squeeky clean

padlad

hey, my shiny "new" carbon frame bike is not looking too shiny at the minute, with the rain and the mucky roads. I was wondering what people use to clean and polish? their bikes.
I've seen the stuff in the LBS but it seems v pricey to me, any recommendations before I take the fairy liquid to it cheers

Murph100

Simoniz do a 'wax free' car shampoo ( wax free bit is VERY important ), got some in Halfords. Cheap as chips, no salt or aggressive chemicals and will probably last you a year, a capful makes up a bucket. Use with warm water and sponges.

rebel.ranter

Why "wax free"?

SPINERGY

I just use baby wipes if it's not too bad, otherwise its a bit of warm sudsy water and an old brush/cloth (I believe Muc Off is very popular for cleaning bikes but ridiculously expensive for my liking!). Today I got a 5 liter container of Jizer degreaser for the more serious stuff. It was recommended to me by a very experienced cyclist who swears by it for both results and value for money (at only €18). Really good stuff too, applied with a paint brush the grease literally drips off your chain and leaving it nice and shiny (the nice thing is that it is designed to mix with the grease and can be simply washed off afterwards with water).

This next part is a good chain lube, which I am sort of stuck on at the moment. I am looking for something that offers the same finish on a chain as the one you get on a new chain. You know that lovely wax based grease, that is like a thick lather on the chain and is soo smooth. I tried Fiish Line wax lube and now Weildite (which was recommended by the distributor who sold me the Jizer) wax but neither give the results I am looking for, they just seem to dry into the chain and leave a dull musky coating on the chain which isn't very effective at all. So my question is, what do chain manufactures put on the chains to make them feel so good? I know new chains always feel good because of no stretch. I think I might have to look along the line of motorcycle products to get a good thick wax based lube (something that resembles the texture of vaseline - sorry, but thats the only thing remotely similar to which I can compare it to!) Cheers

Planet X

Mate of mine told me that to get that "new chain wax" effect, he puts the chain in a saucepan with the, whatever wax it is, heats it, stirs it around to give a good coating, cools it down and wipes it.
Make sure you use the wifes best cookware for this.
Do you have a dog house?

DirkVoodoo

For the frame itself, I just use suds like fairy liquid to remove and dirt. Once its clean I dry it with a clean cloth, then use Pedros Bike Lust to polish it. It makes the paint look brand new and acts as a barrier against dirt and UV damage.

I've stopped using anything harsh on it, parts of the frame were turning hazy.

Planet X

........and make sure detergent doesn't get near gears / hubs etc. cos it'll strip grease out.
Been there.

biomed32

SPINERGY wrote: »

This next part is a good chain lube, which I am sort of stuck on at the moment. I am looking for something that offers the same finish on a chain as the one you get on a new chain. You know that lovely wax based grease, that is like a thick lather on the chain and is soo smooth. I tried Fiish Line wax lube and now Weildite (which was recommended by the distributor who sold me the Jizer) wax but neither give the results I am looking for, they just seem to dry into the chain and leave a dull musky coating on the chain which isn't very effective at all. So my question is, what do chain manufactures put on the chains to make them feel so good? I know new chains always feel good because of no stretch. I think I might have to look along the line of motorcycle products to get a good thick wax based lube (something that resembles the texture of vaseline - sorry, but thats the only thing remotely similar to which I can compare it to!) Cheers

Teflon based lube tends to work great i find. A friend of mine uses this and his bike chain looks brand new even though the bike is 3 years old now


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=317

hope it helps

quietobserver

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/spic-and-span-how-the-mechanics-keep-tour-team-bikes-clean

cycling news heard your call

Murph100

The film of wax is lethal on your rims and tyres, try it ... especially in the rain ... great fun !!

Also has a negative impact on saddle and bar tape feel.

rebel.ranter wrote: »

Why "wax free"?

irishmotorist

Just a question on the fairy liquid job. I've always steered clear of this because of the damage that washing up liquid does to metallic paint on cars. Is the paint/lacquer different on a bike frame?

Tayto2000

Fairy liquid is very harsh on paintwork, it's got salts in it and acts as a weak degreaser, not the best thing to put on frames or cars. Muc-off is overkill for bicycles imo, in fact they're now positioning themselves as a motorcycle cleaning brand...

Best compromise I think is a generic car shampoo, it'll get the dirt off your frame, leaves a waxy protective layer that makes it easier to clean next time and will take polish for anyone going that far. As mentioned, it's best to remove the wheels and either wrap or remove the brakepads first. You may need to degrease first as well as the shampoo will just smear oils around, especially where you've got chain flung lube...

padlad

cheers lads, got some Simoniz wax free cleaner for the car so I'll give that a go.

Also thinking of buying this chain cleaner - good idea or a waste of dosh - would I be better with a paintbrush and a degreaser?

blorg

In my own experience those chain cleaning devices work quite well, you just clamp them on and pedal backwards. Chain comes out very clean.

Captain Havoc

+1 on the chain cleaner, I have a BBB one and she gets rid of everything quickly

kona

A said fairy liquid is acidic piss.

Just pay a few quid and buy the muc-off, you can use it on disc brakes, the advantage of muc off is that it doesnt leave residue.

With car shampoos, they have to be hosed off and the metal dried.

Muc off you just whack it on, scrub and rinse off, job done.

Muc off isnt Expensive IMO. e25 for 5l.

Piercemeear

blorg wrote: »

In my own experience those chain cleaning devices work quite well, you just clamp them on and pedal backwards. Chain comes out very clean.

This thing is confusing. The shape of the plastic body and the reviews suggest you clamp it over the rear mech in some way? Could you use it on a fixed or hub gear?

blorg

I use Fenwicks FS-1. This is basically the same stuff as Muc-Off but in a concentrate form. You get a litre (which dilutes down to 11 litres) for around €13-15. You can also use it neat as a degreaser on the chain etc.

SPINERGY

kona wrote: »

Muc off isnt Expensive IMO. e25 for 5l.

Oh really! Thats actually not bad, I just saw it there for €20.71 on CRC for a 5 liter tub which is actually good value, how do you apply it to the bike when it doesn't come in a spray can?

SPINERGY

blorg wrote: »

I use Fenwicks FS-1. This is basically the same stuff as Muc-Off but in a concentrate form. You get a litre (which dilutes down to 11 litres) for around €13-15. You can also use it neat as a degreaser on the chain etc.

Where do you get it because Wiggle won't ship it to Ireland for some reason!

blorg

Piercemeear wrote: »

This thing is confusing. The shape of the plastic body and the reviews suggest you clamp it over the rear mech in some way? Could you use it on a fixed or hub gear?

If it is anything like my one, the little "arm" sort of goes back around the rear mech to hold the thing in place. It's not necessary though, just helps keep it in place, you can just hold it in place on the chain while rotating the pedals, so yes, you could use it on a fixed gear (careful with your fingers there.)

I have actually never used mine on a fixed though as there is no freewheel and so you would need the wheels to be able to move while you are cleaning the chain (e.g. up in a stand.)

Again, careful with the fingers if trying to clean the chain in a stand with the wheels able to move, it really can't be emphasised enough, to be honest I am happier doing the fixie chain with wheels on the ground and unable to move.

blorg

SPINERGY wrote: »

Where do you get it because Wiggle won't ship it to Ireland for some reason!

Cyclesuperstore have Fenwicks as do McConveys in the North who will ship it down here.

SPINERGY wrote:

Oh really! Thats actually not bad, I just saw it there for €20.71 on CRC for a 5 liter tub which is actually good value, how do you apply it to the bike when it doesn't come in a spray can?

You use one of your old 1-liter spray bottles.

kona

SPINERGY wrote: »

Oh really! Thats actually not bad, I just saw it there for €20.71 on CRC for a 5 liter tub which is actually good value, how do you apply it to the bike when it doesn't come in a spray can?

There is a long trigger you can buy to squirt it from the 5l container. Or just pour into a spent kitchen cleaner bottle etc.

Piercemeear

blorg wrote: »

Again, careful with the fingers if trying to clean the chain in a stand with the wheels able to move, it really can't be emphasised enough, to be honest I am happier doing the fixie chain with wheels on the ground and unable to move.

Aye, I was thinking for my hub actually, but will exercise care where appropriate. Thanks. Off to lunch now, if I can stomach it.

blorg

Piercemeear wrote: »

Aye, I was thinking for my hub actually, but will exercise care where appropriate. Thanks. Off to lunch now, if I can stomach it.

You will be fine as long as the bike has a freewheel, so a hub gear is no problem- the issue with a fixie is that the rotating wheels act as flywheels that keep the chain moving- if your finger gets drawn into the chainring or sproket while cleaning the chain, you get what happened to that chap in the photo. Enjoy your lunch