Washing your carbon bike

[violette]

I bought a Roubaix Elite on the weekend. I'm starting to panick. People tell me with carbon, if you scratch it, dent it, nick it, it will ruin the frame. I thought these were tough. When you wash your bikes, what do you use. I read you shouldn't put it on a bike rack that attaches to the frame!!! That's what I have... Are these frames really that delicate?

[Aggie_Ama]

I used soap and water, followed by Pedros Bike Lust. I carry it on a frame rack most of the time and I see hundreds of people do it with theirs. The only thing that I can use on my car is a frame rack. Our truck has a fork mount. Yes, it isn't steel but you aren't going to break it just by looking at it wrong.

[smilingcat]

No need to panic. your carbon Roubaix is lot toughter than you might think.

Dent- Carbon frames are tough so if you have to apply a lot of pressure or force to dent, sort of like taking a hammer to it or throwing out the second story window. You really can't dent it. It will crack first but only under extreme condition.

scratch- We used to say that scratching will ruin the frame. But that really isn't the case anymore. Besides, your Roubaix should have a clear coat (a layer of transparent paint) so again not to worry about scratches.

nicks- again really hard to do so not worry about it. and again the frame is protected with the clear coat.

as for washing, don't scrub. If you have caked and dried on mud/dirt, get it wet and hose it off. Avoids scratching the clear coat.

Enjoy your new bike. A really nice bike.
Smilingcat

[tulip]

But when you put it on the workstand at the bike shop (or when the bike shop folks do), be sure to use a rag to protect the surface, and clamp it by the (non-carbon) seatpost as opposed to the carbon downtube.

[RoadRaven]

Now... I haven't posted about it yet, but I have a new carbon bike too (as of yesterday), my first carbon bike, and I am also very nervous about cleaning it, getting on and off it (my other bikes have marks on the top tubes where my cleats have connected)... so i will watch this thread with great interest...

[violette]

Thanks for your quick replies. I was starting to wonder if I had to park my bike in a glass bubble!!!

[aicabsolut]

BTW, if you use a hose, be sure it is LOW pressure! This has nothing to do with the frame but the BB, wheels, etc. No high pressure washing of any bicycle!

I either use a wet rag, sponge, or some auto soap (very diluted). I use a sponge made for nonstick pans on the (aluminum) rims and tires. I follow with Pedro's bike lust if I'm feeling like giving it a good shine (with microfiber cloth). This also helps subsequent dirt wipe off better. Do not use it on your saddle! Or handlebars! Bartape gets a good scrub with mild everything free dish soap. I rarely have access to a hose, since I live in an apartment, but when I do, that's when I tend to get the cassette the cleanest.

Don't worry about the frame that much. Treat it delicately and use a rack that is rubbery on the contact points. This goes for any bike really as you don't want to scratch the paint. It will have a good amount of paint on there. If you get a scratch so deep that you have scratched the carbon, then that was one heck of an impact, and you need to be sure the scratch is just cosmetic and not affecting the carbon weave. For mild scratches, a little bit of clear fingernail polish will do the trick and protect the frame.

I think the most important stuff to watch for with carbon is not cleaning it. I mean, would you take a wire brush to your painted metal car? No. So don't do that to any painted bike, aluminum, steel, or carbon. Treat it like your car's finish. Instead, watch out for torque limits on things like the seatpost, as it's easier to overtorque carbon than aluminum. Even if your seatpost is aluminum, the collar clamps onto the carbon frame.

Scratches won't kill your bike. Cracks will. There's a huge difference, and I can't imagine what you'd do to crack a frame while washing it. Still, you don't want to be scouring it. Nor will you need to. If it's caked from wet conditions, let it dry, then dust off. If there's sticky stuff, use a wet paper towel or sponge and maybe a little soap.

[SouthernBelle]

I have used and abused my carbon Giant for 2 and a half years now. I am frequently surprised to hear how fearful people are about their carbon frames or forks.

Assuming it's particularly gunky, I spray it down with whatever cleaner I have at hand, let it sit for a a minute to soften the gunk and go at it with a carwash sponge. Occasionally I'll go at some crevices with an old toothbrush.

I have clear-coated carbon. It's really no different from a paintjob or clear coat on a regular bike. If there is a chip in the coat, I'll touch it up with some clear nail polish. Just like you might do to protect steel from rusting.

My frame looks quite pristine, that is when I have it clean.

[Scarlet]

Oops here we go again with this washing business
I am embarrassed that i never washed my Trek (hybrid) and its about 9 years old

I got the dolce last May and it has only been "washed" in the rain

and the Roubaix well, ok then I may wash it before the big challenge

JOGLE

I have to say I bought some new shoes for the bike and they were white I had to scuff em a bit before I would wear em ...........

I had not really thought about the carbon frame being less or more likely to be damaged through handling like on the bike rack but
............. well I am gonna worry now!!!! ASIF

Happy scrubbing you lot

love Scarlet xx

[Andrea]

Now that it's getting hot, my top tube/downtube get coated in sweat and sportsdrink. I will, every 2-3 rides, hang the bike in a tree (I have a head-height crepe-myrtle branch that works perfectly to perch the nose of the saddle on), spray the chain with diluted simple green, spray the frame with the same stuff, then wipe the chain with a rag, then hose the entire thing off. Finally, I put it on the ground and dry the chain a bit before letting it sit overnight (or at least a few hours) then lubing the chain with Royal Purple.

The initial spray/wash takes about 5 minutes total, and is enough to get the sweat/sugar/roadgrime coating off. It won't remove heavy dirt or grease unless you wipe the entire frame down, but the simple green is enough to dissolve minor stuff with just water spray.

Oh yeah, and if I want extra shine, I'll use Eagle wax-as-you-dry car polish. Looks/feels/smells the same as Bike Lust.