|   A really stupid question about winter riding... | Hazem
Nov 26, 2001 7:16 PM | | Around here there is a lot of snow, a lot of salt, and betweent those two, a lot of mud. It is also usually below freezing, at least at night. So although it seems stupid....how do you wash your bike in the dead of winter. I am worried about gettin a hose out and then having a nice giant ice rink on the driveway and a icy sheen on the bike. Any other winter tips would be appreciated. |
| re: A really stupid question about winter riding... | Pat T.®
Nov 26, 2001 7:23 PM | | I used to wash mine in the shower, knock off most of the mud outside, then scrub 'er down in the shower or tub if you have room. And since my garage gets really cold I would let the bike dry before storing it out there. |
| I don't................ | GEO
Nov 27, 2001 3:43 AM | | I use a beater bike when it's snowy/muddy/icy/cold.
-George |
| I have a winter bike........ | cush
Nov 27, 2001 5:16 AM | | if it is really muddy, it stays that way in the garage and gets hosed down during the day. I then carefully (to avoid the wrath of the wife) carry it to the basement and remove the chain, cassette, and cranks for hand cleaning in the basement sink. |
| U-spray car wash | Seb
Nov 27, 2001 5:56 AM | | When I lived in Chicago, I actually used to stop on my commute bike at one of those car washes where you put quarters in the machine and the hose shoots out a mix of soapy water or wash water or wax or whatever. Worked great, $.25 was enough for the whole wash. I was wearing raingear usually, so the back spray did't matter much.
Where I work now, we have a heated inside loading dock with a hose, so I wash my bike there, though not as often as I should. Somehow, its hard to work up the enegy to wash the bike after a full day work, especially as it means riding home in freezing weather on a wet bike and maybe getting myself wet too. |
| several options: | dr hoo
Nov 27, 2001 5:58 AM | | Get a beater bike. This is the best thing to do. Otherwise, just don't ride on the streets where the sand/salt mixture is used.
Carwash bay, spray carefully with low pressure spray.
Use snow. Seriously. Find a nice clean snowbank and use the snow to scrub off the shmutz.
My best other tip is to use flat pedals and regular boots. Skip the clipless. Also, never ride a warm bike in the snow, always let it cool down to ambient temp (if you store it in a heated garage or in the house). Warm bike + snow = instant ice. |
| Bucket of hot soapy water | Dave K
Nov 27, 2001 9:26 AM | | and a sponge to get rid of most of the mud and salt. After than I take another bucket of hot water and use a waterbottle to rinse the soapy water off. Give the bike a couple of bounces to shake most of the excess off and then bring it inside. If you're worried about clean floors, rest the tires on top of a couple of rags.
Oh, I wash the bike over the lawn to prevent making a ice rink on the concrete.
Once inside, I give the chain and the rest of the drivetrain a quick shot of WD40 (it's cheap) to help displace the water. Later (after I had showered and cleaned up), I wipe the chain down and apply proper chain lube to all pertinent spots. i also would clean out the cables as best I could.
I only had the one bike to commute with for several years, and by washing the bike this way after winter rides (commuting as well as trail rides), I kept the drivetrain and other stuff working ok. The cables eventually quit workiing, but that is pretty unavoidable.
Dave |
| Tips | RainorShine
Nov 27, 2001 10:12 AM | | Get a used beater hardtail so you do not have to worry about bushings. The best ones cost less than 100 bucks that way you do not have to worry about messing up your good ride's parts by wearing them out in all the mud. Never use a car washing station on a good bike because it forces dirt into sealed bearings and other areas.
Wax the frame with three coats of car wax when you get your beater to help it shed mud. I do not wash my beater all winter but I do clean the chain with a spinning scrubber cleaner and lube all the cables and anything else that starts sticking. I also scrub the rims with a dish scrubber to get all that black crud off.
Good luck and don't let the cold and rain stop you!
Chris |
| the "never use a car wash" myth. | dr hoo
Nov 27, 2001 10:50 AM | | Yes, if you use high pressure AND point the spray at the bearings, water will be forced into them. However, if you use low pressure (such as the "spot free rinse" setting) and avoid the bearings, no problem. You can even use high pressure if you want if you are careful. This knocks the salt off well. |
| Garden hose, on the grass.... | CraigH
Nov 27, 2001 12:41 PM | | Drop the front 3 times, drop the rear 3 times.
Wait till it dries (next day) wipe the chain, lube it. Check the tire pressure. Clean the fork stanctions and dust seal. Add a little Manitou M-prep lube to the fork dust seal. Call it done and ready for the next ride. |
| re: A really stupid question about winter riding... | asswhole
Nov 28, 2001 12:54 PM | | rinse your bike on the grass or other area where nobody walks
I also ran a hot water line for easier rinsing of the bike. The spigot is in an attached garage which doesn't ever freeze. |
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