Washing bike in shower
#26
ignominious poltroon
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A damp microfiber towel is all you need to clean a bike unless it is caked in clay-based mud.
Of course, it helps if you use wax or some other dry lube on your chain. Then it needs no cleaning; the main issue becomes keeping it dry while you clean the rest of the bike. With a damp microfiber towel.
Of course, it helps if you use wax or some other dry lube on your chain. Then it needs no cleaning; the main issue becomes keeping it dry while you clean the rest of the bike. With a damp microfiber towel.
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Be careful with the head set in the shower. They can be kind of sensitive.
#28
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Yeah. Could be. Just throwing it out there as an option. No way I'd bring a dirty bike through the house and into the bathroom.
Even when my kids were little...if they got dirty...hosed 'em off outside before they could come in the house.
I use the self serve bay at the car wash quite often. I just make sure to keep the sprayer away from the bottom bracket area and wheel hubs.
Even when my kids were little...if they got dirty...hosed 'em off outside before they could come in the house.
I use the self serve bay at the car wash quite often. I just make sure to keep the sprayer away from the bottom bracket area and wheel hubs.
But then, 'house', 'outside hose', and 'self serve car wash' likely don't apply to NYC apartment life...
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#29
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Precisely. I have never lived in NYC, but I have lived in an Italian city for a few months. Stayed in a hotel, and rode a beat-up old Rudge, for which I paid very few lire. My room was small. My bed was small, which is another story altogether - my feet hung about a foot off the end of the bed, and I'm only 72" tall! Anyway, they didnt like me keeping my bike in the room. The bike would bump up against things and leave a smudge. I kept the chain going with a wad of paper towels to clean it and a can of motor oil. Eventually the maids got P-O'ed and complained to the hotel manager, and he came to see me. I was young and belligerent, but I quickly put the situation to rest and chained the bike to a lamp post behind the hotel. When I woke up the next day it was gone.
#31
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I use the Low Pressure setting.
#32
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it's New York City in February. with recent storms & cold weather, I'm guessing there's some road salt everywhere mixed with droppings from all kinds of commercial vehicles. near me, in Waltham, on route 117, right near the bridge over route 128, there's a storm drain that overflows w/ what I'm guessing in household raw sewage, from the smell of it. used to bike commute that way & it never failed to gross me out when there was a lot of extra water on the roadway there
#34
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was gonna suggest that myself
just got one myself. but the OP might need more fire power & depending on what floor he lives how would he handle the logistics? I can run inside fill it up & leave the bike unattended. the other day I had to fill it twice. even if he gets a bigger one, does he want to lug the jug & other cleaning supplies like a towel, etc up & down steps or elevator?
just got one myself. but the OP might need more fire power & depending on what floor he lives how would he handle the logistics? I can run inside fill it up & leave the bike unattended. the other day I had to fill it twice. even if he gets a bigger one, does he want to lug the jug & other cleaning supplies like a towel, etc up & down steps or elevator?
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it's New York City in February. with recent storms & cold weather, I'm guessing there's some road salt everywhere mixed with droppings from all kinds of commercial vehicles. near me, in Waltham, on route 117, right near the bridge over route 128, there's a storm drain that overflows w/ what I'm guessing in household raw sewage, from the smell of it. used to bike commute that way & it never failed to gross me out when there was a lot of extra water on the roadway there
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I live in Chicago and this definitely isn't an option for me. The closest spray wash is over 4 miles away.
#40
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^ For sure. In winter or in the wet a road bike can get very dirty.
Unfortunately my bike doesn't fit in the shower, but if I had a big "walk-in" shower or a bath tub shower, I'd be very tempted to use it as a bike wash!
Unfortunately my bike doesn't fit in the shower, but if I had a big "walk-in" shower or a bath tub shower, I'd be very tempted to use it as a bike wash!
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I do occasionally, but only when the wife isn't home.
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#44
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No. Sometimes I will wash a wheel in the shower after a messy tubeless setup, but generally no. There's just no need to do that with a road bike imo, it just doesn't get that messy.
What I do when a wipe with a wet rag won't do is possibly worse; I get it in the kitchen/living room (the floor is tiled), spray some soapy water, and then a bit of clean water and wipe it all with a rag then relube. Then clean the floor afterwards. Wife doesn't really object because, well, I clean her bikes, too, and clean after myself when I'm done.
What I do when a wipe with a wet rag won't do is possibly worse; I get it in the kitchen/living room (the floor is tiled), spray some soapy water, and then a bit of clean water and wipe it all with a rag then relube. Then clean the floor afterwards. Wife doesn't really object because, well, I clean her bikes, too, and clean after myself when I'm done.
#45
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No. Sometimes I will wash a wheel in the shower after a messy tubeless setup, but generally no. There's just no need to do that with a road bike imo, it just doesn't get that messy.
What I do when a wipe with a wet rag won't do is possibly worse; I get it in the kitchen/living room (the floor is tiled), spray some soapy water, and then a bit of clean water and wipe it all with a rag then relube. Then clean the floor afterwards. Wife doesn't really object because, well, I clean her bikes, too, and clean after myself when I'm done.
What I do when a wipe with a wet rag won't do is possibly worse; I get it in the kitchen/living room (the floor is tiled), spray some soapy water, and then a bit of clean water and wipe it all with a rag then relube. Then clean the floor afterwards. Wife doesn't really object because, well, I clean her bikes, too, and clean after myself when I'm done.
#46
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it's New York City in February. with recent storms & cold weather, I'm guessing there's some road salt everywhere mixed with droppings from all kinds of commercial vehicles. near me, in Waltham, on route 117, right near the bridge over route 128, there's a storm drain that overflows w/ what I'm guessing in household raw sewage, from the smell of it. used to bike commute that way & it never failed to gross me out when there was a lot of extra water on the roadway there
I’m partial to the smell of hot garbage in July
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Hah! You've never seen the NYC roadside piles of grey-black mung that 2 weeks previous was fresh snow. That plowed stuff becomes filthy oily salty blech, and that's on my road bike, shoes, etc.
I know, I know. New Yorkers are nuts.
I know, I know. New Yorkers are nuts.
#48
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I did this just last night. BUT it was a bare frame and I was prepping it to be get painted so it has no components on it. I was just getting clean before paint prepping. My wife still was less than happy with my decision.
I probably wouldn't try it again.......couch seems like a poor place to sleep.
I probably wouldn't try it again.......couch seems like a poor place to sleep.
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