What do you do after a wet ride (oh-er missus)...

[Dr Murdoch]

After a really wet ride home from work yesterday, I parked the bike up and sprayed the chain, derailleurs with WD-40 (well, muc-off equivalent). Should I be doing more straight after a torrential ride?

[1ians]

What I do is probably not what you should. I tend to just leave the bike, and give the chain a quick wipe down and lube the next morning, at least 20 minutes before the next commute.

Weekend routine is to hose down the bike, clean the chain with wonder wipes and then relube.

[gazza285]

Oil once a week, usually a spray of TF-2, clean once a month maybe, if I can be arsed.

The bike is single speed though.

[troc]

Mountain bike - degreaser and wipe down and re-oil chain and other moving parts.

Commuter - put in shed for tomorrow. Belt drive and 11 speed Alfine hub, front hub dynamo and hydraulic disc brakes means it's essentially maintenance-free.

Station bike - leave outside, the surface-rust hides the fact it is actually in full working order.

Edited by troc on Sunday 2nd February 09:55

[frisbee]

1ians said:

What I do is probably not what you should. I tend to just leave the bike, and give the chain a quick wipe down and lube the next morning, at least 20 minutes before the next commute.

Weekend routine is to hose down the bike, clean the chain with wonder wipes and then relube.

Yep, the "recommended" 3 hour cleaning after every ride routine isn't really practical if you ride every day.

[Scabutz]

I will probably upset the cycling gods, but I dont anything. Put it away. I give it a good clean an lube every so often when I can be arsed. I dont think I go through components any faster than anyone else, but maybe I do

[Steve vRS]

Have a cup of tea and a shower.

[GOATever]

Wipe the chain and mechs with an oily rag, then go and have a shower.

[GOATever]

Dr Murdoch said:

After a really wet ride home from work yesterday, I parked the bike up and sprayed the chain, derailleurs with WD-40 (well, muc-off equivalent). Should I be doing more straight after a torrential ride?

Never put WD40 anywhere near a bicycle. The Muc off stuff isn’t the same at all, it deposits a layer of PTFE which is good. WD40 leaves a horrible sticky dirt magnet residue all over everything.

[Randy Winkman]

GOATever said:

Dr Murdoch said:

After a really wet ride home from work yesterday, I parked the bike up and sprayed the chain, derailleurs with WD-40 (well, muc-off equivalent). Should I be doing more straight after a torrential ride?

Never put WD40 anywhere near a bicycle. The Muc off stuff isn’t the same at all, it deposits a layer of PTFE which is good. WD40 leaves a horrible sticky dirt magnet residue all over everything.

Similarly, when I used to cycle commute, at the end of every wet day I'd spray the chain liberally with GT85 to wash off the "bits", give it some lubrication and stop it rusting over night. GT85 is rather like WD40 to use but is proper lube. I've never liked thicker lubes because they tend to attract dirt and gunk-up.