Cleaning your bike during lunch time

[apb]

Hi,

Interested in hearing from anyone who cleans their bike during lunch at work and what stands, tools / products they use. My weekends are pretty full with family going ons and with the short days i don't get enough time to maintain my bike during the winter.

What i want to do is do the bulk of the servicing during my lunch hour, but I'm concerned that i will make a lot of mess etc.

 

[ianrauk]

After a rainy commute I usually give the bike a rag down during my lunch break.
Doesn't take long to to and get's the bike relatively clean using babywipes and a rag.

No need for stands, bucket's of water or cleaning gear.

 

[Rob3rt]

Let it dry then get at it with a small a brush, wipe the rims and brake pads with a baby wipe, same for the chain and job done!

 

[Koga]

Check the weather for your return trip first !

 

[Deleted member 26715]

You get a lunch break! [Life of Brian Mode] You lucky lucky Bastard [/Life of Brian Mode]

Alan..

 

[apb]

Thanks for the replies. wet wipes and a can of GT85 will probably do most of the work without leaving a pool of grease around were i washed my bike.

I usually use turps on my chain which can be pretty messy. I'm just going to have to not do that.

 

[apb]

You get a lunch break! [Life of Brian Mode] You lucky lucky b****** [/Life of Brian Mode]

Alan..

It might infuriate you further, but everyone in my office gets one. Sometimes i take the bike out and do a lap of Arthur's Seat. It's cool city to ride a bike and sh*t one to drive a car.

 

[screenman]

I stopped taking lunch hours when I first went self employed 39 years ago, I would much rather work straight through and get home an hour earlier. I know not everybody gets this option.

 

[oldroadman]

Thanks for the replies. wet wipes and a can of GT85 will probably do most of the work without leaving a pool of grease around were i washed my bike.

I usually use turps on my chain which can be pretty messy. I'm just going to have to not do that.

Er, why?? If you want a cleaning solvent there are cheaper ones, but why not just wipe it over and a light lube?

 

[apb]

Er, why?? If you want a cleaning solvent there are cheaper ones, but why not just wipe it over and a light lube?

Turps is pretty cheap, less than a pound for a litre and using a brush gets grease off pretty quickly and especially hard to reach places like between the sprockets of a cassette and the jockey wheels of a derailleur. I've always found it effective, cheap, but messy.

 

[Rob3rt]

[QUOTE 2762932, member: 259"]Is that wise? It's been a while since I used a baby wipe, but don't they usually contain lubricants?[/quote]

Not that I know of and if they do, then I have to say, it is not very good lubricant because I do it after every ride and my brakes are like boat anchors!

I clean my whole bike with baby wipes. No lubricant like residue ever left.

 

[Koga]

Turps is pretty cheap, less than a pound for a litre and using a brush gets grease off pretty quickly and especially hard to reach places like between the sprockets of a cassette and the jockey wheels of a derailleur. I've always found it effective, cheap, but messy.

Same for me, just keep it away from any bearings (including jockey wheels).

 

[oldroadman]

Fair enough on the turps, something to learn every day! My old favourite, still used long after the team mechanics showed me for drive trains, is a good clean with a stiff brush + washing up liquid and relube with diesel and a paintbrush, wipe off with old rag, done. The old stage race favourite after a nasty wet day.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

My bikes get washed down once a week, polished once a month, I wouldn't dream of wasting my lunch break on bike cleaning.

 

[Leaway2]

No, but I do Mickle once a week.