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Post by YellowLemondTed on Jan 26, 2009 11:37:24 GMT -5
My frame is pretty caked up in dirt from riding Caney Fork friday. I've washed the vital parts (derailleurs, brakes, etc) I just need to clean the rest of the bike.
My question, do any of you know where there is a good place I can take my bike and have access to a garden hose so I can wash the rest of the dirt off of my bike? I know a couple apartments around campus have "car wash" stations/hoses, but I don't know if I should be using them since I am not a resident.
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Post by Moose on Jan 26, 2009 12:53:54 GMT -5
Pledge wipes and wet rags are your friends.
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Post by YellowLemondTed on Jan 26, 2009 14:40:14 GMT -5
Wipes and rags won't quite be enough. Wipes are good for quick clean ups, but my bike needs a good washing to stay in top riding shape. I just need a hose, I've got all of the rest of the materials I'll need.
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Post by Moose on Jan 26, 2009 18:37:07 GMT -5
My bike was as dirty if not worse than yours and I got it almost perfectly clean without a hose.
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Post by GIANTboy on Jan 26, 2009 21:27:03 GMT -5
i hear spit works!
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Post by squidlyman on Jan 26, 2009 22:53:22 GMT -5
Wipes and rags won't quite be enough. Wipes are good for quick clean ups, but my bike needs a good washing to stay in top riding shape. I just need a hose, I've got all of the rest of the materials I'll need. When I get back from a tour, I take a ride down to the car wash. Careful aiming of the water-gun (to avoid those delicate parts), and it works wonders! |
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Post by Vespa on Jan 27, 2009 8:14:53 GMT -5
Using a hose to clean your road bike??? That's something I would reserve for cleaning off an MTB only after riding in serious mud. Just wipe it down -- should take 5 minutes. Or don't -- I'm sure it'll still ride fine. When I ride a lot, I clean off my bike maybe once every 5 months, a little more often if I'm riding in lots of wet weather.
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Post by cujo on Jan 27, 2009 11:25:06 GMT -5
Ted you can go to lowes or home depot and get one of those sprayers. They cost 20 dollars or so. They are typically used for bug or stains.
We used those to clean the race bikes. I will say that some shop rags and windex or simple green can do wonders. A little deisel fuel on a chain will shine that bad boy right up.
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Post by TC on Jan 27, 2009 22:26:33 GMT -5
A little deisel fuel on a chain will shine that bad boy right up. I really like the pesticide spray bottle idea, I'm getting one. Diesel fuel? really? I have been using some natural orange stuff from Lowes. You think the diesel fuel works better? TC |
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Post by cujo on Jan 28, 2009 8:45:56 GMT -5
It is the old school way. I do not know if the new stuff works better. I just know that diesel workd pretty well. I typically use simple green, windex and pledge.
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Post by Moose on Jan 28, 2009 16:46:18 GMT -5
Just don't spray the Simple Green fully concentrated or directly on the cassette. I had to replace the freehub on my bike thanks to Simple Green working it's way down in there and eating up the grease. Just spray it on the brush that you are scrubbing with.
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Post by cujo on Jan 29, 2009 9:43:36 GMT -5
Really? I never had that problem. I always just spray direct. Then again cane creek wheels have some bad A seals. I also did not let it soak long. I now a guy that had simple green eat his paint once. But that was the old days. I also think it was some shotty paint job.
I usually use a hose or spray bottle. I like the spray bottle i also have a pressure washer that you can step down the power. Clean bike do work better.
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Post by mvi on Jan 29, 2009 20:47:35 GMT -5
I use a little pressure washer to clean my bikes. I'm light on the road bikes since you can spray the paint and decals to pieces if not careful. Unbelievable how clean your drive train gets without detergents (just water). Great risc to spray through the seals though.
To put things in perspective; The town I lived in in the early 80's was home to the champ of the touring club. He rode > 35000 miles in the 250 or so days of the touring season. With a physical 40 hour job on top of that. He just lubed the chain, and replaced tires chains and gears. No cleaning (no time for that). To this day I find that unbelievable.
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