Today’s QoW comes from Premium Member Russ Wood. His Question dovetails perfectly with Jim Langley‘s Tech Talk today about the don’ts and do’s of washing your bike.
(We really need to replenish our stock of Questions! Please submit you own QoW ideas using the Question of the Week Ideas link.)
How Clean Do You Like to Keep Your Bike(s)?
Answer: I can’t remember the last time I washed my bike or wiped it down.
I must confess that I don’t normally wash my bicycle. If I rode less and saw my bicycle as an important part of my personal identity (no criticism intended), I might be more inclined to keep the bicycle pristine (I do enjoy riding a sparkling clean bicycle). I typically wipe off truly egregious contamination, and make serious efforts to keep the drive-train and associated parts clean and well lubricated. I also try to be proactive in addressing maintenance issues before they result in expensive damage or cause problems while I’m out on the road. In retrospect, since I spend significant time riding my bicycle, I must try to focus my remaining energies (physical and psychological) where they are most needed. The outcome is a bicycle that visually, leaves something to be desired, but is quiet, has a lubricated chain, strong cables, good tires, thick brake pads, and rolls easy.
I have 2 answers related to 2 bikes! The road bike never goes out in the Wisconsin winter because of salt, sand and other crud. I wash it pretty regularly in season. The winter bike (35 year old steelie) only gets cleaned/rinsed when parts stop working! (though chain regreasing is required about weekly)
The tandem – clean enough to eat off of it, the single road/commuter/all arounder – once or twice a year, it’s titanium non-painted dirt makes it look cheaper to would be thieves, or at least I hope so.
RAH, I’m not unlike you in your approach, but I keep separate microfiber towels right next to my bike (one for wiping down the bike, one for the chain and pulleys, etc., that gather gunk). I wipe the chain and drivetrain as needed; same for the frame surfaces, brakes, etc. I usually only “wash” the bike if I’ve ridden in a rainstorm and really mucked it up. But it always looks clean. I can’t stand seeing any real dirt on it.