Vanity: Polishing the Steed

[dhd.evans]

Ahem. No innuendo here.

But in all seriousness i'm wanting to give my bike a real detail wash and clean tonight before the sportive tomorrow (including components) but after that how do i make it all shiny and sparkly? Does anyone else polish their bike and if so what with?

 

[roadrash]

also makes cleaning easier next time

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I did the knockabout bike a couple of days ago as it's been a while and was surprised at how well a bit of wax car polish has revived the dull paint and mudguards.

I used Turtle Wax but only because I'd run out of Auto Glym.

 

[ianrauk]

+1 to Mr Sheen

 

[I like Skol]

Ahem. No innuendo here.

But in all seriousness i'm wanting to give my bike a real detail wash and clean tonight before the sportive tomorrow (including components) but after that how do i make it all shiny and sparkly? Does anyone else polish their bike and if so what with?

It's going to be wet and miserable, I wouldn't bother

 

[bpsmith]

Proper Wax for me. Makes the bike stay cleaner for longer.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Mr Sheen. If it’s good enough for @ianrauk it’s good enough for me :-). He has a bottle cage dedicated to carrying it on a ride just in case...

 

[vickster]

Forget cleaning. Sounds like you need to get a new bike this eve and another on Sunday as it’s forecast wet this weekend

 

[Blue Hills]

Wipe it over with an oily rag. Haven't washed/polished a bike frame in years.

 

[fossyant]

Mr Sheen (original) is the bees knees.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Wipe it over with an oily rag. Haven't washed/polished a bike frame in years.

I can't be arsed cleaning and polishing scruffy old hacks either, but a tidy-looking machine is worth looking after if you like it and it's a keeper. When I was young I got into the habit of nicking my mum's tin of furniture polish and using that to keep it looking pretty. Also learned back then that wax polish does NOT help the braking properties of Raleigh chromed steel rims! Next time my Pioneer needs a spruce up I'll try some liquid car wax on the frame, as the paint on that bike is quality and I like the colour so want to preserve it in good condition.

 

[steveindenmark]

Why is Mr Sheen better than car wax?

Is there a magic ingredient ?

 

[Blue Hills]

I can't be arsed cleaning and polishing scruffy old hacks either, but a tidy-looking machine is worth looking after if you like it and it's a keeper. When I was young I got into the habit of nicking my mum's tin of furniture polish and using that to keep it looking pretty. Also learned back then that wax polish does NOT help the braking properties of Raleigh chromed steel rims! Next time my Pioneer needs a spruce up I'll try some liquid car wax on the frame, as the paint on that bike is quality and I like the colour so want to preserve it in good condition.

May reconsider for one bike. Should stress that whatever the bike I keep drivetrain, allamoving bits, rlmsl and pads well cleaned.

 

[Blue Hills]

Why is Mr Sheen better than car wax?

Is there a magic ingredient ?

Good question. Would have thought car wax was superior. Have some in the garage for that purpose. Not used in years though - see above.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Why is Mr Sheen better than car wax?

Is there a magic ingredient ?

I suspect because easy and readily to hand and better than nowt. A car "detailing spray" would be better, and a polish with something like Autoglym SRP, then protecting with something like Collonite synthetic wax would see you through a season of use very happily.

I brought my daughter's rather scuffed white spotty Frog back to as-new condition with a mild cutting polish when I bought it for her.

Doesn't take long with the right kit.