Pressure Washing your bike?

Needabike

Folks

i know the Pro's mechanics power wash at races but is it OK to use this as a mechanism to wash a bike regularly

Are there and DON'T DO's

I ask this cos my good friends at Aldi have one next Sunday

zzzzzzzz

I think it's ok to wash your frame & wheels with them - just keep it away from your bottom bracket, hubs etc.

Morgan

It's not really a good idea - areas like hubs, bottom bracket, headset, fork seals (on a mtb) don't like having jets of water sprayed into them. It can get past seals, wash out grease and accelerate wear greatly. The pros don't need their bike parts to last very long.

scottreynolds

Needabike wrote: »

i know the Pro's mechanics power wash at races

I wondered the same thing and was laughed at by people saying the pros don't have to pay for there equipment. I'd say a low pressure washer (no idea what pressure) and a fine spray would work well. As people say Headset, bb, hubs are the parts you shouldn't spray directly -- unless you can afford to replace them

RobFowl

I did this for a while and found it disastrous. Definitely stay away from hubs, BB, headsets etc.
Also be quite careful even on the frame. I found it used to strip the paint away :eek: if you got too close (that was on a cannondale and a DBR MTB).

hynesie

Is a garden hose with the top partially covered to get the water coming out with a bit of pressure a bad idea too?
I usually use the garden hose to clean my mountain bike after each cycle, I spend about 5 minutes spraying everything and then give the groupset a quick rub with a cloth to dry them, should I expect my bike to be screwed up in a few months if I continue doing this.

thebouldwhacker

Hey,

There are loads of vids on youtube on how to wash and care for ones bike... check em out try this and other links...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shzMSVCx9T8&feature=related