What do you do after a bike ride ?

Red-Eye

So I just got back from a 60Km dry & warm bike ride at the weekend, open the garage door, put the bike to bed, removed the cycling shoes, thanked the bike for another great ride ;-) and closed the garage door !!

5mins later I felt guilty that I should have been fettling with the bike to keep her in tip-top condition, so she's ready for the next outing when the weather allows :oops: .

The question is what do other people do after they return from a ride, do you fettle the bike ?, give her a good clean regardless of the weather conditions ? or just put her to bed hoping that she's all ok for the next outing ?

Your opions would be greatfull as I'm fairly new to road cycling, cheers.

lotus49

If my bike is dirty and it's not raining heavily I wash her and then myself.

I tend to do any fettling at random times during the evening but rarely straight after a ride unless there is a specific problem. Bikes don't seem to need that much time spent on them so I doubt I could find things to do after every ride.

gavbarron

If it's my training bike then just throw it in the garage and maybe wash it once a fortnight, that's the beauty of an old training bike. Main priority after a ride is to shower, eat and then go play with my son. Other than a wash my bike rarely needs any fettling

marcusjb

Unless it is wet, the bike is the lowest priority for me when I finish a ride. Often, I'd be happy to just abandon the thing and have it stolen so I don't have to ride it again.

Food and getting out of the shorts that I might have had on for 30-odd hours are very high priorities.

Sleep usually follows very soon after that.

diy

check strava for disappointment.

No point cleaning a bike, its only going to get dirty again.

tonye_n

Stretch and sleep.

Calpol

Protein drink, bit of a stretch or foam rolling my ITB and quads (calves if I can stand the pain). Shower. I normally leave the bike cleaning till later or the next day, but I do pretty much clean it after every ride.

kingofthetailwind

Eat, stretch, shower, eat, stretch, sit, eat, wash bike and bring it inside, sit, eat.

antfly

No stretching for me, it makes me a lot stiffer. Just shower, eat, service the girlfriend if available, then upload..

sloppyschleckonds

antfly wrote:

service the girlfriend if available

You obviously aren't training hard enough....

Bozman

Clean the chain with WD and then coat it with 3 in 1, I'll stretch and drink half a pint of milk.

gryfon23

If it's completely filthy then a quick hose down in winter, otherwise it's clean myself up, eat, rest a bit and maybe walk the dogs a bit later to keep things working gently.

johnny25

Light up a Woodbine and have a pint of stout.

goonz

Chuck the bike in the shed, throw my clothes and myself in the wash, have a full fry up and wash it down with a protein shake and then have a cigarette.

Then sleep.

Strith

Dump bike, shower, pub. Or if I've just got back from a race, dump bike, glass of chocolate milk, shower, pub.

Maybe a poo at some point if needed.

fatsmoker

Doesn't anyone chase their wife around the house trying to get a massive hug before jumping in the shower? And / or show off the torso?

goonz

fatsmoker wrote:

Doesn't anyone chase their wife around the house trying to get a massive hug before jumping in the shower? And / or show off the torso?

I usually walk around in my bib shorts for a while showing off my veiny legs or if its really warm then walk around starkers whilst I cool down but I dont get a hug just a look of contempt for going off cycling in the early hours.

ElliottDavo

Something close to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNisipxnp58

kingofthetailwind

KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

Eat, stretch, shower, eat, stretch, sit, eat, wash bike and bring it inside, sit, eat.

Fotgot to add: drink. Nothing cures sore legs like three or four double vodka and diet cokes!

supermurph09

Big sunday ride.......... swing into the gennel, Negotiate the gate, fend off the Labrador, bump head on frame of door, take helmet off, pick Oakleys up off the floor, hobble to the back door, bang on it, ask the mrs to take off my shoes, swig a protein drink, sit at computer and upload data. Grin, frown, grin, frown....... Walk upstairs like a 90yr old man, strip, shower, eat some cereals. Then return to real life, do the food shopping, eat, eat and slump.

teisetrotter

KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

KingOfTheTailwind wrote:

Eat, stretch, shower, eat, stretch, sit, eat, wash bike and bring it inside, sit, eat.

Fotgot to add: drink. Nothing cures sore legs like three or four double vodka and diet cokes!

Except a good pint of ale.

nunowoolmez

If it was a good ride I might congratulate myself with a bit of a 'gentleman's relaxation', or if it was a bad ride I will kick the cat.

But seriously, it depends on length & rate of effort for me & that will dictate what I do as I will have different levels of tiredness. I have been known to do a 100 miler during the day & then go into work for a night shift before & I have been fine. However, on a ride like Sunday gone, Etape Du Dales, this was ling & tough & effort rate was high. So first thing I would do is replenish with can of Coke & couple of small bags of Hula Hoops to get the sugars & salts into my system, followed by a few small tangerines to get a bit of vit c & fructose in me. Then I would shower & spray legs with very cold water before having a good stretch out, legs, neck & back. Next I apply some muscle recovery stuff called Madform. Really good stuff & I do feel it's benefit. Then have a good rest up & sup at a Frijj milkshake, or similar. After a chillout I will have a good meal & then have more rest watching telly before a good sleep.

Seems to work well for me, but it takes a while to find out what works best. Rest, stretch, eat & sleep are most important.

No animals were harmed in the making of this post & other energy drinks & milkshakes are available!

Graham K

Replenish lost calories in the pub.

Jurgburger

Get an ice cold beer out the fridge, get in a hot shower and drink that bitch like i mean it.

ianbar

i wash bike fortnightly maybe more often if have time. virtually first thing i do is load up my ride on strava and down a drink.

wheelie-bin

Some of your bikes must be absolutely filthy!

No one give their chain a quick wipe down and re-lube at least? :roll:

simon_masterson

I might...

Attend whatever it is I've commuted to
Have recovery drink/food/both if I've earned it
Sit down and do very little of value

What I definitely won't do is clean my bike. If you can contemplate doing this then you have not worked hard enough. It isn't going to melt.

simon_masterson

wheelie-bin wrote:

Some of your bikes must be absolutely filthy!

No one give their chain a quick wipe down and re-lube at least? :roll:

If I can be bothered, I'll run the chain through a rag. Periodically (depending on conditions) I'll degrease the chain and clean the bike. I don't relube very often otherwise, because it's not necessary.

jotko

wheelie-bin wrote:

Some of your bikes must be absolutely filthy!

No one give their chain a quick wipe down and re-lube at least? :roll:

Confusing isnt it - every single bike that has ever been sold in Classified was thoroughly cleaned and lubed after every ride

diy

Every used bike ever sold was ridden no more than 200 miles in 3 years.

bill_gates

jotko wrote:

wheelie-bin wrote:

Some of your bikes must be absolutely filthy!

No one give their chain a quick wipe down and re-lube at least? :roll:

Confusing isnt it - every single bike that has ever been sold in Classified was thoroughly cleaned and lubed after every ride

lol