I agree. I like seeing my bike gleaming after all the work I put in to get it clean. I second the comment about frequent cleaning, too.
I've been using Pedro's Green Fizz lately, and it does clean stuff off pretty well, but I think when it runs out I'll just go back to castille soap and water. The Green Fizz costs more than it's worth, in my opinion. For rinsing my bike I like to use a water bottle to squirt water. It's enough force to get gunk off, but not so much to get in the bearings (unless you have way stronger hands than I do!).
Keep old tooth brushes for cleaning the cassette -- works like a charm. Just spray some of your lube on there and brush the teeth in sections, wiping off with a rag periodically. Voila! Clean cassette, no removal necessary.




If you wash your bike often it only takes about 10 mins or so. Of course in summertime I wash my bike less. In the wintertime when the roads are muddy I wash it after every ride.
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