how often do you wash the bike in the winter

[jackthelad]

To guys who commute every day in the winter.If there is salt on the roads do you wash the bike daily.

I have been rinsing the bike after every ride with cold water then clean the chain with baby wipes then spray gt85 to get rid of any water,then rags to take the gt85 off then quick relube.Only thing this does take some time.I only do it to keep the salt and crap off the bike.Is this too often or can you leave it for a few days before going thru the above process,or is there a quickie way to keeping salt of the bike and the chain lubed

jackthelad

 

[ianrauk]

My winter clean schedule for my commute bike is a wipe after every ride (morning & evening) a full clean every week. ie wheels, drive chain etc all off and thoroughly cleaned and cables lubed.

 

[neslon]

I give it brief hose after every commute when its salty. Shouldn't need lubing that often though.

 

[fossyant]

If it's been wet... yes at the end of the day, quick wash off - takes 5-10 minutes.

If it's been chucking it down, then it's a wipe chain off, re-lube, then a wipe. Don't bother with aerosols at all.... just get a little dropper bottle - one drop on each roller on the chain - Done...... you'll be surprised how far that little drop goes....

My process..... after cleaning me...ahem.....

Bike out, bucket / sponge and a 'bike brush' for tricky bits. Standard car wash, or Radox bubble bath if you run out (yes boys/girls just about running out of the Radox...ahem..... need a Halfrauds trip)...

If it's been hissing it down, wipe chain with an oily rag, then drop oil on each roller. Spin round. Run rag through sprockets to remove crud (PS don't need to do this now as I ride fixed). Wipe chain rings with oily rag.

Drive system cleaned (yep that easy).

Wash bike with sponge etc. Wash wheels/rims and brake pads well.....(gets rid of crud).


Then - shove back in garage to drip dry..........

Time 10 mins. Yes I have two kids/busy house, but it's a bit of slight wind down time - if busy running kids to clubs, bike wash is fitted in........

PS I am a bit OCD like our Ianrauk..... clean is fast though..............

 

[jackthelad]

I give it brief hose after every commute when its salty. Shouldn't need lubing that often though.

nes what do you do to keep the water off the chain,or is it best to just leave the old lube on and clean the chain once a week instead of cleaning the muc off every ride and going thru the process of drying the chain and relubing

jackthelad

 

[jackthelad]

fossy i can understand if it has been pissing down,but I am talking about the dry weather with salt on the roads,cold but no rain.

Is it best to get the salt off as quick as possible and go thru the process of getting the chain dry after rinsing,or can the salt be left on the bike for a few days and give it a rinse say every 3 or 4 day,just wondered what other guys do

jackthelad

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Winter is the same as summer, once a week the tyres get checked for debris, the chain tension gets checked, fixed wheel, anything that looks like it needs adjusting or oiling gets done, then it gets a wash. Once in a while the chain will get wiped with a rag and I will polish the bike.

 

[fossyant]

fossy i can understand if it has been pissing down,but I am talking about the dry weather with salt on the roads,cold but no rain.

Is it best to get the salt off as quick as possible and go thru the process of getting the chain dry after rinsing,or can the salt be left on the bike for a few days and give it a rinse say every 3 or 4 day,just wondered what other guys do

jackthelad

Dry with salt, not needed if you have guards......... if not then just a dust off. It won't melt...rust....

Bikes look crap when you don't maintain them.... if you are keen, you'll just ride then clean it.... dry and salty is fine.

 

[fossyant]

Salt on it's own isn't an issue, with water is.........

Just rinse off, and a little bit of oil...that's it.........

 

[e-rider]

in the winter - I wash my best bikes after each ride BUT my commuter only gets cleaned once every 2 weeks or so.

the whole point of a commuting bike is that it's low maintenance and as tough as old boots

I can't believe you guys are cleaning your bikes on a daily basis - WTF! Completely un-necessary IMO.

 

[400bhp]

Probably once every 2.5 weeks on average. Use the bike 3 x a week to commute and a long weekend ride. Generally takes me an hour, often not using water, just GT85 a couple of rags and chain lube.

 

[Roadrunner78]

I put my good bikes away in the bad weather. I have a single speed hybrid for the winter.

Past experience before having a winter commuter was a kona explosif (before I really discovered skinny tyres speed). It went through 3 winters. My dad has it now and has cleaned it up. All original apart from wear and tear parts. End result is a few rusty bolts and a little corrosion on the small bar behind the BB. I cleaned it once a week and oiled the chain and moving parts.


IMO a cheap commuter is best put the nice bike away.

Oh and top tip. I do still look after my ss commuter. I smear engine oil with my finger onto rustable parts. Beats vaseline and means it's not too bad after winter. It's still my pub/shop bike, less attractive to thiefs.

 

[potsy]

how often do you wash the bike in the winter?


Me no understand

 

[400bhp]

Actually there's a question I've been meaning to ask-may as well ask on this thread:

Does anyone use a compressed air blowgun, especially to clean the hard to reach areas? Was thinking this has got to be a good alternative to wedging cloths in between bits or using GT85 spray.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Wipe the mud off, relube if the chain sounds a little squeeky and thats it for daily stuff. Every so often I will spend another 5 minutes wiping the bike done properly with baby wipes. Degrease the chain with parafin and relube whenever I can be bothered.

in the winter - I wash my best bikes after each ride BUT my commuter only gets cleaned once every 2 weeks or so.

the whole point of a commuting bike is that it's low maintenance and as tough as old boots

I can't believe you guys are cleaning your bikes on a daily basis - WTF! Completely un-necessary IMO.

A quick wipe of the major components takes me like 30 seconds and another 30 to lube. I'd rather do that than have mud dry on and rusting everything up... even on my "cheap" fixed commuter.