Caggy and Aggy style homemade cleaning tips?

[scaredycat]

Disclaimer: First paragraph is usual moydering which I give you all permission, yes permission, to skip to the main quiry within the topic at hand

Hi everyone, WOW WOW WOW I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!! Just got back from LDG and had an excellent ride with excellent company. Have learnt so much all in one day, got up the first bit witbhout stopping, did the red and blue route, but we didnt do the double hill (is that what its called?) because it seemed almost closed with lots of diggers around, and very muddy, my poor back tyre would not have managed. Its so amazing, I practiced turning whilst standing up with my arse behind the saddle and feathering brakes and am really getting the hang of it....loved it loved it loved it...anyway, moyd over.

So, my bike is very muddy after the ride, and I was told on Saturday about how important it is to keep her clean to make her last for longer....which I shall probably need to do, as there is no way I am going to be able to get a new bike any time soon. So, for the same reasons I wont be getting a new bike...it will be a short while before I can get the specific cleaning products. I am just wondering if anyone has any caggy and aggy style cleaning tips that might help get her clean without damaging her (as I know, and therefore worry that some household cleaning products could probably mess things up in some way and I should be careful)...would water and a rag be simplest? and drying immediately to prevent rust?...any simpler ways?

It does say no matter how stupid...so...there we go

[scaredycat]

Well, I've just been over it with a dry cloth because I want to be on top of things, but would appreciate any advise for future reference, cheers guys and gals

[sally]

if you hav'nt got any bike wash stuff then just hose the mud off and wipe over with an oily rag and spray the chain and derailiers with some WD40 or similar- I'm sure Flexi will show you the proper way on the maintenence session

[flexcycles]

Oct 31, 2011 17:56:33 GMT sally said:

if you hav'nt got any bike wash stuff then just hose the mud off and wipe over with an oily rag and spray the chain and derailiers with some WD40 or similar- I'm sure Flexi will show you the proper way on the maintenence session

;DGo Sally, thanks.
Do not use a power washer, I don't use a hose.
I do use a hot bucket of water with a couple of caps of 'bike wash' (oh yes I can supply).
For the chain, a chain cleaning device is useful and citrus degreaser.
As Sally said I can show you if you like.

[tinytim]

to be honest all i use these days is a bit of washing liquid, eco friendly stuff although some say on hear it fades the paint, it may have done years ago with all the nasty stuff they used to put in it but not now! sponge, cloths and some small brushes, bike specific are great but any type will do, ones that get in the hard to do places, you can get them from the likes of home bargains and pound stores, you definatly need to lube the bike after, look for deals on gt85, they had one in halfords recently but wd40 is ok as a water disperscent and get some oil to put on your chain. the tesco bike section in bangor do cheap brushes and lubes i just remembered! ;D

[flexcycles]

Just reread your post.
For now, use fairy until you get specific products. Fairy washing up liquid has salt in it so you shouldn't use it, but a one off won't hurt, and rinse with clean water.

[Sandi]

Car shampoo, much cheaper than bike specific stuff....always have plenty in cos i never wash my car then gt85 on the chain....well that's what Tarbo uses anyway as i'm watching through the kitchen window ;D

[cyclone]

Same again car wash n wax , a sponge and a tooth brush topped off with a touch of wd40 . A bit like when I'm getting ready for the pub to be honest ;D

[thistle]

Oct 31, 2011 15:31:34 GMT scaredycat said:

So, my bike is very muddy after the ride, and I was told on Saturday about how important it is to keep her clean to make her last for longer

Who told you such lies? ;D

Well ok, keep the moving parts reasonably clean especially fork stanchions and shock pistons. Mud just falls off when it's dry.

Sheldon Shake for chain cleaning every few months.

[thistle]

WD40 is a degreaser. It's ok as long as it has evaporated and you lube up before going out again.

[sally]

yes it is but prob better than nothing if she has only household stuff to hand - as she said?

[flexcycles]

GT 85 with ptfe is a non-oily cleaning and penetrating and light lube spray, ideal for models and intricate mechanics.
Copied from GT85.co.uk
GT85 and WD40 are not suitable for drive trains. But as Sally said, 'better than nothing'.

[scaredycat]

Thanks for all your advise everyone, I am following it with religious vigor

@sally --- oily rag? What sort of oil, cooking oil? ...seriously, I actually dont know (just in case you thought I was joking), I really have no idea about this sort of thing....the flex sesh should be good hey.....

@flex --- yes, I was just googling about it and came across a debate about power hosing actually, something about getting grit in the bearings and the water getting through the seals and stuff, wont be getting one of those any time soon anyhow so no worries.

And re: fairy point about salt, thats just the sort of thing I worry about and why I started the thread. I think I might stay away from the stuff altogether if that is the case.

I am sure I had some gt85 somewhere but cant for the life of me find it

tinytim --- Cheers man, I shall go on the hunt in the coming weeks, I wiped it off with some damp cloth made from old rags in the end anyway, but think I might have a dig around under the sink for some other bits and bobs..hey! perhaps thats where the gt85 I thought I had is!?

@sandi --- car shampoo, GENIUS! I might just bypass forking out for the expensive bike stuff and get some of that...unless anyone says its not good...half the time these things are the same only in different packaging.

cyclone --- wash and wax? ...for the pub?...Now thats dedication

thistle ---

But yeah, you made it sound quite simple...do the fork stanchions and shock pistons...clean the chain now and again....sorted.

Although to be fair, the context of what was being said was in view that my bike is quite an oldie.



I feel like a child faced with an infinity of "why's" going through my head that I genuinely want the answers for...

[scaredycat]

gt85 wasnt under sink

[lou]

Depends on where i've been riding - peak district evil chainset destroying gritty mud = clean spotlessly, nice soft friendly clwyds mud = clean when it starts making the bike transporter (car) smell like a farmyard

As everyone has said, make sure your fork stantions and chain/gears are clean(ish) and don't worry about the rest! Get some bike oil (look in halfords for 'wet lube'), squirt a bit on a rag and wipe it round your chain (easiest to hold loosely round the chain and turn the crank so you cover the whole chain).

Edit: ... And I might have an old maxis ignitor tyre in the garage that you can have if you want? A do it all/XC tyre, worn but with more life in it than that one on your back wheel!