What do you use to clean your mountain bike?

[superlightr]

Just use the left over water in my water bottle to get off any wet sheep poo and thats it.

Dont do anything to it. Spray the chain/gears with wd40 once a month perhaps, but that it. Lasted well with 2 years of abuse every weekend.

[ewenm]

WildCards said:

Mud

Me too. Sometimes, if it's the bike's birthday for example, I'll rinse it in a stream/river/lake

[Gazzab]

I wash it down with a hose, then take a wheel cleaning brush to the chain and derailleurs (sp) with car shampoo and water. Then I sponge down the bike with car shampoo, then rinse with hose. then wipe with a cloth/towel. Leave to dry and then lube chain, occaisionally WD40 the cables. Every month or two I give the chain a proper degrease and relube.
Wouldnt put a pressure washer near it, wouldnt waste my money on muc off type stuff.

[TedMaul]

Muck off on the frame and wheels, finish line degreaser on chain, sprockets and cassette. Rinse then lube as necessary. Only do it now and again or if it gets very, very badly caked in cack.

[Gazzab]

I was mine nearly every time I use it otherwise muck on chain etc will give premature wear.

[R.P.M]

My rule of thumb is if the bike is dry, never wash it. If it's going away wet then clean it.

Dry mud is harmless, wet mud is not.

[Gazzab]

Dry mud will wear out stuff though ie the grit and sand it contains wears stuff out?

[john_p]

How often to oil the chain? Do you degrease it first or just stick oil straight on?

[Gazzab]

I oil the chain each time I clean the bike (which is after 8 out of 10 rides). I only degrease every month or so.

[SystemParanoia]

i used nitro mors last night.

great stuff!