It's spring so young men's thoughts turn to making their bike(s) as shiny as possible.
(Young women probably just think about riding theirs!)
I tend to use whatever is to hand - like Fairy Liquid and Turtle Wax.
Anything 'better'?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Cleaning and polishing
(10 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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I've gone and bought some Green Gunk to clean the Chain and gears of oil and grit. Then a regreasing, after a wash with car wash stuff.
I don't polish it though.
Posted 13 years ago # -
If you can't be bothered/don't have time for a proper soap-and-bucket wash, Toujours-brand baby wipes (available from LIDL) are cheap and good for dislodging all types of gack, from normal frame-splatter to the slowly-accreting evil tenacious gunge which develops on the inside of the dérailleur cage and on chainring bolts. The pair of nailbrushes I use for deep chain-cleaning are currently soaking in near-neat orangey degreaser to see if it'll get the chaingunk off their bristles.
Don't think I've ever used a polishing-substance.Posted 13 years ago # -
phew, thought for a second I was now classified as a "young woman" and would have to review my clothing choices, then realised the "young" appelation excludes me on both fronts ;-)
I *may* wave a hose over it later just to knock the larger clods of mud off it, but other than lubing the chain that's about it for the working bike :-)
Posted 13 years ago # -
"that's about it for the working bike"
True - was more thinking of the 'nice day'/pose bike.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Shininess leads to attention. Attention leads to avarice. Avarice leads to... theft...
Theft, of course, leads to suffering.Posted 13 years ago # -
Not sure Fairly Liquid (other washing up liquids are available) is great for the paint finish, i think the soap product attacks the clear coat. Certainly I was always told never to wash the car with Fairy, not that i ever wash the car either....
Posted 13 years ago # -
Allegedly fairy liquid has salt in hence the don't use it on cars advice, no idea if it's true though.
I imagine (corroding fixies aside!) most bikes aren't that prone to critical rust.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The day to day single speed ride - half rusty, half manky - the only thing that would attract a thief is the shiny white bar tape !
As for the "nice day / pose bike" - ah, thats a different story - degreased with Kaboom citrus, cleaned with lots of hot water/turtle wax car shampoo then rinsed with hot water, towelled off and relubed with the (cant remember the name, but very good) chain lube from Bicycle Works.
Wife thinks I waste too much time on bikes............
Posted 13 years ago # -
I spend more time cleaning the bikes in winter. The dry weather these last few weeks have been particularly welcome, meaning less maintenance required.
Posted 13 years ago #
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