How do you give your bike a bath?

[Sandrider]

My excellent bike mechanic told me that in Europe the cyclocross people dunk their bikes in a river to clean them. Not being in Europe etc. she told me to use a very small spray of very low pressure water from a hose on my mountain bike. I ride on fine sand and it gets into everything and coats the bike [and me ].

I use a soft sponge to wipe the bike off after the water, then cloth or paper towels to dry it and ream out all the grit I can reach that has not been removed by water. After that I use Bike Lust and then Pedro's extra dry on the chain.

One place I can't reach to clean is the inside of the front fork bushing, because of the way the fork is made. Is there a long flexible brush out there that I could use to clean the grit and dust off the bushings?

What do those of you with mountain bikes to do maintain your forks on a regular basis?

[papaver]

My excellent bike mechanic told me that in Europe the cyclocross people dunk their bikes in a river to clean them.

Yes and no. The mechanics do that sometimes during the race when it's so muddy the cyclist has to change his bike every round or every half round even.

After the race they almost completely dismantle the bike to clean it.

This is a rather normal race in Belgium:

[Sandrider]

Yes and no. The mechanics do that sometimes during the race when it's so muddy the cyclist has to change his bike every round or every half round even.

Thank you for the education and for the great photo!!

[Sarabeth]

If you really want to get down to the nity-grity:
Buy some pipe cleaners.
I went to the craft store (Jo-Ann Fabrics) and bought a package of long pipe cleaners and I use these to clean in tight places to get the gunk/grease out on the detailing of cleaning my bike parts. Q-tips too work in some places.

[Sandrider]

If you really want to get down to the nity-grity:
Buy some pipe cleaners.
Q-tips too work in some places.

That is a great idea. I tried Q-tips, but they fell apart on the grit before doing all the cleaning. I would not have thought of pipe-cleaners, so thank you!

[Thorn]

I was recently on a bike vacation and the organizers provided buckets of soapy water with a soft long-handled brush after the rides to clean off our bikes. It was a great setup, just brush the wheels, tires, and frame with the soapy brush. Takes a few minutes tops, and the grime is gone. I'm going to keep a two buckets--one with soapy water and one with plain water (each with a soft-bristled long-handled brush)--in my back yard and wash down my bike after my rides.

Tulip--did you do a PAC week? And if so, which one?

[tulip]

Tulip--did you do a PAC week? And if so, which one?

I was on the slow week...at least I was slow! Week 3, which was much more of a bike tour than a hardcore training camp week like I feared. It was really fun, although not as warm as I imagined it would be. I would do it again, perhaps next year I'll be in better shape and do the Century Week (ha ha, not really). In a way it felt like the Clown Week because most everyone was riding Bike Fridays (including me) and sometimes I felt like I was in a circus.

I recommend it for a winter getaway, and the other weeks (there are six of them) are apparently alot harder and alot more mileage. This one averaged out to about 50 miles per day, which was more than I thought I could do, but I did it!

Now, onwards to Louisiana for Cycle Zydeco.

[papaver]

I was on the slow week...at least I was slow! Week 3, which was much more of a bike tour than a hardcore training camp week like I feared. It was really fun, although not as warm as I imagined it would be. I would do it again, perhaps next year I'll be in better shape and do the Century Week (ha ha, not really). In a way it felt like the Clown Week because most everyone was riding Bike Fridays (including me) and sometimes I felt like I was in a circus.

I recommend it for a winter getaway, and the other weeks (there are six of them) are apparently alot harder and alot more mileage. This one averaged out to about 50 miles per day, which was more than I thought I could do, but I did it!

Now, onwards to Louisiana for Cycle Zydeco.

Hey Tulip, that's the spirit! Never give up!

[Thorn]

I was on the slow week...at least I was slow!

Oh....I was the yellow Waterford Yeah, I was a one of the "big bikes" in the sea of Bike Fridays.

OK....I remember a posting you had with your new dog....and that you didn't look anything like your avatar.....oh wait, now I know who you are. Hi!

You weren't that slow! I agree it was a fun week--a bit humbling that 50 miles/day could tire me out so. But, then, I currently have 400 outdoor miles in *March* already. Woohoo!

I was really impressed with PAC Tour--such a well oiled machine, but they don't forget the fun. Now I'm training to up my mileage and get faster do I go on one of their real tours.

[tulip]

Oh....I was the yellow Waterford Yeah, I was a one of the "big bikes" in the sea of Bike Fridays...

Oh my! YOU are the owner of the gorgeous soft pale yellow S/S coupled Waterford, the person we kept bugging about Waterfords?? You were the first person we sat down and talked to at that first night ice-cream social! And we had breakfast with you like, I dunno, three times or something!

Glad to have met you! My friend got his Waterford back from Wisconsin all newly painted. It's beautiful--white with silver and black lettering (block).

TEers meet and don't even know it! I have a great photo of you and your DH--I'll send it along as soon as I find my camera cable...