Help! Cleaning a MUD covered bike (regularly)...
Avuroski
COVERED with mud. Ok, so this is not always planned, and occasional spills add
to the problem, but all in all, stuff is covered. My bike is new, and really
nice, and I want to take care of it. My first instinct was the pressure hose
it down from top to bottom, then dry it off with a clean towel. This gets it
clean, but the mechanic downtown looked at me like I had two heads when I told
him this. "It'll rust! You'll kill your front shocks" etc. I have a Marzocci
Z3 (which is the pants, I might add...) and I've been told the seals are really
good, but I'm still nervous. I don't want to get water in there, and I don't
want to get water in all the comps (ESP9 grip shifters), but obviously I don't
want mud in there either. He said to wash it carefully with a brush and water.
Right- what about when it's COVERED with mud? HELP! Let it dry? Hose it
off? Also, about the fork- should I get these White Industries Wipers I've
been hearing about? Are they necessary/worth $25? Finally, after I clean and
dry it, I'm assuming it would be good to lube it. What products are best for
this? What places really need to be lubed and what SHOULDN'T be? I'm
especially asking all those racers that regularly beat up their bikes but need
to keep them operational.
Thanks in advance.
andrew
Scott Timinski
Walt Wehner
plastic bags and rubber bands to keep moisture away from the seals. A Z-3 should
not be fazed by a little water, though.
The only things that will rust (unless you've got some really weird shit) are
the frame (if steel) and the chain/cassette. If you've got the drivetrain lubed
decently, and you dry it off right away, you'll be fine. As for the frame, you can
get a spray-type sealer to spray inside the tubes to prevent rust, or you can just
not worry about it too much. I don't ride a steel bike, so I'm not really sure how
much of a problem this is.
-Walt
RastaMTB
Spray with watered downed Simple Green.
Use corse brisstle brush to get the thick earth off.
Blast again to clean off.
Dry off ASAP (EVERYTHING!!)
Do the ritual clean/lube transmission (chain dude, the chain)
Leave in sun to dry off.
Go riding again. If you go through mud again (lucky us here in SoCal......)
repeat steps over, and over. A clean rig is a happy rig! Most important if
you don't have time for the cosmetics, you take lovin' care of your chain.
Talk to it, caress it with your lubricants!
..............For more on how to love your MTB go to: www.MTBSEX.com
oooowwwwaaayyy I go!
RastaMTB....
.....been on your bike recently?
Tell us about it!
brett
caked in dirt?
Brett
Scott Timinski wrote in message <7fi594$242$1...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>...
G.T.
RastaMTB wrote in message <19990420130017...@ng25.aol.com>...
>
>Go riding again. If you go through mud again (lucky us here in
SoCal......)
>repeat steps over, and over. A clean rig is a happy rig! Most important
if
>you don't have time for the cosmetics, you take lovin' care of your chain.
>Talk to it, caress it with your lubricants!
No better advice than that! Keep that chain clean and lubed and you and
your bike will be happy campers.
Greg
"the fish needs a bike"
Chico
wrote:
>decently, and you dry it off right away, you'll be fine. As for the frame, you can
>get a spray-type sealer to spray inside the tubes to prevent rust, or you can just
>not worry about it too much. I don't ride a steel bike, so I'm not really sure how
>much of a problem this is.
I think it's a non issue. Most decent steel frames are cromoly. I
don't think cromoly rusts either. (Not like plain steel anyway). I
ride my cromo bike through the salty, slushy, wet, miserable, mess
that Nova Scotia weather causes, and I see no evidence of ANYTHING
rusting. Except some of the small bolts which hold a few things
together cause they're made of steel. These are typically bolts that
hold things like a reflector, nothing important. (not that reflectors
aren't important, oh boy, pls nobody take that the wrong way!)
Anyway, after a wet, salty, slushy ride, I'll spray down the important
parts of the drivetrain with WD-40 to clean the gunk off. Then I
spray just about all moving parts with a bit of degreaser and wipe
down. Then I relube just about everything (don't forget the hubs). I
don't worry about the frame rusting.
For mud, like everybody says, hose it. However, DON'T leave your bike
sitting there to dry. Wipe it down and put a bit of lube in the hubs
and chain. I had the rear wheel of my new bike lightly seize on me
when I forgot it in the garage, dripping wet. When you hose, you
might want to be careful around the bottom bracket area, and the hubs.
You don't want to force water into those areas. If I'm in a rush,
I'll let the mud dry, then knock it all off a little later with a
brush or broom. It's easy to sweep up then. You might still have to
do some chain maintenance though.
Rasta: You caught me on that funny URL!
Chico
Avuroski
>you can
>>get a spray-type sealer to spray inside the tubes to prevent rust, or you
>can just
>>not worry about it too much. I don't ride a steel bike, so I'm not really
>sure how
>>much of a problem this is.
Yeah, the frame is CroMo, so I'll look into that spray. I have a Thompson seat
post and I pulled it out the other day and it had some rust colored crap on the
bottom, so I got worried. Also a few bolts in the controltech stem have
coloration in them. whatever. But what products do people recommend for the
hubs, chain and gears? thanks.
Scott Timinski
sense.
brett <balsmcvinega...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:7fiiea$vo4$1...@camel21.mindspring.com...
Mtpgarcia
1. Boots on the fork will keep mud out of it fairly well. You should get
those if you don't have them already. White seals are good, but wait until
your present seals need replacing.
2. Never wash you bike with a hose. The water pressure pushes water and mud
into the bearing surfaces, bottom bracket, hubs, headset,etc. Get a soft brush
and a bucket. Dip the brush in the bucket and gently wipe off the mud. Use a
water bottle and your hand until you can get a soft brush. use an old
toothbrush for hard to get spots, your chain, etc. Use an old hard bristle
dish brush for your cogs and chain wheels. After the bike is dry, it is OK to
help with a towel,inspect for damage and wear, lube appropriately. I ride all
year round and clean my bike after every ride. I would rather spend the time
cleaning it at home rather than trying a make shift repair on the trail, plus
why pay big bucks for a light bike and and then carry around several pounds of
dried mud.
Mike
Mark S Webb
seat
>post and I pulled it out the other day and it had some rust colored crap on
the
>bottom, so I got worried.
Don't worry all metals oxidize over time and a little color is nothing to
worry about. If there are obvious voids in the material worry...
Also a few bolts in the controltech stem have
>coloration in them. whatever. But what products do people recommend for
the
>hubs, chain and gears? thanks.
Pull you chain and use carb. cleaner the kind you use on a car. Or find
Brake cleaner. Be sure to lube you r chain when it has dried though. That
stuff is will clean off the worst of crud.. Teh same can be used for chain
rings. But DO NOT spray this stuff at your hub. It will dissolve the grease
and leave you super dry in the hub.
The Hub can be left alone if sealed, and if it is open then clean with care
and don't loose the bb's.
Mark
Ebola
avur...@aol.com (Avuroski) wrote:
> >>decently, and you dry it off right away, you'll be fine. As for the frame,
> >you can
> >>get a spray-type sealer to spray inside the tubes to prevent rust, or you
> >can just
> >>not worry about it too much. I don't ride a steel bike, so I'm not really
> >sure how
> >>much of a problem this is.
>
seat
> post and I pulled it out the other day and it had some rust colored crap on
the
> coloration in them. whatever. But what products do people recommend for the
> hubs, chain and gears? thanks.
>
Finish Line Cross Country lube in the mud/snow, and white lightning in the
sand or dust.
--
-Ebola
-Chump change and it's on,
super bon-bon
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ERPaul
panting on the bed.
"Honey," she said, thinking quickly, "I think I'm having a heart attack!"
While rushing to call the doctor, he nearly stumbled over his crying four
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He ran to the closet, opened the door, and there was his best friend. "For
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