Cleaning My Bike In Apartment

skulltown · 28-09-2017 4:01pm #1

Hi

I live in one bed apartment with no balcony. I have real trouble cleaning my bike. I normal take it home once a year to clean it properly. Even if I get it serviced they never clean it properly because it has so much oil and dirt on it. I am not afraid to go out in the rain so it gets really messy.

Does anyone in Dublin north know of any places where they will was my bike properly.

Thanks

RobFowl · 28-09-2017 4:26pm

Bring it to a garage and use the power washer.
No one and especially not a bike shop is going to clean your bike for you ...

sparrowcar · 28-09-2017 4:31pm

Power wash at a garage as above staying away from headset/BB and anything with bearings or delicate parts.

Have you a bath? Bring it in there with you.

Idleater · 28-09-2017 4:35pm

Bucket of water and a couple of rags outside somewhere?

veganrun · 28-09-2017 5:21pm

When I did a bike maintenance course the mechanic told us not to wash the bike with a hose/washer. Said to use a cloth and degreaser like WD40.

My apartment does have a balcony but it was still a pain trying to clean the chain there. Next time I will just use an empty space in the underground car park or bring the bike home.

jamesd · 28-09-2017 6:08pm

Clean mine with baby wipes after each spin and put some cardboard under it for the chain cleaning and oiling.

Eamonnator · 28-09-2017 6:18pm

I had a full blown panic attack at the the thought of a bike out there, only being cleaned once a year.
But, I'm alright now.

Arthurdaly · 28-09-2017 6:19pm

Have you a common ground/area? I've lived in various apartments and always bring them out on the grass with bucket of water, degreasers, rags etc every so often. As has been said if you wipe it down regurlarly after each dirty spin it should not get to a critical state.

RobFowl · 28-09-2017 7:04pm

veganrun wrote: »

When I did a bike maintenance course the mechanic told us not to wash the bike with a hose/washer. Said to use a cloth and degreaser like WD40.

My apartment does have a balcony but it was still a pain trying to clean the chain there. Next time I will just use an empty space in the underground car park or bring the bike home.

This bike gets cleaned once a year ! I think the finer points of bike maintenance and longevity of components are already well gone...

ford2600 · 28-09-2017 7:14pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

I had a full blown panic attack at the the thought of a bike out there, only being cleaned once a year.
But, I'm alright now.

I just checked strava, bike cleaned once in 15,417.4 km.

Drivetrain and rim/pads are cleaned/checked as required. Big mileage on the parts over 50k km on crank, 30k km on front wheel, 20k km on rear wheel.

Life is too short to be washing bikes. First long spin in about 6 months tomorrow, kinda looking forward to the abuse I may get from a man with very clean bikes!

Mycroft H · 28-09-2017 7:28pm

If the bike isn't too bad I've been known to clean it in the bath when the other half is out. Bath usually comes clean with Jif afterwords.

John_Rambo · 28-09-2017 7:31pm

I'm in Raheny, I can pm you next time I'm powerwashing the car? You can do a Howth spin and wash the bike!

It will be a Saturday or Sunday. I wash the car a good bit as it spends a lot of times offroad and on beaches.

jimmycrackcorm · 28-09-2017 8:02pm

sparrowcar wrote:

Power wash at a garage as above staying away from headset/BB and anything with bearings or delicate parts.

I power wash everything but I also bring lubricant to put on after.

Beasty · 28-09-2017 8:03pm

sparrowcar wrote: »

Have you a bath? Bring it in there with you.

Sounds a bit dangerous - you'll have to keep your eyes on the chain to make sure it doesn't trap anything.....:pac:

robyntmorton · 28-09-2017 8:05pm

Beasty wrote: »

Sounds a bit dangerous - you'll have to keep your eyes on the chain to make sure it doesn't trap anything.....:pac:

Good luck explaining that in A&E!!

Doc07 · 28-09-2017 8:18pm

Eamonnator wrote: »

I had a full blown panic attack at the the thought of a bike out there, only being cleaned once a year.
But, I'm alright now.

Reminded me of the story about Queen Victoria having a bath once a year 'whether she needed it or not'

GoHardOrGoHome · 28-09-2017 9:26pm

http://www.360cycles.ie/services-repairsrentalsbike-fits/1269-bike-wash-and-polish-20.html

360 Cycles in Clontarf seem to do it

jimmycrackcorm · 28-09-2017 10:24pm

Mycroft H wrote:

If the bike isn't too bad I've been known to clean it in the bath when the other half is out. Bath usually comes clean with Jif afterwords.

Slowly edging towards divorce...

CramCycle · 28-09-2017 10:29pm

I clean mine on my mother in laws garden. interestingly grass does not grow for ages after you drop alot of degreaser on it..

Seriously though, cardboard from Aldi or Lidl (fruit/Veg boxes), folded, under bike and clean in the car park in the apartment block

letape · 28-09-2017 10:34pm

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

http://www.360cycles.ie/services-repairsrentalsbike-fits/1269-bike-wash-and-polish-20.html

360 Cycles in Clontarf seem to do it

I don't think they expect to see a bike that hasn't been cleaned in a year! Not for €20 anyway.

RacoonQueen · 28-09-2017 10:34pm

I cleaned mine in the bath in my previous apartment. Clean out bath straight after and then have my own shower and it never stained. I've a balcony now, bath was easier but I've an XS frame so mine fit perfectly in there

Kaisr Sose · 28-09-2017 10:35pm

jamesd wrote: »

Clean mine with baby wipes after each spin and put some cardboard under it for the chain cleaning and oiling.

That's love (and discipline). Fair play! I could not be bothered cleaning my bike that frequently but I still love it and treat it well.

Kaisr Sose · 28-09-2017 10:39pm

Beasty wrote: »

Sounds a bit dangerous - you'll have to keep your eyes on the chain to make sure it doesn't trap anything.....:pac:

A bath for two and lots of lube afterwards.....:D

Borderfox · 29-09-2017 6:08am

Down onto the ground floor and use a mobi v-17 for much love

Macy0161 · 29-09-2017 7:59am

I've seen people using garden pressure sprayers to clean down bikes before putting them in cars - seems like a handy option, as no need for power, probably not high enough pressure to do damage to the bike, and easily stored? Definitely something you could carry handy enough down to an underground carpark/ shared space anyway.

GoHardOrGoHome · 29-09-2017 9:09am

letape wrote: »

I don't think they expect to see a bike that hasn't been cleaned in a year! Not for €20 anyway.

No, you’re right! They might like a challenge! Although they might want a bit more than 20 for that.

Colonel Panic · 29-09-2017 9:51am

If you make a habit of wiping your bike down after cycling in the rain and wiping and living the chain weekly there’s no need to hose your bike down.

My bike is two years old and still in tip top condition.

RobFowl · 29-09-2017 10:57am

I clean my bike at least once a week if am using it (have 6). Last night cleaned 3 thoroughly....
Power washers fine as long as avoid hubs and BB/headsets and lube afterwards

nak · 29-09-2017 2:18pm

Borderfox wrote: »

Down onto the ground floor and use a mobi v-17 for much love

I have a portable Karcher washer that is smaller than the mobi washer. Use it in the car park. No way I could leave cross or mountain bikes dirty. Road bike only gets washed if it's been raining.

bogmanfan · 29-09-2017 3:49pm

Friend of mine brings his mountain bike into the shower with him after a spin. Kills two birds with one stone!

Guy Sajer · 29-09-2017 4:01pm

RobFowl wrote: »

Bring it to a garage and use the power washer.
No one and especially not a bike shop is going to clean your bike for you ...

Except as part of a service package. My bike is currently at the shop taken apart and cleaned thoroughly and replacement cables installed. Although the bike was in a bad state clean wise, after being licked in a shed for a year plus.

Lusk_Doyle · 29-09-2017 6:51pm

Guy Sajer wrote: »

after being licked in a shed for a year plus.

Who or what did the licking for a year plus?

OleRodrigo · 29-09-2017 6:53pm

Citrus degreaser in the car park and baby wipes indoors.

Sorted.

Tomred13 · 29-09-2017 7:40pm

If the shower is good enough for me its good enough for the bikes!!!. especially the mtb after a midnight 3rock spin. have been with my missus for over 18 years and she has caught me doing many a strange thing over the years but luckly has never walked in with me showering the bike, however im always listening out for the front door to bang. trick is to kinda jam the bike against the wall and shower away.

D

martyc5674 · 29-09-2017 7:53pm

I wonder if theres a market for "bike cleaner bags".
Similar to the oven cleaner bags except you pop your steed in?

Fighting Tao · 29-09-2017 8:06pm

Mycroft H wrote: »

If the bike isn't too bad I've been known to clean it in the bath when the other half is out. Bath usually comes clean with Jif afterwords.

I clean bikes in the bath when the other half is there!!! She knew that before she married me.

There is one in the bath as I type. All dry and just waiting to put the wheels back on. I’ll have the next one in it within the next 15 minutes for its bath!

I use a bit of degreaser on a sponge followed by bleach to clean the bath usually about 2 weeks later! We do have another shower but it’s too small for the bike.

Kaisr Sose · 29-09-2017 8:21pm

That's serious love for you folk that shower and bath with the bike!

You will all go to heaven and be tasked with cleaning the pearly gates for St. Peter!

RacoonQueen · 29-09-2017 9:18pm

Would be very rare for me not to clean down the bike after a spin, rain or not. There's always a puddle or two. 4.5 years old now and still always getting asked if I got a new bike. Totally worth the 5 minutes of effort for me.

longshanks · 30-09-2017 7:38am

Just buy a new house, then clean your bike in the garden like a normal person.

Fighting Tao · 30-09-2017 8:25am

longshanks wrote: »

Just buy a new house, then clean your bike in the garden like a normal person.

Is it only normal people that liv in houses?

Eamonnator · 30-09-2017 9:16am

Fighting Tao wrote: »

Is it only normal people that liv in houses?

Or is it only normal people, who clean their bikes in the garden?

Fighting Tao · 30-09-2017 10:23am

Eamonnator wrote: »

Or is it only normal people, who clean their bikes in the garden?

This is getting complicated.

AndrewJRenko · 30-09-2017 12:36pm

RobFowl wrote: »

Bring it to a garage and use the power washer.
No one and especially not a bike shop is going to clean your bike for you ...

GoHardOrGoHome wrote: »

http://www.360cycles.ie/services-repairsrentalsbike-fits/1269-bike-wash-and-polish-20.html

360 Cycles in Clontarf seem to do it

There are lots of commuter cyclists who don't take the slightly perverse pleasure in poking around at bikes that many of the lads here seem to take. Seriously, in the shower, lads?

You'd think that it would be a standard service offering in all bike shops, a good opportunity to upsell, like the valet as part of car service.

skulltown · 01-10-2017 1:48pm

Thanks For all the advice

So the plan is I bought some muc-off products. I am going to take the bike to my parents house and give them a go.

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bike-maintenance/bike-cleaning/muc-off-8-in-1-bike-cleaning-kit

I was looking around youtube and seen this video which uses muc-off products. God loves a trier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnqGI-trjtA

As you can see from this image. I don't think cleaning it in my bath or shower would be the best idea. Oil everywhere!

.

I would like to try the 360 cycles shop next time. Best I can do is give it a try. I'd rather pay someone to clean my bike rather than waste time doing it myself.

Life is to short for cleaning things;)

buffalo · 01-10-2017 8:14pm

I know some people have used this guy: https://www.facebook.com/mrorangebikes/

He'll pick your bike up, take it away and service it, and return it to you much improved. I think he does just cleaning, but if not I'm sure if you asked him to do it as part of a service, he'd oblige (perhaps at a cost).

(Full disclosure, he's in my cycling club.)

skulltown · 01-10-2017 9:51pm

buffalo wrote: »

I know some people have used this guy: https://www.facebook.com/mrorangebikes/

He'll pick your bike up, take it away and service it, and return it to you much improved. I think he does just cleaning, but if not I'm sure if you asked him to do it as part of a service, he'd oblige (perhaps at a cost).

(Full disclosure, he's in my cycling club.)

Great ill send him a message.

Thanks

skulltown · 08-10-2017 7:55pm

Ended up clean it myself

mrorangebikes was a bit out of my price range

https://imgur.com/a/tklRM

Wishbone Ash · 08-10-2017 9:48pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

......You'd think that it would be a standard service offering in all bike shops, a good opportunity to upsell, like the valet as part of car service.

You can't really compare valeting a car with cleaning a bike. A car has relatively smooth easy-clean surfaces with the mechanical components hidden underneath. If a car engine was external, no garages would be offering a valet with a service.

Cleaning My Bike In Apartment

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