whilst being upbraided for errant use of WD40 by very helpful mechanic (who also gave my bike a thorough clean at no extra charge for which I am very grateful) it emerged that said helpful mechanic thought I should get a life as I was cleaning my bike too often. I clean it once a week. Which is every hundred miles. It is usually quite dirty. Should I get a life?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
how often do you clean your bike
(30 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
-
You could go the full TBC hog and never wash your bike until you can no longer tell who makes it.
Just cleaned my mountain bikes last sunday - even though i spent an hour on each there was still crap on them when they dried off.
It was then i realised why i never do it... always disappointed!
Just buy a new one when the old one gets dirty and NEVER use WD40.
Posted 14 years ago # -
You have a life, you ride a bike.
Or do you wash your car every 100 miles and spend a 100 hours a week on the web??
I wrote this a while ago for primary children.
"A clean bike goes faster and lasts longer – WHY?
1) Because if you wash the mud off it will be a bit lighter (but you won’t really notice the difference).
2) Because if you polish it nicely and make it shine it will reduce the wind resistance (but you won’t really notice the difference).
3) However when you clean your bike you’ll notice things that need tightening up or adjusting and you help to stop it getting rusty or corroded and also stop bits from actually failing off!
A well maintained bike should move smoothly without rattling."
http://bikebase.org.uk/basic-basics/beginners-guide-to-living-with-a-bike
How often?
Some people like clean and shiny, some people think dirty/shabby bikes are less likely to get stolen.
Just don't use a power hose on bottom bracket, hubs etc.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"You could go the full TBC hog and never wash your bike"
How much do you charge customers if they bring in dirty bikes for repair?
Posted 14 years ago # -
A couple of times a year, after the worst of the winter and when we are well into the spring.
I check things like chains and other moving bits every week but the frame and rims get dirty again as soon as you roll along a road so I tend to ignore them.
My M6R luggage rack rattles a wee bit and so do the rollers. None of the important bits do.
In the depths of the winter a scoosh of WD-40 will keep things moving till you get time to mend them. It's not a lube, it's a water dispersant, but sometimes it works. It will cure a squeaky Brompton suspension block.
My winter Brompton is quite shabby but it all works. The other two are more buffed because they don't have to deal with the salt and grit. I'm thinking about slapping some Hammerite on the winter one over the summer when I don't need to use it.
I will now repair to the garage with Radio 4, a pair of 22mm cone spanners and an SRAM Torpedo hub.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well we don't 'charge' for cleaning as it's not a service we offer. IF however we have to clean a lot of dirt off the bike to get at the parts needing some love then that adds to the time of the job so it may incur a cost that way.
We do offer 'deep clean' of mechs etc in our magic tank.
Dog dirt must be removed by rider before we touch it due to us not wanting to get ill.One day we might get a proper wash bay in the basement but plumbing is the problem we have.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I meant clean/lube the chain and gears, I do wipe the rims and brake blocks but been too liberal with the WD [ironically as had cleaned it sunday, been out to livingston monday, tues and bike in the bike chain for service on Weds.but not going to use it much again[wd40 I mean])
I clean my car once a year whether it needs it or not.,
Posted 14 years ago # -
what's wrong with WD40 on a bike chain etc?
Posted 14 years ago # -
WD-40 isn't really meant to lube things like chains. It was made as a water dispersant and presumably was better than the 39 versions which preceded it.
It does have a light mineral oil in it as well as other move volatile components.
If you want to lube your chain then it's better to use something made for the purpose like oil or some people like to heat them up in wax.
It failed to sort my rear changer this afternoon so I had to clean that out as well as replacing pedals, cranks, chain, suspension block and some other odds and sods. Everything is working and buffed. I didn't get the SRAM hub to freewheel properly so I fitted a spare back wheel and I'll strip the defective one.
I have a nasty bruised finger nail where I trapped it in the back end of a Brompton.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I was once told WD 40 stands for Water Displacement for 40 days. That would be as long as our lord jesus spent in the desert and is a claim too far. It can go on moving bits of bikes, but you should wipe it off [my big mistake] and keep it away from bottom bracket, hubs and any other bits with grease as it displaces that too. I think the mechanic also thought I was saying I clean the frame etc once a week. I now see why he told me to get a life. I only clean and lube the moving bits for about one hour every sunday. It doesn't help as I had to get new cassette and new chain and new headset.
I will still spray it on a chain on winter evenings coming in from the road to try to reduce rust when I am not hanging about in the garage. Please don't tell James the Mechanic
Posted 14 years ago # -
ok. thanks. i use wd 40 to clean and derust, but not as a lubricant, so guess i'm doing it more or less right. had me worried for a bit there that it might have some negative effect.
Posted 14 years ago # -
http://www.wd40.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=31
Water Dispersant, 40th attempt. See above for the manufacturers version of the story :)
Cleaning the bike... hmmm... well the mechanical bits get regularly lubed/adjusted, my mountain bike gets a wash whenever it gets more than slightly grubby (I'm still twitchy about admitting to family members how much I've spent on it :-o )
The commuting hybrid still gets the regular lube/adjust but I tend not to wash it as I quite like it looking scruffy and boring, I feel it is less likely to attract thieves that way :-/ my hope is that they look for flash graphics and suspension rather than a mucky rigid hybrid with full mudguards and skinny tyres. Mind you, I may wave a soapy sponge at it tomorrow and do some maintenance... if it's not too cold ;-)Posted 14 years ago # -
Would Our Blessed Lord Jesus have needed a water dispersant for his bike in the desert? They don't get a lot of rain there.
I could head out to the garage and use meths to clean the inside of the hub with the sticky pawls but since I was out till 0200 hrs having a curry I might just stay here and watch Fulton McKay in an episode of Dad's Army.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Wee Folding, I believe the Son of God actually used the less well known Sand Dispersant-40.
At this time of year, and especially this time of this year when I've never seen so much salt and grit lying on the roads and paths, I tend to wash my bikes about once a week. During the snow period, it was every two or three days. Not all of my bikes have A4 stainless nuts and bolts, so it pays to rinse off the salt frequently. I actually washed all of my bikes yesterday. Ping! Shiny!
I take a hairdryer with a narrow nozzle and blast warm air through the chain to remove the water, and then dab on some lube and spin the pedals for a time. I also blast air through the derailleurs and jockey wheels, the hub flanges, the brakes, bolt heads and so on.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Smudge - yes I keep the costs close to my chest too.
Fulton - I am an admirer of his work - I have seen that Dad's Army episode. Porridge also a fave.
Big Stanley Baxter night last night when Folds was folding his chapati. Catch it on the i-player. Whirraboorit?
Arellcat - hairdryer - I am digging it, there are many of these terrible devices in my house - might angle for one in the garage. Also for eldest's birthday cycled into Princes St for Lee Stafford Poker Straight Hair Straiteners (Also good for curls). Jehovah's pyjamas!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Sand Displacement 40 (days) - It Worked For Jesus -- could be the strap line.
There was quite a bit of most excellent Fascist Displacement in the Old Town yesterday. We were out for family meal and ran into an offshoot of the main demo (possibly heading to the pub to apply the FD-40). Bad that such groups exist but good that there are still only 40 of them in total
Posted 14 years ago # -
MacKay did an episode of the Vital Spark where he played a minister hitching a lift.
Sonny Jim knocked him into the Clyde at Brodick harbour. Alex McAvoy was in the episode of Dad's Army too.
Stanley Baxter had a radio series last month. Sometimes he played more than one character. I walked past him in London 20 years ago which was quite a surprise because I thought he was dead at the time.
Posted 14 years ago # -
We were on the anti-demo demo -- the bit with permission and police protection and maybe 2000 good natured folk. we were on foot, but quite a lot of bikes on demo. A good time had by all.
Posted 14 years ago # -
As it happens I just cleaned the fixed wheel today. It gets a full-on stripdown and clean about twice a year. Frame attacked with T-Cut to the worst scratches and so on. Outside of that it's given a wipe down every now and then, but make sure that all of the components are running smoothly outside that.
The winter had been hard on the bike, but I'm hoping it's dry tomorrow to have it take over main commuting duties again. The geared bike has deputised well, but I looooooove the fixed for commuting. But now it's clean, for a few days I'll be unwilling to let it get mucky again... ;)
Posted 14 years ago # -
SRD - I like the idea of an anti-demo demo - you go on a demonstration to protest about demonstrations - ah but it has a certain contradiction?
Posted 14 years ago # -
I didn't go on the anti homeopathic demo so I made it more effective.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I have a conflicted relationship with cleaning bikes. I oil the chains when they get dry but I never degrease or "deep clean".
The thing is, if I spent even an hour a week cleaning, no matter how conservatively I price my time I'm not sure the longer lifespan of moving parts represents an actual saving. Suppose my effort is worth £10 an hour - £520 is a lot of moving parts!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Chains are about £9 and in the winter they last me 6 - 8 weeks. I replace them on 1% over length. I've never found a great way to clean them and I have read all the Sheldon Brown and Jobst Brandt ideas. Brompton chains run close to the ground, they move faster and they have a small sprocket to wrap round. None of these things are good.
If I stay working in my current school for a few years then something like this might make sense:
because everything is enclosed but it would take quite a few sprockets and chains to add up to the cost of a new bike.
Posted 14 years ago # -
The chain on my Birdy gets filthy much more quickly than my other bikes. It's incredible what a difference being a few centimetres closer to the ground makes.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"It's incredible what a difference being a few centimetres closer to the ground makes."
Indeed
I cleaned a bit of this bike today - because I had a puncture. I put on the tyre I got for Christmas and then removed some of the greasy gunge stuck between the sprockets. As a result I discovered that the cassette lockring had become quite loose - which would explain the slightly slippy gear which I thought was due to wear.
As I've said before - "when you clean your bike you’ll notice things that need tightening up or adjusting ... stop bits from actually failing off!"
After putting it all back together I oiled the chain. I like FINISH LINE Wet Lube, even if it does result in greasy/dirty deposits. Incidentally I put oil on the top of the lower part of the chain which I always imagine is 'more efficient' as this is the side that touches the teeth - but I don't expect it makes much difference!
Now it's so smooth.
Posted 14 years ago # -
You use Stelvios in the winter?
I'll not be using them until April.
Have you tried the Kojacks?
Posted 14 years ago # -
"You use Stelvios in the winter?"
Clearly
I don't do long distance commutes or usually use this bike in extreme conditions - though I was on it when I filmed the slippery Innocent.
Of course, you'll understand, I don't have much tyre choice.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Well yes, I suppose you could try a 349 rim if your brakes have enough drop or you're not using rim brakes.
It's not just that I expect worse road conditions in the winter but if you do get a flat it's more likely to be cold and dark. I've been on Marathon/Marathon Plus since October.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Well yes, I suppose you could try a 349 rim if your brakes have enough drop or you're not using rim brakes."
It's crossed my mind on occasions, But this my high performance multi-purpose machine, don't need the extra 'reliability'.
It's off to London next month.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Well yes, I suppose you could try a 349 rim if your brakes have enough drop or you're not using rim brakes."
It's crossed my mind on occasions, But this my high performance multi-purpose machine, don't need the extra 'reliability'.
It's off to London next month.
Posted 14 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
