[bikerbutt20]

just wondering how you guys clean your bikes. and why disc brakes sometimes make a whole bunch of nasty noises?

 

[frizzle-fry]

I hang my rig on my park stand and gently soak the bike with low pressure water from the hose. I use a soft bristle brush, dip it in soapy water and clean the dirt off of the frame (with the wheels off). I then replace the rear wheel after scrubbing the cassette with a hard bristle brush and clean the derailers, chain rings and chain (park chain cleaner). I use degreaser when needed being cautious about not getting it all over the bike. I don't spend too much time cleaning the frame as it will cake up with mud really fast here in the northeast. I concentrate on keeping the drivetrain as clean as possible without using degreaser too often, but it is hard not to with all the rain we get here.

Regarding disc brake noises, there can be many causes - warped rotors, misalignment, brake pad adjustments, frame flex, etc.

 

[BelaySlave]

Is cleaning an All Mountain bike different than a XC hardtail bike?


This is my preferred method....
1) Clamp bike onto repair stand.
2) Degrease and clean chain, cassette, chainrings.
3) Light spray over the entire bike making damn sure I don't use direct pressure on the bottom bracket, headset, fork.
4) Bucket of suds and a sponge and give her a good cleaning.
5) Spray off the bike.
6) Dry it off with shop towels.
7) Lube up chain, pedals, etc.

Yeah something like that.

 

[SIGMA]

from the back of my truck

i let the rain clean it:eekster:

 

[BigLarry]

Ride through streams

I only wash my bike maybe 4 times a year, only when it's really caked badly with mud. I just rinse it down really good with a low pressure hose. I'm not sure any more washing really helps. A lot of the mud flakes off on its own

I also go through lots of streams in my rides and it helps get the bike clean too.

I use White Lightning on the chain, and it keeps the chain perfectly clean just fine without washing or degreasing. Over 1.5 years and 1800 miles on it now and everything runs fine.

I also take the bike for a full maintenance every spring after all the winter mud and water: relub hubs and crank, change fork oil, retune everything, etc.

 

[d365]

why disc brakes sometimes make a whole bunch of nasty noises?

its my understanding that if you get any petroleum based cleaner on the brake pads, it makes them squeal like a pig

 

[uktrailmonster]

I only wash my bike maybe 4 times a year, only when it's really caked badly with mud. I just rinse it down really good with a low pressure hose. I'm not sure any more washing really helps. A lot of the mud flakes off on its own
QUOTE]

You clearly don't live in the UK then!!

Wash, dry and fully lube immediately after every wet ride (i.e all winter)
Wipe and lube chain after every dry ride. Wipe dust off shock and fork tubes and lightly lube seals.
Generally leave the brakes alone, just rinse any mud/grit off the discs. Otherwise let them self-clean (I take it you don't clean your car brakes after every drive?)

 

[Maida7]

I use the hose and a toilet brush. No soap or degreaser but you can if you like. Then dry the chain and lube the chain with oil. My area rains alot and we have lots of mud so I clean it every 2-3 rides.

 

[unfluid one]

I use those plastic jugs used to water flower pots.. pedro's citrus cleaner for the drivetrain, those blue dishwashing sponges with the rough material on one side for the chain.

 

[eatdrinkride]

I don't so much as 'wash' my bike as much as I 'dust and polish' my bike.
Pledge does a nice job
it's all geographically dependant of course.

 

[pixelninja]

I really only clean my drivetrain. I spray it down with de-greaser, brush it with a stiff brush, hose it off, run the chain through a rag and re-lube. But I live in a dry area, so my bike is never really that dirty.

 

[dogzilla]

Today i rode through big deeep ass stream to clean my bike... shame i was still a few miles away from home and ended up getting it dirty again.

 

[creak]

With a hose

 

[creak]

Oops

Sorry, I meant a horse

 

[creak]

oops again

Did I say horse??? I meant "hoe(s)".
\:nono:

 

[SuperKat]

Wash

Hose, no pressure except on tires for mud, towel dry, Simple Green, lube up.
Watch the pivots. VP Free gets pivots cleared out with pipe cleaner. Sometimes little rocks get caught in the lower set.

 

[kev1n]

I used to do the hose wash thing. Now, I only do that if it's *really* caked in greasy mud. Low pressure water, simple green, dry it well, lube everything, and spray on a little pedr0's bike lust.

Recently, I started doing this

http://www.passiontrailbikes.com/articles/2006/01/04/cleaning-a-muddy-bike-without-a-hose

and have had good results.

 

[fumanchuchu]

Is cleaning an All Mountain bike different than a XC hardtail bike?

does checking for broken spokes count as cleaning?

 

[x9typesh]

- wipe off excess dirt/dust on frame and cables with damp rag
- wipe down fork seals and stanchions and shock
- toothbrush to the pivots/bushing and derailleurs
- scrub chainrings and cassette with a kitchen brush
- degrease chain (maybe once in like 4 rides)

takes like 10-20 minutes

 

[Clutchman83]

If its really muddy, and ONLY if its really muddy, I'll leave it on the rack, head to the you spray car wash, and soak the bike with the car from about 7 ft away so the spray is very gentle, being careful to watch out for the sensetive areas. My apartment complex doesn't have a hose available, so its pretty much the only option short of using a tub and hand washing it, and I'm lazy. If its just dusty, or only a little muddy, I just use a damp towel.

As for the brakes, I've been using automotive brake cleaner, again being careful not to hit the paint or sensetive bearings. It's worked great for me, but I don't hear about anybody else doing this. Is this is a no no?