaning

Frank the tank
Frank the tank Posts: 6,553
edited June 2009 in The bottom bracket
How long do you take to clean your bike?

Must be honest, on a day when the weather is good I'll take 2-3 hours and it'll be in showroom condition by the time I've finished. When it's cold about 30mins-1hour.
Tail end Charlie

The above post may contain traces of sarcasm or/and bullsh*t.

Comments

  • Cootha
    Cootha Posts: 3
    30 mins mate (not inc polish and re-lube time). how do u make it last 2-3 hours????
  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    When you start removing bits of bike just to clean them is what the time is. Plus making things ultra spanky and lovely takes aaages too.

    Then you go out and ride through some mud.

    Oh, btw - some people write about how they remove the chain and soak it in degreaser overnight, then re-grease. A while later they post about how it removes vital grease from inside the links (or something similar...) Don't do it kids!
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    I can easily make it last 3 hours. Taking it all to pieces, cleaning and re-lubing. Checking indexing and tightness of bolts, degreasing, GT85 on pivot points, WD40 on exposed bolts, Pedro's Bike Lust (on frame AND tyres).

    Love it.


    Till it gets all dirty again the very next ride!
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    tardington wrote:
    When you start removing bits of bike just to clean them is what the time is. Plus making things ultra spanky and lovely takes aaages too.

    Then you go out and ride through some mud.

    Oh, btw - some people write about how they remove the chain and soak it in degreaser overnight, then re-grease. A while later they post about how it removes vital grease from inside the links (or something similar...) Don't do it kids!

    Normally about half-an-hour for me with bucket & sponge, plus a bit of Brasso for the polised alloy bits if feeling in the mood for a proper spring-clean.
    Following on from the degreaser tale, another no-no; jet washers. Ignore the labour-saving appeal - they won't do your supposedly 'sealed' bearings any favours. :(

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • bianchi777
    bianchi777 Posts: 101
    Probably about forty five minutes to an hour here...scrub the chain, relube it etc etc.
  • geerfree
    geerfree Posts: 74
    you should give it a real good clean every month or so, but 30 mins is about average for me too.
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    Clean??? You mean it's not meant to be grubby and used looking?
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Erm quick wash off for the commuter, and a quick Mr Sheen every week - washed after every wet ride though. I just fit it in.

    Big cleans come when looking after the kids, weather fine, them out front, me with bike in stand and cleaning, whilst watching kids.

    Litlte and often...works wonders..........and my bikes are very clean...... :oops:
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    fossyant wrote:
    my bikes are very clean...... :oops:
    No shame in that, they're objects of beauty. Look after them and they'll look after you.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    10 mins.

    Go over it with the brush attachment on the hose.

    dry off with tea towel

    Baby wipes for a wipe down and get rid of stubborn bits

    Re lube