Thicko question, how is best to clean bike after muddy ride?

[rojo]

Haven't been out on a muddy ride yet, but just saw some guys at local car wash pressure washing their muddy bikes. I am sure this isn't good, is that true??

 

[Andy B]

pressure washing can blast the grease from bearings and blast muck & grit into places that it shouldn't be.

you can use a pressure washer if you are careful to avoid bearings & don't use it too close to the bike, just flash it over from a distance

I just rinse most of the cack off with a hose & spray the bike with Fenwicks cleaner, leave it a mo, sponge it down & rinse with a hose

 

[rojo]

I thought it did something like that. So a sponge and hose is ok then. As I didn't want to mesh with bearings etc.

Is it best to dry bike off after, or let it drip dry??

 

[Tallpaul]

How have you never ridden in the mud?? :shock:

 

[rojo]

How have you never ridden in the mud?? :shock:

I have ridden in mud before but that was back when I had cheap bikes and didn't care how I looked after them. Just want to take care over my bikes now, and was wondering what best to get it clean without messing the bearing etc. As at the moment I am not the best at taking things apart at the moment. You got any tips??

 

[Tad]

I asked a similar questiona while back. I now use Fenwicks FS1 as recommended by Harryburgundy. It smells brilliant too.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Fenwi ... 360035727/

You can buy 1 litre bottles. I pour it in to empty Flash bottles with spray heads as I am tight.

I dilute it 2:1 for cleaning the chain and oily bits and 10:1 for cleaning the rest of the bike.

Instructions:

Spray on bits to be cleaned.
Go and make tea.
Rub with a brush (I bought a washing up brush just for this purpose though you can just use the one from the kitchen).
Drink tea.
Spray off with hose.
Bike is now clean.
Lubricate bits that need to be lubricated.

I don't like using pressure washers (uness you're at Mayhem and you get a free bottle of chain lube each time you go to the muc-off stand).

 

[rojo]

I asked a similar questiona while back. I now use Fenwicks FS1 as recommended by Harryburgundy. It smells brilliant too.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Fenwi ... 360035727/

You can buy 1 litre bottles. I pour it in to empty Flash bottles with spray heads as I am tight.

I dilute it 2:1 for cleaning the chain and oily bits and 10:1 for cleaning the rest of the bike.

Instructions:

Spray on bits to be cleaned.
Go and make tea.
Rub with a brush (I bought a washing up brush just for this purpose though you can just use the one from the kitchen).
Drink tea.
Spray off with hose.
Bike is now clean.
Lubricate bits that need to be lubricated.

I don't like using pressure washers (uness you're at Mayhem and you get a free bottle of chain lube each time you go to the muc-off stand).

Cool will get some of that sounds good stuff, and i like the plan off attack

What lubrication is best to use on the bike after clean, and where to put it??

 

[REKIBorter]

Pedros green foaming bike wash. Far better than Muc Off any day. Used the day after last weekends Cannock meet, impresive results. Also used the Park Chain Gang chain cleaner and Chain-Brite cleaning fluid (Xmas present I bought for myself, expensive but by far the best) never had better results before.

Buy yourself a set of bike specific cleaning brushes, they make the job much easier.

 

[Tad]

What lubrication is best to use on the bike after clean, and where to put it??

Oil anything that should be oily, chain mainly.

As for what lube to use, that's a whole new can of worms there!

Prolink is very good, other swear by White Lightning (not the cider). Just do a search, there are a few threads on it in retro MTB chat.

 

[Andy B]

Chain cleaning...

my old method
Fenwicks Concentrate 50/50 mix in a chain cleaning gadget
work it in well with the chain cleaner & leave it for a little bit whilst you have some cake or something...
rinse with clean water (can be done with the chain cleaner as well for extra stubborn crap)
dry with (old) towel
carefully WD40 the chain to displace any remaining water
dry with towel
lube with Finish Line dry or wet lube, depending on the weather

New method
remove chain & place in the ultrasonic cleaner (£30odd from Maplins) with 50/50 mix of Fenwicks to cover chain
switch on cleaner
get a cup of tea
have some cake
remove chain from ultrasonic bath when done & rinse
hang over a radiator to dry
lube with Finish Line dry or wet lube, depending on the weather

You only need to put a drop of lube on each of the chain rollers, not the side plates, let it soak in, repeat if needed & wipe off any excess