too much cleaning a bad thing???

[Mr lee]

I am a bit of a clean freak and can't stand a dirty bike....I know it gets dirty but I like to keep things looking new!

 

I currently ride twice a week and clean once a week after a weekend ride.

 

Am I reducing the life of my bearings and moving parts by cleaning this often?

 

I never clean with a high pressure washer and just have the hose nozzle set to spray fine with a tiny bit of pressure.. if that makes any sense. I use a water based degreaser that is diluted 50:50.

[Brickleberry]

I would defiantly not wash the bike with degreaser as they are generally very high in alkalinity and can remove the shine on your bike . It's fine for your drive train , but you would be better off using sunlight to wash your frame as it is neutral .

[NotSoBigBen]

No, you just aren't riding enough 

[BDF]

I would defiantly not wash the bike with degreaser as they are generally very high in alkalinity and can remove the shine on your bike . It's fine for your drive train , but you would be better off using sunlight to wash your frame as it is neutral .

1. You don't need dgreaser to get dirt off your bike. Warm water with nothing in it works as well. Use paraffin to clean the drive train.

2. I would not put sunlight liquid on my bike. It is a detergent which is also a degreasing agent.

[dev null]

I have stopped to wash my bike with a degreaser such as Cleen Green, as it shortens the life of the pivot bearings. I now wash the bike with normal car wash detergent, and then only clean the cassette and chain with degreaser.

[s14phoenix]

nothing wrong with cleaning as long as you are not using a cleaner that's too strong.

 

Just remember that if you clean profusely that you should be ensuring there is sufficient clean lubrication - bearings are greased chain is lubed etc.

 

and when you lube your chain - what's inside is more important that whats outside.

Detergents and degreasers can wash out all the lubrication from the inside of the rollers and pins etc. on the chain and often then lubed on the ouside leaving (for the most part) the inside unlubricated.

[dirtrider]

I just dust the bike of every few weeks , just in case somebody comes around and ask if I still cycle !

[Hamstring]

Sulfonic Acid if found in most liquid soaps even car soap only difference is car soap has a wax part to it to keep your car shining.

[Suidwes Boytjie]

Ok, so what is a suitable bike wash to use then?

[BDF]

Ok, so what is a suitable bike wash to use then?

Spray off with non-high-pressure nozzle

Warm water with soft brush

Then Micro-Fibre cloth wipe.

 

Almost nothing that is non-drive train that that will not clean.

[Headshot]

I use Meguiar's car wash on our bikes. I have stopped using degreaser regularly on my chain. I just brush the cassette and chain while washing the bike and rinse it. With the latest wax based lubes it seems to me that a full on degrease session is hardly warranted. If the chain does not feel gritty when I wiggle it I am happy its clean enough...

[Flatdog7]

I completely ruined my front wheel bearings by washing too frequently. In my case ride more wash less is something I should really take to heart.

[Plentipotential]

Ok, so what is a suitable bike wash to use then?

 

Drive train with paraffin as stated. Rest of bike with a car shampoo, painted like a car, wash like a car.

[Mr lee]

Thank you for your replies and feedback

 

My bike has a matt black painted finish so it is already dull... no worries there.

 

I don't degrease, wash and lube drive train every weekend, probably every 3rd or 4th depending on how dirty/gritty it is.

 

This product I have is sold as a bike wash/degreaser and is apparently used at my LBS on the bikes they service so I suppose it can't be that bad...

 

I think I will start diluting it further for the rest of the bike and only go 50:50 for the drive train when it needs it

[Mr lee]

Oh and I use that "Smoove" chain oil to lube the chain...think it is wax based...

[Cois]

I use smooth on my wife's bike.  (it is parked in the garage most of the time) and I use a oil based lube on my bike.  

 

If it runs more than 20km per week, I would rather use oil base than wax.  But that is just me and other people will differ.