Can we wash our bikes like pros?

[wildeny]

I usually just use some wet cloth to wipe my bike clean. I thought using the pressure sprayer like below on bikes isn't good. Maybe the pro bikes are more water-resilient?

At the 11th stage of Tour de France this year, after the race, the euskaltel team washed the bikes in front of their motel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FSuwwYlN_M
Check the first 15 sec and the section after 2:49.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiEdIw3jVwM
they didn't use the compressed air much.

(Is there a way to embed video in this forum?)

[yetigooch]

You should not use a high pressure water to wash a bike....water can get into places were they are bearings (e.g. bottom bracket, headset, hubs). They pro bikes might get away with this since their mechanics probably rebuild or clean the bearings frequently enough before and corrosion can occur.

[sundial]

I use this to clean up my bikes. I dial it to the fine mist and it cleans beautifully and is so handy too! It's also great for misting off after a hot ride.

[wildeny]

They pro bikes might get away with this since their mechanics probably rebuild or clean the bearings frequently enough before and corrosion can occur.

I thought so too.

[Trek420]

The pro bikes might get away with this since their mechanics probably rebuild or clean the bearings frequently enough before and corrosion can occur.

Yeah, that's how they get away with white bar tape too.

And ya know, not to put too fine a point on it and this is a family forum after all but if I was able to pee off the side of the bike while racing .... I'd want my bike pressure washed too

[deeaimond]

Yeah, that's how they get away with white bar tape too.

And ya know, not to put too fine a point on it and this is a family forum after all but if I was able to pee off the side of the bike while racing .... I'd want my bike pressure washed too

hahha... good one.

Well, some people might disagree, but I also wash my bike with a hose/spray. My mechanic taught me that it was ok, as long as you do no spray directly on the parts that have bearings or whatnot. The spraying is for the frame, and great for the brake calipers, coz it gets the stuff from in between out. its also great to spray out excess gunk from the rear cassette. wipe everything dry with a soft cloth after hosing the bike down, and lube up, and viola, u're done!

I think its less likely for water to get into the bearings and parts because of the direction the water is coming from. hosing down its usually from top, so water doesnt get into the frame. the cases where I had water in my hubs, frames and bottom bracket was when i rode in super heavy rain, and the water came in the bike from below (flooded puddles etc)

Of course, this does not apply to steel frames...

[Dogmama]

I wash my steel frame bike with a hose but I'm really careful to not spray any hubs, etc. One of the best things I've found it McGuire's car wash. Really gets road grime off.

For the chain, after I clean it with the degreaser (citrus) I use some canned air & spray between the sprockets. Be sure to have a towel to catch the grime, but I'm always amazed at the excess gunk that comes out.

[Aquila]

Some days, it would be really nice to have someone else clean up the bike and make sure everything's perfect for the next time.