Washing bike in winter

I wash (the bike) about once a week or fortnight, dependant on the road and weather conditions. I use ACF 50 too. I just can't stand riding a crap looking bike. I try and tell myself that it gets all the salt and road crud off. I even use a two bucket method (boast).

H

[dizzyblonde]

The more crud left to accumulate, the harder it is to get rid of. Keep on top of it, and you can keep your bike from rotting away. ACF50 as stated on the can, can protect for upto two years. In my mind, the muck builds up on top of its protective layer, and its not going to just wash off if the guidelines are to go by.

When I used to commute all winter, I'd perhaps wash my bike every three to four weeks, and maybe reapply ACF50 when I could be bothered. I also used two sv's depending which one had fuel/taxed/started. Not a lot of time working nightshifts and having kids.

My bike is still in the same condition as it is from when it was rebuilt about 4/5 years ago. Granted, I don't use it for commuting anymore, but I'd rather my bike not look like its been neglected, and falling apart. Cleaning also comes under the title of maintenance, at least I won't be removing forks or fasteners or anything else that gets eaten by winter if I make time to attend to such matters. To me not cleaning is just lazy

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

To me not cleaning is just lazy

That's your opinion. But every circumstance is different. For instance, my bike spends a lot of its time parked up outside while I'm at work where and a large volume of people walk past it every day, if I had the time to keep it looking spick and span I wouldn't be owning it for very long. The more neglected it looks the less attention it draws to it and the less attractive it looks being ridden by someone else illegally. There are a lot of bike thefts about, even more so of recent weeks.

People have bikes for different reasons as I'm sure you'd agree. Although I love mine to bits and don't much like seeing it mucky, it's just not worth my time to spend hours cleaning it for it to look just as crap within minutes. I spend a lot of time riding through cow-trodden back roads and tractor tyre debris every day, all gets rinsed off by the rain to be put back on another day. I'd go mad trying to keep it clean. Would rather put in the elbow grease one time after winter. My bike is not a toy for other people to admire at how disciplined I am with a scrubbing brush and a duster, it's a vehicle that serves its purpose beautifully by getting me from A to B in a fun way. I ride it for me and noone else, so if you think that's lazy then tough cowpats.

[21QUEST]

I wash my bikes atleast once(usually twice) a year....before it goes in for an MOT.

The extra weight and increased drag help stop me getting too frustrated with all the rubbish riders on their shiny bikes, who get in the way and slow me right down.

[dizzyblonde]

Ahh well, at least mine's still here, after being parked for 12 hrs a night unsecured where I couldn't see it. I'd have preferred to be able to glance at it from a shop over a path.

And yes, my opinion, just as yours is yours. No need for knicker twisting. No need for defensive arguments over who's better because they ride through cowpat.


Off to clean the kids backside, smells of cack on here.

[NTECUK]

I wash mine once a fortnight on Satuerdays when I'm in work 1/2 days
I give it a hose down on alternate saturdays just to keep the level of dirt down.
ACF 50 the nooks and crannies.WD the east bits

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Cleaning also comes under the title of maintenance, at least I won't be removing forks or fasteners or anything else that gets eaten by winter if I make time to attend to such matters. To me not cleaning is just lazy

As a spanner monkey... b*llocks.
I've seen plenty "shiny" "looked after" bikes that have been complete dogs.

I've also had a few customers who've been high mileage commuters and despatchers with telephone number annual mileages and bikes that look like a rolling tub of black moly grease where every fastener comes undone without the slightest trouble.

As I've said before slather it repeatedly in ACF50, cleaning after winter is obviously optional but that will make sure the thing is alright under the layer. Don't clean it in meantime you just expose it to salt again, you want a nice thick layer of sh*te on there.

To me cleaning is a waste of f***ing time. Only bit worth cleaning is headlight glass.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

And yes, my opinion, just as yours is yours. No need for knicker twisting. No need for defensive arguments over who's better because they ride through cowpat.

Don't think there was any one-upmanship involved there to be fair.

Just the simple fact that if you have to ride down a lane covered in sh*t all the time... if you clean it it will get covered in sh*t again immediately.

[NTECUK]

Well mine had a nice bath this morning.
Flood cross the road were I have a right turn.
And as much as I tried my best to balance I had to put my foot down.
So I have my first "wetty " of the season.

Originally Posted by andrewsmith

or every 50k

ACF50 is aviation derived voodoo

bugger just 800 miles till mine needs a wash then