Where do you wash your bike?
#27
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Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
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Driveway. Usually once a week, more if I encounter a very dusty ride. I am getting in the habit of wiping down my bike with all purpose pledge after each ride this time of year though. There is still a lot of salt on the road, so I'm doing my best to keep it from staying on bike after my rides.
#28
Senior Member
I wash both of my bikes on my back back porch that has a roof on it
#29
Full Member
I usually grab some cardboard from the recycling bins behind an office supply store or pharmacy and use that for my oil changes and mechanical work. To wash the bikes we use regular dish soap and a brush. But then I'll use some brake cleaner on the gears after and try to catch that stuff on a cardboard.
#30
Keefusb
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Ashland, VA
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Bikes: 60cm 1992 Paramount, 60cm 1995 Cannondale R900 (son's bike), 1994 Cannondale H300 (mine), 1994 Cannondale H300 Killer V (wife's bike), 60 cm 1989 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra SLX
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I know this will be controversial but back in the days before I had a good place to wash my bikes, I would put them on the roof rack, and take them to one of those self-service drive-in car wash places. I would put an old towel down on my roof to catch the worst of the grease and grime, soak the drivetrains with a citrus degreaser, and spray the bikes down with the soapy wand (staying away from the bottom bracket, headset, and hub bearings with the high pressure stream). I would do a low-pressure rinse, and let the wind on the drive home dry them off. Every bike I own has been cleaned this way many times over the years, and every bike I own is at least 25 years old and still going strong.
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#31
Senior Member
Id rather not leave stains as I'm washing in a public place, thus when I clean the chain and cassette I put down some plastic backed painters felt, - and -before- washing the bike, I roll up the felt and hose the concrete with the garden hose. That helps any run dirty off not cling to the already wet concrete. I've washes the bike in the same place for years and , I'm sure, no one can see I was ever there.
#33
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Join Date: Feb 2021
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For my chain I use a Park Tools chain cleaner fairly regularly. Doesn't make a huge mess and it keeps the chain nice and clean. If it needs a real good scrubbing I'll take the chain off and clean it in a pail with degreaser and an old tooth brush. Keeps things nice and simple with little to clean up afterwards. When the chain it off I usually wipe everything down and give the cassette a good clean with a rag that I toss afterwards.