Road Bikes and Water?

[raptor-22]

hose pipe on mist setting. Squirt liberally with Motorex bike clean and then wash down with hose on mist setting.

 

shake liberally to get water out of nooks and crannies.

 

towel dry

 

apply motorex bike shine.

 

Hang and drink a beer

 

job well done

 

Pat self on back

[DJR]

.................... Motorex bike clean .................

 

That stuff WORKS and really get a bike shiny clean, but damn, it is expensive. So, my Scottish genes make me squirt somewhat less than liberally. 

[partydave]

Spray entire bike with diluted clean green. Frame, chain, cassette, everything. Leave for 5 minutes and hose off with hose pipe on pressure setting (not quite pressure washer). 

Wipe with towel and lube chain and cassette.

 

Strip bike, clean and regrease all everything once a month due to riding conditions (daily salty, misty, muddy ride)

 

Never had an issue in many many years apart from a Suntour fork that got rusty at the bottom of the steer tube when I looked at it funny

[Brickleberry]

Chemicals (mainly cleaning) , is my profession. I'll say this, whatever you use to clean your bike, make sure it's neutral detergent. Anything alkaline based, or acidic will cause problems over time. You won't see it, but over time alkaline products will remove the "shine" on your bike or car for that matter. In terms of dirt gathered while riding(mostly soil based) doesn't need strong(if any) detergent to remove, water and a wipe will do in most cases. For grease , degreaser is necessary but keep it off your frame if possible. We make a fantastic wash and wax product that leaves the bike streak free and looking super. But I would stay away from clean green on my frame .

[partydave]

Been using it (or a generic version of) on my bike for 2 years, no issues.

Maybe I'm just lucky

[Brickleberry]

Been using it (or a generic version of) on my bike for 2 years, no issues.

Maybe I'm just lucky

As I say, over a long period it will dull the shine on your bike. And since you see your bike almost daily you won't see it. Not saying yours has, just that it can happen.

[DJR]

Chemicals (mainly cleaning) , is my profession........................

So...............

Is that expensive Motorex Bike Clean worth it?

How about a squirt of Sunlight Liquid dish washing soap in some lukewarm water?

[raptor-22]

I dilute the motorex bike clean 50:50 with water. Makes last longer without losing effectiveness

[Brickleberry]

So...............

Is that expensive Motorex Bike Clean worth it?

How about a squirt of Sunlight Liquid dish washing soap in some lukewarm water?

My honest opinion, no it's not worth it. Like I said, all you really ever get on your bike is sand/mud , which in all honesty water can wash off. Dish washing liquid is great, it's a mild detergent , that is neutral, and really very good at degreasing too. A bike carbon or Alu has a clear coat on it that stops any dirt really getting stuck there, so the most mild of surfactants will do the job. I personally like car wash and wax products as thy dry without streaking, and add a protective wax layer. They can also be bought cheap. In terms of degreasers, my company manufactures a water based degreaser that will lift oil out of paving it's so effective and only costs about R35,00 per liter and can be diluted up to 1/20 and will degrease your drivetrain incredibly. With no damage. So I would say go for the dish wash????

[Brickleberry]

Another note is all these products that are sold as "biodegradable" , they are , in there pure form.however once they are used to degrease , on therefore contain the removed oil and grease, can no longer be considered biodegradable unless they were put through a split emulsion process. So the product washed down your drain after use is in fact not biodegradable.

[Yusufm_11]

Any advice to washing your bike if you have Di2 electronic groupset? I've been very scared to just open a hose pipe on my bike so I use a sponge and bucket and try avoid the derailleurs where possible.

[raptor-22]

Thats really the best way to wash any bike.

[Brickleberry]

Not really sure about DI2 and hot water proof it is, but I would imagine it can handle hard European rain, so gentle hose pipe flow shouldn't cause an issue, but again, I'm not certain

[Butterbean]

Any advice to washing your bike if you have Di2 electronic groupset? I've been very scared to just open a hose pipe on my bike so I use a sponge and bucket and try avoid the derailleurs where possible.

Seen a number of pro bike washes involving Di2 and they thoroughly soak and soap up Di2 components. Apparently amazingly waterproof

[Butterbean]

Chemicals (mainly cleaning) , is my profession. I'll say this, whatever you use to clean your bike, make sure it's neutral detergent. Anything alkaline based, or acidic will cause problems over time. You won't see it, but over time alkaline products will remove the "shine" on your bike or car for that matter. In terms of dirt gathered while riding(mostly soil based) doesn't need strong(if any) detergent to remove, water and a wipe will do in most cases. For grease , degreaser is necessary but keep it off your frame if possible. We make a fantastic wash and wax product that leaves the bike streak free and looking super. But I would stay away from clean green on my frame .

Also in the cleaning chemical business by trade so appropriate use and selection of products is not an issue personally - my worry was purely on the consequences of dousing a bike with water without being able to dry it beyond a quick wipe down on exterior surfaces.

 

Found most car wash &a wax combinations are perfect for frame and component washes, and I use a solvent cleaner for the chain. Thorough rinse and dry as relube. Chainrings, derailers, pulleys, and cassette only get wiped with a clean towel as that's all they really need.

[DJR]

Another note is all these products that are sold as "biodegradable" , they are , in there pure form.however once they are used to degrease , on therefore contain the removed oil and grease, can no longer be considered biodegradable unless they were put through a split emulsion process. So the product washed down your drain after use is in fact not biodegradable.

Interesting and valid point this.

 

Somehow I never thought about that "after" part. I like using an orange oil based degreaser because it is bio-friendly and I also felt more comfortable washing that down the stormwater drain than something like paraffin or diesel.