to clean or not to clean? - that is the question!

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May 19, 2012, 10:41:36 AM

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Total Voters: 285

[iain1775]

OK after peoples opinions here -

Imagine the scene -
You get back from a midweek ride late at night, it's dark, possibly raining or cold and all you want to do it get yourself cleaned up, fed and then settle down with a beer in front of the telly whilst the 2 incredibly sexy female nurse lodgers you live with massage your aching legs (ahem, sorry just me day-dreaming again!!).

Do you -

1 - put the bike back in storage (wherever that may be) as it stands and not bother cleaning it until the weekend which could be 5 days away and by that time the crap will be harder to remove and chain and various bearings etc may have been exposed to nasty mud and water for a while

2 - give it a quick hose down to get rid of the worst of the mud and then put it away leaving it to 'drip-dry', again leaving vital parts wet, but this time the water is at least clean

3 - clean it properly (as best you can in the dark) before sorting yourself out. Safe in the knowledge that your steed is safe and ready for action

4 - trail it through the house and leave it in the kitchen so it is there to remind you to do something with it the next morning!!

[Yard]

Given the light evenings, I go for option 1 and clean it the next night.

Not too worried about leaving it standing for a few days anyhow. Cleaned and regreased, things seem to come up shiny enough for me!

Went riding with a guy last week who dunked his bike up to the top tube in a ditch/stream about 0.5km from the end of the ride..."it's more than it'll get at home" he said. 

[Ant]

I normally clean it when i get home.

So i'd say clean it properly when you get home. Or if it's only a tadge mucky, and i mean only a bit, then leave it.

[Nugget]

if the weather is dry id leave mine alone till the following day, if its mucky a quick wash an quick lube on the vitals then id check it out the following day, my bike is always reliable that way, for the sake of 5-10mins more its well worth it....

[Rufus]

You let your bike get dirty???

[grgos]

My favorite option is number-1

[markb923]

leave alone till next day and get shit faced on stella  happy days

[nikobe]

I usually go for number 1 or 2 if there's a bike wash at the ride.  I give it a thorough cleaning when I next have time though, which is always within the week.  Sometimes I do the proper clean immediately if I feel motivated.

[Filthy]

Havent cleaned my meta since I built it, gets a rinse off if it is really caked in mud.

Cleaning is bad, especially with cleaning agents which contain degreasers.

as quoted from santa cruz website q&a...

 Q: I'm lazy and lack motivation, what can I do to prolong bearing life?
A: Stop washing your bike so much. We did some experiments with bikes that were washed a lot but ridden infrequently, bikes that were ridden a lot but washed infrequently, and bikes that were both washed and ridden a lot. Guess what? Your bike hates only being washed and not being ridden. This test group had the worst results. They became creaky and not much fun to be around, much like the people who own bikes like that. Don't get all angry (you know who you are), you can still wash your bike from time to time - and there are those times where it has to be done after every ride. Everything needs more attention during those times. BUT, maybe you should examine your priorities. It's a mountain bike. You can get dirt on it. It's OK.

[Foxy]

..... and look at some porn 

[rogiecon]

clean as soon as you can after a cycle is the only way to go .I usually clean the bike as soon as I get home , it takes max 1/2 an hour + leave it to dry in the shed + lube the vital parts , quick check for damage or excessive wear . then its throw the feet up + crack open a cold beer + ignore the missus as she complains about me away biking all-day again + coming home with a load of mucky cycling gear 

[Rufus]

I don't know, I wash my bikes asap if I can, but during the winter we turn off the outside tap, so I don't wash my bike much.

But I have a freind who keeps his bike very clean, allways washing it. And allways getting problems with it. Rear hub has to be regreased all the time, and now his Codes are acting up.
He never high pressure hoses it, but still there is water in the joints, and now around the pistons of his brakes.

I prefere a light wash and a good lube, and do the same for my bike. Gaffaw.


Funny, when my wife washes her bike guys watch, but when I do... nada... it's a butt crake/cleavage issue.

[gammmmo]

Depends how rich/lazy you are. I've learnt from bitter experience not to leave a bike caked in mud - it just means more expense later as components wear faster. Just a quick hose over, Muc-off stuff, quick brush down, and lots of GT85. Not a proper clean but good enough. Its a pain but just do it! If its just a little dry mud (just finished a 3day trip taking in the Penmachno, North Face trail and came back from Kirroughtree last night where it was bone dry unlike back here in Bristol right now - I have just a little dry mud on my Meta 5  ) then I might just leave it until after the next ride.

[Filthy]

Funny, when my wife washes her bike guys watch, but when I do... nada... it's a butt crake/cleavage issue.

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