I used a jet wash

[Pale Rider]

I use the hose and one of the multi jet nozzle attachments you can buy and fairy liquid sponge the bike first. Anyone tell me what GT85 does for the bike after washing? Do you spray onto the chain to help clear the water out before lubing? Just wondered as have noticed a little bit of rust start on my cassette (miche brand) wondering how to keep that to a minimum. Probably inevitable as I use the road bike all year round but grateful if anyone has some advice.

Leaves it nice and shiny, leaves a very light lube, and makes the dirt easier to remove next time.

I wash the chain and cassette and use GT85 as the only lube, works a treat - the drive train runs silently - but it needs to be done after every ride.

Mmm, I have just learned the hard way about not washing your bike upside down .. I took it down from the hooks in the garage today and it felt like it had a steering lock on it! When I removed the Forks for a better look at the bearings I could see that I had successfully forced all of the crap from my front wheel up through the hole at the top of the Forks (where the brake caliper bolts through) right into where the bearings live. The fact that it was hanging upside down in the garage just made matters worse as the water and crap settled nicely in the steerer tube. Needless to say the grease in the bearing now resembles a gunky paste with a tinge of rust thrown in for good measure.
What a plank I am

That's a good argument for a mudguard, even if it's only a stubby MTB one, it will stop the crud getting up into the headset.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't have a jet wash, could go to the garage I suppose, but there's no need: nothing that a bucket of soapy water and a few brushes can't cope with as I don't do muddy riding if I can help it.
Normally I wash the bike in the garden or on the veranda, if it is a very cold day I finish off in the living room, an old towel to protect the floor.
Would not hoover the bike, what about the hoover's filters?!

 

[Crackle]

I bought a hand pump portable power washer which I can lob in the back of the car. It's a bit slow but works pretty well for cleaning the mountain bike.

 

[bikeman66]

Very muddy ride today, so on the way home I used a garage jet wash.

First time for me to use one on a bike, and I'm aware indiscriminate jet washing is not advisable.

Used carefully, I think it's OK, and I did wipe the bike over at home and apply my usual mist of GT85.

Only disappointment was I couldn't get the job done for a pound, so it cost me two.

What are your views/experiences of jet washing bikes?

Hmmmm............ I can definitely appreciate the plus points of a jet wash, but must admit I've never used one on any of my bikes. The nearest I get is using the spray gun on the garden hose, and even then I normally wrap small pieces of rag round the hubs, bottom bracket, headset etc etc. Mostly use the hose to blast mud out of the treads of MTB tyres and a quick flush over the bike to get the worst of the mud off. Then out comes the bucket, sponge, warm water and a selection of different sized paint brushes. I guess there's probably no harm in using a jet wash, if you stay well away from bearings etc.........and fork and shock absorber seals if using on an MTB.

 

[Brandane]

Would not hoover the bike, what about the hoover's filters?!

The main debris doesn't go near the filters; the filters are there to stop dust getting into the motor that is creating the suction. It should only be some stray dust particles that get that far, otherwise filters would be getting choked up all the time.
Speaking from practical experience, my filters are still filtering despite using my Dyson to clean the bike occasionally . It may well shorten the life of the filter by a small amount, but that's a small price to pay for the saving on labour!

 

[Katherine]

I had fun making the wheels spin when I was cleaning my filthy bike today. Another bonus of having a bike stand!


I used my garden hose to loosen the worst of the mud and muck, then car shampoo to wash the bike, then a rinse with the hose.
Then I spent ages cleaning the chain, cassette etc with wipes and rags, before relubing and oiling. I'll be glad when I can switch back to dry lube, as it's so much easier to clean, but it has been hard to keep the rust at bay.

 

[Profpointy]

What's wrong with putting the bike in the shower at home like usual folks?

Our shower is above the bath and that's where we keep the coal - doesn't light easily if it'soaking wet

 

[slowmotion]

I've taken mine into the shower with the wheels off. It's a terrible faff. There's no room to wield the loofah. Now I just let it get dirty.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/loofah-clean-healthy_n_5613734.html

 

[bikeman66]

I had fun making the wheels spin when I was cleaning my filthy bike today. Another bonus of having a bike stand!


I used my garden hose to loosen the worst of the mud and muck, then car shampoo to wash the bike, then a rinse with the hose.
Then I spent ages cleaning the chain, cassette etc with wipes and rags, before relubing and oiling. I'll be glad when I can switch back to dry lube, as it's so much easier to clean, but it has been hard to keep the rust at bay.

After I've washed the bike, I give the chain, cassette, front and rear mech etc a good spray of GT85. That will keep the rust away. Then, a few minutes before I go out riding I give the whole lot a shot of "3-in-1" Dry Lube with PTFE. Really rate this for the moving parts of the bike........and it is cheaper than a lot of these more "exotic" lubes (most of which probably come out of the same factory anyway). Usually give the exposed cables a coating of GT85 too.

 

[BorderReiver]

I use a portable, battery powered "pressure washer" from Nomad. When full of water it can be a bit heavy to lug about but I don't have a power supply or tap outside. It produces enough power to get the worst of the (road) dirt off the bike but not enough to blast all the grease out of the bearings. If you have to transport the bike inside your car it can also be useful for giving it a quick clean before hand. I've never tried it on a mountain bike but I think as long as the mud hasn't dried on it would do pretty well.

They are about £200 so you would fairly quickly make a saving over the local garage jetwash at £2 a go.

 

[Justinslow]

Had to strip down the headset on my road bike at the weekend despite never using a hose or water to clean it. I always use wet wipes and then dry it off, use gt85 and a rag where necessary. I do use it in the wet but have guards fitted.
The headset was a right old mess for a bike only 18 months old. A rusty mess was how I'd describe it. I don't believe it had much grease in from new for it to be so bad. I took both bearings apart cleaned them up and re greased, they work well now but probably want replacing soon.
I'd never use pressure and water together!

 

[Paul.G.]

Very muddy ride today, so on the way home I used a garage jet wash.

First time for me to use one on a bike, and I'm aware indiscriminate jet washing is not advisable.

Used carefully, I think it's OK, and I did wipe the bike over at home and apply my usual mist of GT85.

Only disappointment was I couldn't get the job done for a pound, so it cost me two.

What are your views/experiences of jet washing bikes?

Personally I think we cyclists get too stressed about jet washes and powerful hoses. On the rare occasions I clean my bike I jet wash it or use the hose. Just be sensible and avoid blasting directly into the bearings but it's your bike so you should do what you think is best.

 

[JPBoothy]

I never knew the bearing lived in that hole, on my bikes they are on the outside of the steerer tube.

A jet wash used correctly will create no more damage than a drop of rain.

Yes, on mine too, but it was close enough to do some sort of damage though. When I removed the head cap it had mud underneath that too. I think the lesson learnt by me was that water will find its own way anywhere so try not to give it a helping hand.

 

[Mile195]

I find the whole process of washing my bike quite futile. It only gets dirty again. Therefore, I generally resolve to wash my bike as little as possible which means I can avoid any potential pitfalls of a given style of washing... That said, it does look very pretty on the odd occasion that I DO decide to clean it. Perhaps I should do it more often...

 

[Hacienda71]

I use the jetwashes at the trail centres if they have them before sticking the bike on the car. Just avoid the bearings from direct blasting. At home bucket, sponge and hose are fine.