Friday Fun: Bike Wash Editiion

[TyronLab]

So after the tremendous success of my snot-related poll (I've mastered the snot rocket in the meantime by the way, much to the dismay of the missus and the adulation of my offspring), I thought I'd shoot the Hub community another opinion poll.

 

I have a race coming up tomorrow, and I strongly believe that preparation is key to success. Clean kit and fresh snacks packed, chain lubed, sunglasses cleaned and bike checked over all done the night before. The only question I have relates to bike washing.

 

Being a slightly OCD person, I like having a clean bike. Hard training however leaves it a bit dusty and dirty as you know. I can't decide whether to spend an hour washing it to be clean basically while I sleep only, or only get to it after it gets all dusty tomorrow.

 

As always, comments (and jokes, its a Friday so you get double points for a good pun) appreciated.

[fanievb]

clean the drivetrain only

no washing, especially if you rock up at the race with a MTB. then even your shoes must be full of mud, just to piss off the roadies

 

[Hamstring]

Drivetrain only often.

[Hamstring]

daily if i had one of these 

[Chingy182]

daily if i had one of these 

Looks like they used a good dose of Squirt Lube there

[Dirkitech]

So after the tremendous success of my snot-related poll (I've mastered the snot rocket in the meantime by the way, much to the dismay of the missus and the adulation of my offspring), I thought I'd shoot the Hub community another opinion poll.

 

I have a race coming up tomorrow, and I strongly believe that preparation is key to success. Clean kit and fresh snacks packed, chain lubed, sunglasses cleaned and bike checked over all done the night before. The only question I have relates to bike washing.

 

Being a slightly OCD person, I like having a clean bike. Hard training however leaves it a bit dusty and dirty as you know. I can't decide whether to spend an hour washing it to be clean basically while I sleep only, or only get to it after it gets all dusty tomorrow.

 

As always, comments (and jokes, its a Friday so you get double points for a good pun) appreciated.

Must say I did enjoy your previous snot-rocket poll Tyron!

 

As for washing before a race, I've had different experiences with washing before a race.

Once I washed the bike and forgot to relube and re-adjust my sensors, so when the race started and the meters were giving errors, it lost me some time! Needless to say the cassette/chain made itself known that race.

I suppose it depends what washing means here- a cleaned cassette and chainrings with relube is great, but repacking or regreasing anything with bearings that worked before is a risk, unless you test it thoroughly before the race- last thing you want is for a sealed bearing to cease because it was unknowingly placed back in misaligned!

 

Personal rule of thumb: if its working flawlessly before the race, only a light hose down. 

 

Good luck with tomorrow!

[TheJ]

Lets just say I haven't touched my bike after the 1st Baviaans weekend.

[Coolspin]

clean the drivetrain onlyno washing, especially if you rock up at the race with a MTB. then even your shoes must be full of mud, just to piss off the roadies

 

Mtb full of mud doesnt piss off roadies, we totally expect that.

[T-Bob]

 

Personal rule of thumb: if its working flawlessly before the race, only a light hose down. 

 

Good luck with tomorrow!

 

 

Now you're just showing off. 

[Yo-Yo]

Last time there was a wash thread it degenerated in to proper naming and shaming and GreaseMonkey lost his name... 

[Me rida my bicycle]

Seeing as I am a true mountain biker I like having my bike clean and shiny before a race love the facial expressions rocking up at an event with old faithful and my bike on top worth much more. Hahaha

[Wayne pudding Mol]

Clean socks, clean drivetrain, clean shorts but I do like a race wher they give it back clean

[ChrisF]

Clean before a race, most often it gets cleaned within 48 hours of the race.

 

Training rides ..... muddy - it gets washed and lubed.  Dusty - it gets cleaned and lubed, but no water

[Grease_Monkey]

Clean about once a month or when it is muddy. Clean and lube the drivetrain before every ride.

 

Always clean and do bolt, suspesion, and sealant check before a race.