Do you try to keep your bike relatively clean? I do, because I mainly have nothing to do at night. Everything's always pretty much clean.
Anyone else?
Anyone else?
Keep your ride clean?
- Thread starter Dirt Jumper
- Start date
Clean, what's clean?
Depends how "clean" we're talking. I try to keep the chain clean, and the cockpit area clean. Other than that....not really.
I usually wash mine quickly once a month on each of them. i finally took apart my hardtail and gave it a well deserved cleaning... piece by piece. The bike is riding a lot better now, so I am sorry i waited so long. I decided that this winter i will break down each bike and clean each individual part and reassemble. Hopefully i will do it every year. i ride them all enough.. they deserve it
only when they need it
People laugh about how clean my bike is. I wash and wax it once a week, and clean/lube the drivetrain after each ride. It's some work but I seem to go through parts a lot less often than my friends.
I clean my bike by kicking it.
Before I headed back from Europe I hosed off my bike, just so the Homeland Security asshats wouldn't get freaked out by foreign dirt. I'm pretty sure that's the only time I've washed a bike this year. It's been really dry so mud hasn't been an issue. The only bike maintenance I generally do is lubing the chain and making sure my hubs are tight.
"People laugh about how clean my bike is. I wash and wax it once a week, and clean/lube the drivetrain after each ride. It's some work but I seem to go through parts a lot less often than my friends"
Same here. I find it very relaxing..plus I look for cracks.
Same here. I find it very relaxing..plus I look for cracks.
Yeaaah. This is how clean my bike is. I don't wax it though, because my paint job isn't shiny, it's a flat green. I degrease and lube my chain with Rock 'N Roll, then take a shop rag and move it in and out between each cog on my cassette, then clean my derailler (all I need is a rag, it never gets mudded or anything) Then I clean my Sun S-Type rims, then I clean my bash guard and front chainring, crank arms, then I clean the cockpit, the fork crown and legs, then it's usually looking really good.Reactor said:
Dirt Merchant said:
I've found several minor problems and fixed them before they became major problems. Things like cracked cable housings, loose pivot, frayed cables, bad chain links, loose spokes. I think it's worth it, and like you I find it relaxing.
I keep the Drivetrain and fork real clean, but the rest of the bike just gets the once over woth a brush and hose.
I brush the worst of the crap off when it starts to feel heavy. 
I really try to keep my bikes clean and well maintained.
Why do we have to look directly at your ass, eh?stinkyboy said:I dip it in a bog.
LOL!!!Echo said:
I too haven't cleaned my bike all that often this summer because it's been so dry. I generally lube the chain, make sure the brakes work, check tire pressure and occassionally check my spokes, hubs and shock & fork pressures.
Ummmmmm.... you don't. You could have focused on the bog or the bike, but noooooooooooo - you had to look directly at his ass.robdamanii said:
NTTAWWT.
One of the main things that attracted me to a Singlespeed was the ease of maintenance, I keep the chain relativatly clean, and a wash the bike completely when it needs it or when I am bored, but not having excessive moving parts (derailers, shocks, pivots...) upkeep is simple if it makes a noise I check it out (like bottom bracket creaks) if the bike is quiet it's all good.
Occasionally. Cleaning it makes me pay it close attention so I find the small things that require adjustment or repair. The last one was a really loose cassette - d'oh, so that's why I was getting this bad chain rattle...
J
J
When I do a Muddy ride ,I usually hose the bike down , lately as every one has said it has been so dry that it has not been nessecary. now winter riding becose a challenge because you get all the snow and Ice that freezes on the frame, plus if you do some time on the road you have road salt.
Generally, I only get concerned with dirt on the bike when I'm taking it inside to put on the trainer (mud flying across the living room ain't so good). Otherwise, I try to keep the drivetrain as clean as possible and well-lubed.
I usually never clean my bike. I'll lube the chain and do the general once overs, brushing the dirt away as I go, but generally I let them maintain their dirty look. It makes it appear as if I ride them.
Il wash my rigs maybe once a month. But it has been really dry here.
every ride or so, chain lube only.
10 or so days before a race. total tear down clean lube ect. (DH and SS)
every ride or so, chain lube only.
10 or so days before a race. total tear down clean lube ect. (DH and SS)
You know, with the tire clearance on these new forks, that has become a real problem...........stinkyboy said:
Yeah, I agree. I like to smoke a bowl, have a beer and get real anal about getting every last bit of dust off. It's extremely satisfying to make your bike shine. I have a wide variety of cleaning products and tools, including 2000 grit wet and dry, autosol, brasso, wax, GT85, a full set of crazy different shaped bike brushes, a huge pile old clean cotton t-shirts and so on. I will also strip and service anything that looks like it's ingesting crap. Since I've been able to afford sealed hubs (as an adultReactor said:
) this is far easier, but like you say Reactor, you do often spot minor niggles that can be rectified before they actually become a problem. I've been known to clean all my housemate's bikes as well. I just like clean bikes. A clean bike is a happy bike.
You might consider seekingChangleen said:
