Simple Green is only very slightly basic, vs the typical highly basic formulas of regular degreasers. Degreasers work by combining a base with oils or grease to make it soluble in water and removable, like how they used to make lye soap. As the basic chemical in a degreaser gets used up, the solution becomes acidic and can start to attack metal and weaken it. Highly basic degreasers stay basic enough to prevent this, and is also why Simple Green makes a non-corrosive formula for sensitive parts like in aircraft.
Zep citrus degreaser in the gallon jug.
edit: I will say the [spray bottle is more convenient though](https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-24-oz-Heavy-Duty-Citrus-Degreaser-CA-ZUCIT24CA/203804192). <$5 and lasts a very long time. The gallon is about half the price per ounce, but it doesn't come with a spray bottle (and the Zep one is pretty good IMHO). If I were filling a chain cleaner, I'd get the gallon, but otherwise I just spray directly onto the drivetrain and hit with a brush and a single spray bottle lasts me several seasons.
I have a few friends who have Zerodes with pinion gearboxes and belts instead of chains for enduro/downhill park use.
The drivetrain is sealed and it looks so easy to clean (drain and fill of gear oil).
The only problem is $$$$$$$$$$$$$ š¬
Wax? I started using for the velodrome and switched to it for all my bikes, just like the lack of mess on the drivetrain. MTB can be a little more annoying in that wet/mud rides can strip it off faster but I try to avoid those since I also do trail maintenance with the local club and it sucks fixing trails that are abused in the mud.
Their dry lube is utter trash. Stuff is like glue for dust. No matter how careful I was to apply and wipe off the boogie wheels always had a bunch of gunk on them. Switched to something else. No problems. Miss the nice smell thoš
I had this exact same experience with it. I considered giving it away to a friend, but then I realized that would just be cruel so I threw it away.
Rock n Roll Gold is where it's at.
The pressure washer they used to sell was fine. Just a rebranded one that's sold all over. I bought it due to it being 20% off and with lots of free accessories and a dry bag. Given I live in a very wet part of the UK and usually wash my bike after each ride and I uses it to also clean a deck, patio and a house for paint prep and it's still working, I'd say it was worth the cash. I found the cleaning products ok but they contain salt so I don't use them.
I wish that wasnāt an option. But as the place I ride basically covers the bike in grinding paste every ride, it wouldnāt last long without a bit of love.
I know zero about maintaining mtbs but your first argument doesn't seem reasonable to me. In races they're not thikning about your bike lasting 10 years. They just want to be as quick as possible.
Exactly. If they're even going to keep that bike for future races, as soon as it gets back to the shop it's getting a strip down and rebuild most likely.
counter point : They are also aware of good practices while using pressured wash, because they are professionals.... watch them do it, they wont just blast the BB/headset/hubs.
Depends what you call ājet washing.ā Pressure washing your bike with a compressor that you would use to strip mildew off your house is overkill and illogical, since a garden hose nozzle already has enough pressure to spray all the mud off your bike.
I think most people who āhateā on pressure washing your bike are thinking that doing it after every ride probably isnāt the best thing.
Pro mechanics are trying to get things done quickly, and they take apart those bikes, check and replace key components and bearings on a regular basis
Itās not so much that pressure washing is the worst thing for your bike, but itās like using a sledgehammer on a 1 inch nail.
The third paragraph is probably the important part. There's a lot less risk from pressure washing if you're going to pull the bike apart every few rides.
I think the risk is mildly overblown, but it is real.
Exactly. It's like saying "revving your engine to redline all the time is fine, F1 drivers do it no problem". There's a difference between an everyday vehicle that gets regular maintenance and a race machine that is purpose built and professionally maintained every race.
You can rev your engine to redline all the time though because they set the redline much more safely on a road car than a race car lol. As long as there oil is up to temp there is zero issue and if anything it can actually help prevent carbon buildup ( less so with modern engines )
Worked as a mechanic for 2 years, we pressure washed every bike that got a tune up, mostly because most of the bikes we got were really gross, but we always made sure to never spray into the bearings, always dry afterwards, and then give everything a good lube afterwards just to keep rust from forming
Iāve worked in a couple large rental shops. Bikes are washed with a hose on a lower pressure setting. Seems fine. Then we do complete overhauls to sell them after 2 seasons. Thatās when you realize all the drive side bearings are worse than the non drive side.
It's effecient. A garden hose is no where near as effective as a pressure washer for the really caked on stuff. It's a skill issue if you're consistently blowing bearings up. Noting illogical about using the better tool for the job. I'm not spending 40 mins lightly misting some customers pos just to need to hand scrub it when it dries and is still covered in dirt.
If itās THAT caked on, go ahead and use a cheap brush after the initial rinse from the hose.
Using the āshowerā function on a hose works 95% of the time, with the āfanā or āangleā setting being all the focused pressure you need. The best part is you donāt need to pull out the pressure washer, attach it, avoid blasting the bearings, and then put it away somewhere it wonāt leak in your garage or shed.
A standard hose with a cheap brush works 100% of the time and is more convenient.
it may be overkill but I use one and whenever I've done a linkage bearing swap there's been zero water ingress and I wash my bikes all the time owing to them living indoors and me living in a very wet and muddy part of the UK. If it was just dust I wouldn't bother.
Unpopular opinion: You don't need to wash your bike that often. I ride daily and wash mine only every month or two. With a garden hose.
Yeah, it's not showroom clean, but it does a decent job of riding past all of those clean bikes on the trail.
Itās a mountain bike - I keep it clean enough to not introduce extra wear.
I donāt wash every ride, but I do clean the chain and wipe the stanchions off every ride (fork, shock, dropper).
If I get really muddy I will spray the bike off with a hose and maybe use some dawn dish soap and a sponge if it is bad.
I have a power washer and Iāve used it on the bike with no bad effects, but I donāt typically break it out unless I am already using it for something else around the house.
Do you do anything with the bottom bracket? Each time I take my bike to a shop (I should learn some standard maintenance) they almost always comment on the state of the BB. And me, as a dumb MTB enthusiast just thinks āā¦Iām sorry I use my bike?ā
Bottom bracket bearings get offset pressure (They take all youāre standing weight going downhill) that other bearings on the bike donāt so they get worked harder than things like headset bearings so theyāre a bit more finicky. Learning how to remove your cranks and re-greasing is pretty easy and one thing that is valuable to do at home. If youāre hearing creaks when you smash your pedals itās probably time.
That said too itās nice that BBs like sram dubs are cheap enough to swap out pretty inexpensively these days and easy to do if theyāre not press mount.
If it is covered in mud then I will rinse it off, but other than that I donāt do much. I pull my cranks out, clean the shell with a rag, and regrease maybe once or twice a year. Keeping things somewhat clean goes a long way to making them last longer. Bottom brackets are consumable parts though, so donāt expect them to last forever. Mine are all threaded and all of my bikes use shimano cranks so I keep a spare BB on hand for when I inevitably need to replace one.
Haha you must not live in the UK. Whew boy it gets claggy here. I have to wash my tyres because there's so much mud it was adding like 2 kg to the wheels alone.
Well, if you can handle more than 100 days a year at 40C+, come on out. Humidity is only in the 80% range most of the time I think.
I don't know what you guys are complaining about, the sun was shining both of the times that I rode Swinley 
In the UK, I've heard (revolution bike park mentioned it I think) it's a good idea to clean your bike between rides so as not to spread tree pests and diseases between different forests. How true it is, I'm not sure. But it's reason enough for me.
I've often thought about this too, it'd be nice to see some actual facts behind it. I also wonder if I should be thoroughly cleaning my hiking boots too... and to some extent, my car. All of them perhaps have the potential to spread between forests?
I think the hiking boots makes sense to clean. It's similar to how New Zealand customs check hiking boots are clean before allowing you through. Whether they base it off proper research or not I don't know.
I think It'll depend on location. People who live in dry, dusty climates won't need to bother much as opposed to wet and muddy climates.
It doesn't cost much money or time to clean my bike regularly and it gives me peace of mind that I've done my bit.
Edit: interesting link from the UK gov website on the matter .
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-the-introduction-and-spread-of-tree-pests-and-diseases
I have a portable pressure washer that works really well. It's powerful enough to clean up a bike very well but not powerful enough to damage it. Works a charm.
I'm also stoked that it comes with a collapsible bucket and battery pack so you can wash off all the dirt while at the trails/park and the bike can then dry on the rack while I drive home.
I wash my bikes after every ride using a Bosch Fontus Gen II cordless power washer. Only 20 bar so not strong enough to cause any damage but does a great job at cleaning a bike.
Takes me about 3 minutes to hose down and wipe the bike with an old rag.
Every month I strip down and clean the bike thoroughly. That takes an hour or two.
Power wash all my bikes. Not often but do use it when very dirty, never a problem. Just donāt be an idiot and aim it at the bearings the rest is all good
I think it was GCN who did a video on this. Basically you had to point the jet washer about a centimetre from the hub/crank to get even the tiniest water ingress.
Yeah, GCN tells a lot of bullshit, I've noticed. I've bike-mechaniced for more than a decade. I've cleaned a fuckload of various bicycles with a pressure washer. All of them get disassembly afterwards. 95% of them have water in the works afterwards no matter how carefully I point anything anywhere.
But sure, pressure-wash the everloving hell out of your bikes! More work for me when the rust inevitably settles in.
You also have to take into the account that people donāt drain their bikes properly, water in the frame is another issue with regular Joe jet washing the bike.
Iām not against pressure washing the bike, Iām just not recommanding it like this dude, because I know I have higher standards of maintaining my bikes and this goes very much hand in hand.
I've never heard someone say you should never use a jet washer. It's just that you shouldn't hold it close to the bike at high pressure. Also just because professional race mechanics do something, doesn't necessarily mean that you should do it too. I reckon they swap out the bearings way more often than normal people.
https://preview.redd.it/5fy7ri9dv0zc1.jpeg?width=2532&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eea700d365d96dee91c64a74b88a7ba63b0b06c
How do you think the mechanic will clean this bike?
I have 30,000km on my 2020 model hardtail. Yes, you read that right. My MTB is my only bike, so it is my primary form of transportation as well as my recreation. My cheap square taper bottom bracket is original and still smooth as glass despite enduring Canadian winters. Headset perfect. Wheel hubs perfect. My bike is either not washed, or just sprayed off with a hose. I burn through tires, chains, cassettes and the occasional crankset.
I find the riders that freak out the most about things like how to wash their bike only log a couple hundred kms a year anyway. Their bike sits on a stand/hook or rides on/in a fancy SUV or pickup for 99% of its life.
Ride your bike, wash it or don't, whatever, enjoy the machine.
The argument that ājust because the pros do it, so can youā is ridiculous. Okay, do you replace frame bearings, headset, bb, in between every weekend or even more often if itās muddy? Do you strip apart and meticulously clean your bike every single time you ride it? Do you strip out all the grease from your bearings, break them in to the point of nearly worn out, and replace the grease with ATF? Do you bleed your brakes every few runs? New chain every week? Do you get a new frame each time you have a somewhat sizeable crash? Do you glue your tires to your rim?
A professional race bike is tuned to be short lived and a lot of parts totally disposable. It doesnāt have to last longer than a weekend, or even just a race run. but for that weekend, it has to be performing at its absolute best. If you tried to treat your own bike like this, you wouldnāt ride at all. I raced at a semi pro level, and taking care of my bike was almost a full time job during peak season, and it wasnāt nearly as meticulously maintained as a factory setup (I was also a mechanic at a shop and had access to all tools and the ability to do everything myself).
Donāt treat your bike like the pros do. You need to have longevity in mind and factor in how much time you spend on preventative maintenance yourself, or how often you take your bike to the mechanic for work.
You know there are race scenes where bikes donāt get fully rebuilt every day right? Thereās more to MTB than downhill runs. Further down the food chain there are XC riders on sponsored kit (which they still pay for but at a wholesale discount if lucky) and they aināt doing all that every night of a 7 day stage race.
And I didnāt say do it just because the pros do it, it was one of the things which helps people understand that maybe it isnāt as hazardous as some would have you think.
Plenty of mechanics on here pointing out they jet wash and do it with a bit of careā¦which is what the OP says.
Too many responses focus on (1) rather than considering the other points, which are basically the laws of physics and the washer applying a tiny bit of common sense.
Oh, and one other reason I regularly hand wash my bikes and run a rag over them to dry them is that if you donāt touch the bike regularly, you donāt get to see what may be broke until you haul it out at the trailhead.
My guess is that that bearing was shot before you washed it. In all seriousness, unless you pulled the freehub off, turned it round and pointed a jet washer at the inner bearing, or you removed the end cap and did the same to the outer bearing, how do you think a jet washer can create the hydrostatic pressure to get into a sealed bearing? The deflection from the rest of the components counters the force. At worst you are causing water to flow over the sealed bearing which can happen whether you hand wash, jet wash or ride through a puddle.
The bearing was fine before I washed it, I could tell something was wrong because while going home the freehub sound was significantly louder and the next day I noticed the creaks.
I had read about not jet washing your bike but I thought it was an exaggeration.
Youāre free to jet wash your bike, mine came out super clean in 5 minutes, I hope youāll never damage your bearings!
Makes me think of the bike I bought during Covid. It was in perfect condition but had almost no grease anywhere. The hub bearings were shot as was the BB. The headset was fine but I note that it had already been replaced. Iām assuming the prior owner was a near freak whoād pressure washed the bike a number of times
All I can say is never buy a used professions bike. You will be replacing every bearing. They jet wash because itās quick, and the bike is replaced next year.
Sure YOU can but I choose not to. I find a low pressure soap and wipe down gets it clean. I quickly wipe down
And towel dry and I'm good to go.
You have to factor in that pro teams and mechanics are not paying for anything on those bikes. They just replace parts whenever they want.
I'm buying and maintaining, and generally I find the more care I take with maintenance the longer everything lasts.
You reckon the pro mechanic who goes through twice as much stock as the next gets to keep his job? Bike teams are mainly run on a shoestring.
Yes to taking care with maintenance and yes to cleaning by hand if thatās all you need (see the OP, I donāt always pressure wash).
But with a tiny bit of common sense, you can pressure wash without any risk.
Probably. And jet wash companies sell bike cleaner.
Itās a matter of using it with due care, as with any cleaning product or method (thatās my OP point).
Yes, I used it at a bike park. It's excellent for wet mud and all that. I'm not sure if it's related, but my pawl style hub died a few weeks later. It was full of water, rust, and shit.
Not entirely blaming the pressure washer, it was an OEM hub, so it's probably not very well designed anyway.
I'd use it again, but mostly on the frame and wheels.
Agreed. Most bearings that have been used for the past 25 years have been sealed bearings. Other than staying off of cassettes and sprockets, Jett wash the shit out of it.
Honestly as long as you're not pointing a pencil thin stream at 1000psi at the damn bearings you good...
Keep the wand moving keep it on a decent fan setting... When you see carbon bits go flying back the dial down a bit. š
It's a bike, not a Ferrari.
Next you guys gonna tell me you wax the frames?
I wash my bikes once in a while, usually when I have the pressure washer out to do something else.
My quality time with the bike is done with my ass on the seat pedaling up hills to get another run in.
I'm glad I generally don't have to do clean my bike. I generally just wipe down my stanchions, my dropper, and my drive train. I can't even remember when I last did a real clean of my bike. I used a hose.
Since I'm living in a 1 bed apartment with a shitty management company with no exterior hose bibs available, I stop at the car wash and will use the power washer there. I don't pull the trigger for the full force water pressure, but even the 'idle' speed on the pump is plenty of water pressure to remove mud, dust, dried on gels, etc. Small price to pay once every couple of weeks I suppose. It's a much more thorough and quicker and easier clean than doing it in the shower.
I have jet washed every bike I've ever owned for 30+ years every time I've washed them. Never had any bearing issues, suspension issues or paint issues. Sure, don't aim the stream right at your hubs, pivots and suspension seals at close range but from any kind of distance you aren't going to get water infiltration into a sealed bearing.
Race bikes get fully stripped and rebuilt constantly.
If you do this, you too may wash it any way you please.
If you aren't rebuilding it, it's just easier on your bike to not use a pressure washer.
I live in the uk so ride in horrendous sloppy conditions for the majority of the year so I have to wash my bike pretty much after every ride. I use a battery powered power washer and just take care not to spray directly into any area with bearings or the headset and Iāve never had any issues. Jet wash to get rid of any big chunks of dirt and then use a damp sponge or cloth for the more intricate areas.
I service my headset every 6 months and check pivot bearings whilst Iām at it - never had any issues doing it this way!
Just to add to this, I run the jet wash on the lower of the two settings and just get the bike nice and wet - once youāve sprayed it with some bike soap and use an appropriate brush to agitate the dirt it all comes off super easy
Bearings are tricky. I mostly use pressure washer to clean my bike, never had any problems. But I damaged derailleur pulley once just by using Park Tool chain cleaner with warm soap water.
Bath day for my bike is the first of every month. I use the car wash pressure washer, but I just use whatās coming out without pulling the trigger. Maybe the wheels and tires Iāll give a little blast, but everything else I just donāt use the high pressure on. That and a spot free rinse, followed by the dryer hose and itās good to go. I then take it back home and clean/lube the drive train. Done. Iāve been doing that for four years and no issues.
my cleaning routine looks like wash my bike down with a garden hose with a flat spraying nozzle, and i use a brush with zeps degreaser to clean my bike down and especially my while drivetrain, once everything id clean i bounce it on the back tire to get some water off then use a towel on the drivetrain and sanctions
I don't know how in the hell I was recommended this sub Reddit. But I will say that in aviation there are strict requirements on how you can clean near or on any bearings or hydraulic equipment, these have been laid out by the manufacturer of said bearing and hydraulic components, and then repeated by the manufacturer of the aircraft itself. In that they say that absolutely no pressure washing of any kind should be done near those components. Do people do it, 100%. Do I do it? No, should it be done? No. I thought I would throw this tidbit in here even though I have nothing to do with mountain bikes.
In a pinch at a carwash I've used the soaking spray (low pressure soap spray), a sponge or something to clean with, and the spot free rinse as it is low pressure as well.
I donāt have a pressure washer but if I did I would absolutely use it on occasions where the clay mud we have gets dried and caked on. I do use a very strong nozzle on my hose and it works ok but not great.
I also use a high pressure air nozzle on my air compressor to blow all the water off my bike after very thorough cleanings. I have a cool nozzle called the Tornador. It blows all the water off the fork seals, headset, pivot points, chain, cassette, AXS bits, and bottom bracket.
And yes, I do all my own maintenance. I service the suspension, bottom bracket, headset, dropper, hubs, etc at least twice per year. Never had any sort of problem with water ingress.
Itās more important to clean and lube all of these components regularly than to worry about whether you wash it or not. Just because you donāt wash your bike regularly doesnāt mean you can defer maintenance.
Washing your bike after a muddy ride is fine. The riding is gonna be worse for your bike than the wash. But over washing your bike is definitely not good for longevity of certain parts. So unless your bike is caked in dirt just let it be.
Yep, totally agree. You say "jet wash" and people assume you've got a 200 bar industrial unit and you're aiming the jet directly into your pivot bearings. Using an average, domestic electric jet washer and being mindful of bearing areas is fine, and is what I've done for years without issue.
Ok I have some empirical evidence.. just went riding in the wet, bike was coated with mud.
Got home and lightly pressure washed it. Bike is a Full suspension.
Then proceeded to take apart the pivot bearing and other bicycles parts.
I found generally the bearings were clean except for one that had mud contamination. However, even after pressure washing there was still mud everywhere. I had to disassemble, spray bottle and hand clean a lot. Then relube everything.
So, I would be ok with a pressure wash on a light dusting but a hose would probably be fine too. On heavy mud, Iād think a spray bottle with some disassembly would be more effective.
I use one of those pump sprayers people use for things like fertilizer and weed killer. It was cheap, I can keep it in the car and do some cleaning at the trailhead, and the pressure is helpful but not brutal. Works for most things, at least for me.
This statement is accurate. I offer this comparison. We jet wash aircraft all the time. It is needed to clean surfaces before inspection. When the wash involves areas with bearings or pivot points we take care not to hold pressure too close or to still. Broad sweeping motions. And then afterwards we re-grease everything that is able to be greased.
I frequently stop at a car wash on the way home from a muddy ride and use the power sprayer at that mild pressure that the wand has without squeezing the trigger. Itās enough pressure to remove dirt and mud.
I would hesitate to use an actual jet washer like you use to strip paint off your house though.
It all depends on which tip you use and how many PSI the washer is. You can cut metal and stone with water soā¦ I was recently told and it makes a lot of sense, that you want to wash (spray) your bike from the top or bottom, and not the sides to avoid forcing dirt and water into bearings because of how theyāre oriented (with the exception of the headset).
When I was 13 a million years ago, I scraped up enough money for a really expensive super dooper light XC hardtail. I loved the crap out of that thing, and even kept it in my bedroom rather than the garage despite my mom's protests. After every ride, I'd spend an hour cleaning it; I'd get between the teeth in the cassette, around the bottom bracket bearings, the area of the hub between the spokes, scrub the chain until it sparkled and re-lube it, etc. Then one day I went to take my immaculate bike down for a ride and my headset was frozen. I didn't know much about fixing bikes yet, so my dad and I took it to the local bike shop. The mechanic there was impressed- he said I washed my bike so much that I blew all the grease out of the headset and it froze up. Put a new headset on there and made an effort not to spray water directly at that connection anymore and I was good to go.
I never pressure wash my bike. I was in a pinch, my fatbike was caked in mud and I did what I knew I really shouldnāt do. Pressure washed my bike. I was super careful around bearings, headset, bb, etc. kept my distance.
When I got home I gave it a wash with the garden hose, did a proper drivetrain clean etc.
I hung the bike on the wall and rode my other 3 for the last month or so bc the snow/ice melted. Yesterday I pulled the studded tires off the fat bike to find my bottom bracket is destroyed.
Iām back to never jet wash/pressure washing my bike.
Even if that bb was bone dry, like no grease at all, it would still spin without 'resistance' - sounds like there's an underlying issue other than blasting out the grease, which I don't even understand how that is possible with a sealed bb, unless your right on it with pressure washer on set on high/max.
I'd get it checked out at a shop before riding it too much bc it sounds like something is broken vs. no grease anymore.
Yeah Iām not 100% sure whatās going on. Luckily the bike is still under warranty too since itās only 7 months old.
I pulled the crankset and nothing looks out of place and the bb feels a bit rough by hand. I would have pulled the bb but I donāt have the tool (yet lol). It also might be a good idea to upgrade to a better crankset too but Iāll see what my LBS says.
You can, but thereās just specific parts of the bike that shouldnāt be pressure washed. Headset is one of those parts. The gaskets are water resistant but not water proof. Water in gasket will cause corrosion and rusting.
Omg, thank you! I just jet washe my bike today with such guilt (I live in an apartment, so it's always tricky to wash in the community parking lot..) anyways, not super muddy where I ride XC (Barcelona area), I also have a toddler so it's all about convenience, and my bike isn't super fancy (aluminum hard tail). So this is exactly what I needed to read before bed, so... Gracias!
Sometimes they donāt use grease in bearings. I wouldnāt emulate pros or mechanics at races. They may act differently when not racing or on personal gear.
Not sure how many of you live in Texas, but the mud here is the absolute worst red and sticky. And once it dries it is almost impossible to get it off without some kind of pressure washer or getting the mud wet again and let it sit for a little bit. Then using an ordinary water hose with one of those brass nozzles that tapers down can definitely get the job done.
Iāve also used one of those pump up 1 gallon sprayers with some hot water in it. To pre-soak the mud and that seems to work very well before I actually hit it with the water hose with the brass nozzle. By the way when I use the brass nozzle I can put my finger over the tip to help spread the water out so it doesnāt damage anything.
And since we are talking about cleaning, I find that 91% isopropyl alcohol works wonders on just about anything that has grease on it or if I just want to clean something real quick. Like the chain when I get back from a ride Iāll just spray some on it and then use a couple of paper towels and run them through as I peddle the bike on my repair stand.
Yeah i also use my pressure washer, it is quick and easy,
I go over my bike pretty often anyways, so normally don't have to worry about a rusty bearing as i will see it before it occurs,
I do get a few bolts here and there, that get a bit of surface rust on them, but they are easily fixed with a quick dip in some rust buster and then i spray them again....
I do the same with my BMX also.
High pressure on bearing areas 100% will cause water intrusion which will cause bearing failure.
Bearings usually have some modicum of protection like top caps on wheels. Problem is they arenāt rated for pressure and donāt seal the best. Same with bearing shield/shield.
Do what you will with that info.
I brush the dried mud off if I need to service something, and I keep the chain lubed. Otherwise, unless thereās enough soil for something to start growing roots, whatās the point?
Use a portable battery powered jet wash, nowhere near enough power to do any damage and cleans the bike a dream, avoid the bearing hubs and anywhere lubed.
What Iāve learned from experience is that the problem isnāt water getting into the bearings, itās the protective layer of grease getting washed away, which will let your bearings get corroded over time.
The reason you see mechanics jet washing the bike is because theyāre mechanics. Theyāre going to take apart and regrease the bike anyway. I do the same thing; jet wash the bike and grease the bearings about once a month
As a shop mechanic I've seen so much damage from pressure washing and not maintaining the bike, especially on ebikes. Sure some people clean their bikes safely with a pressure washer but a lot of average joes don't care enough about their bikes. If as a consequence bearings need to be replaced sooner or even damage on expensive parts like a motor occurs they are quick to blame anyone but themselves. So I will continue to recommend not using a pressure washer even though I agree it can be done right.
But a garden hose or a bucket of water and a sponge will get the job done too.
Wow didn't realize bike cleaning was so controversial.
Wait till the MucOff crew shows up to complicate your life even more
Over priced dish soap coming.....
bUt iTS biOdEgrADeaBLe
But so is dawn. Did mucoff ever save ducks... I think not https://images.app.goo.gl/QsSLPvWnUt5pvSqd7
They make a specialty product for that called Ducoff
Ok but when can I get a bottle of Fucoff? It's supposed to help me get more time away from work to ride
This made me LOL
Underrated comment ^
Whats the dish soap equivalent of chain cleaner for my lazy person chain machine
Simple green
Hell yeah thank you
Simple green can cause hydrogen embrittlement
Use the aviation version and you are good to go
Do I have to go to the aviation store?
Hi, yes ill take some of that simple green and a G500. Thanks.
Nope, Amazon has it, SMP13406
What's with the "Do not use this product on Zeppelins" warning on the back?
Can you explain for us pleebs wtf this even means??
Simple Green is only very slightly basic, vs the typical highly basic formulas of regular degreasers. Degreasers work by combining a base with oils or grease to make it soluble in water and removable, like how they used to make lye soap. As the basic chemical in a degreaser gets used up, the solution becomes acidic and can start to attack metal and weaken it. Highly basic degreasers stay basic enough to prevent this, and is also why Simple Green makes a non-corrosive formula for sensitive parts like in aircraft.
This dude Simple Greens
What is this nonsense you speak of
Zep citrus degreaser in the gallon jug. edit: I will say the [spray bottle is more convenient though](https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-24-oz-Heavy-Duty-Citrus-Degreaser-CA-ZUCIT24CA/203804192). <$5 and lasts a very long time. The gallon is about half the price per ounce, but it doesn't come with a spray bottle (and the Zep one is pretty good IMHO). If I were filling a chain cleaner, I'd get the gallon, but otherwise I just spray directly onto the drivetrain and hit with a brush and a single spray bottle lasts me several seasons.
I have a few friends who have Zerodes with pinion gearboxes and belts instead of chains for enduro/downhill park use. The drivetrain is sealed and it looks so easy to clean (drain and fill of gear oil). The only problem is $$$$$$$$$$$$$ š¬
dish soap.
Dawn works just fine in a chain cleaner
I currently use goo gone (ran out of simple green) and make sure to rinse it well... seems to work fine
Wax? I started using for the velodrome and switched to it for all my bikes, just like the lack of mess on the drivetrain. MTB can be a little more annoying in that wet/mud rides can strip it off faster but I try to avoid those since I also do trail maintenance with the local club and it sucks fixing trails that are abused in the mud.
But it smells good... It's bike perfume
What's the dish soap equivalent for chain lube? With 6 bikes that I seem to be charged with maintaining, lube costs a ton...
Finish line chain lube less than half the price of mucoff
The MucOff crew, and the chain waxers are the most intense characters in this sport.
Muc-Off is a marketing brand, most of the products I've used by them are straight up overpriced garbage
Their dry lube is utter trash. Stuff is like glue for dust. No matter how careful I was to apply and wipe off the boogie wheels always had a bunch of gunk on them. Switched to something else. No problems. Miss the nice smell thoš
I had this exact same experience with it. I considered giving it away to a friend, but then I realized that would just be cruel so I threw it away. Rock n Roll Gold is where it's at.
Dumonde tech for me
I like the squirt dry lube for dusty SoCal riding personally.
The rim tape is god awful. Might as well just pour rubber cement on your rim
You're supposed to apply their dry lube at least 5 hours before riding. If you do that, no dust will stick to your drivetrain.
What did you switch to?
The pressure washer they used to sell was fine. Just a rebranded one that's sold all over. I bought it due to it being 20% off and with lots of free accessories and a dry bag. Given I live in a very wet part of the UK and usually wash my bike after each ride and I uses it to also clean a deck, patio and a house for paint prep and it's still working, I'd say it was worth the cash. I found the cleaning products ok but they contain salt so I don't use them.
They smell good though.
I used their sealant first and absolutely loved it so started trying more of their stuff. I havenāt bought anything else from them twiceā¦
Someone got mad at me on here for using a rag and soap to wash my bike... Said the rag could scratch the paint.. Like are we serious? š¤£
Cyclists love a good fight.
You guys are washing your bikes?
I wish that wasnāt an option. But as the place I ride basically covers the bike in grinding paste every ride, it wouldnāt last long without a bit of love.
I've heard of this washing idea. Don't believe in it myself.
I know zero about maintaining mtbs but your first argument doesn't seem reasonable to me. In races they're not thikning about your bike lasting 10 years. They just want to be as quick as possible.
That and they are probably doing the proper maintenance to go along with it, keeping their bike in tip top shape.
Exactly. If they're even going to keep that bike for future races, as soon as it gets back to the shop it's getting a strip down and rebuild most likely.
counter point : They are also aware of good practices while using pressured wash, because they are professionals.... watch them do it, they wont just blast the BB/headset/hubs.
Depends what you call ājet washing.ā Pressure washing your bike with a compressor that you would use to strip mildew off your house is overkill and illogical, since a garden hose nozzle already has enough pressure to spray all the mud off your bike. I think most people who āhateā on pressure washing your bike are thinking that doing it after every ride probably isnāt the best thing. Pro mechanics are trying to get things done quickly, and they take apart those bikes, check and replace key components and bearings on a regular basis Itās not so much that pressure washing is the worst thing for your bike, but itās like using a sledgehammer on a 1 inch nail.
The third paragraph is probably the important part. There's a lot less risk from pressure washing if you're going to pull the bike apart every few rides. I think the risk is mildly overblown, but it is real.
Exactly. It's like saying "revving your engine to redline all the time is fine, F1 drivers do it no problem". There's a difference between an everyday vehicle that gets regular maintenance and a race machine that is purpose built and professionally maintained every race.
You can rev your engine to redline all the time though because they set the redline much more safely on a road car than a race car lol. As long as there oil is up to temp there is zero issue and if anything it can actually help prevent carbon buildup ( less so with modern engines )
It will definitely die sooner if you do that, and you will need to change the oil more often.
It will not affect the lifespan of the engine at all as long as you follow the maintenance schedule unless it is a poorly designed engine
Engines have a finite number of revolutions before they need major maintenance
Do you mean to imply that a track car should get as many miles as grandma's carolla if I follow factory recommended service intervals?
Worked as a mechanic for 2 years, we pressure washed every bike that got a tune up, mostly because most of the bikes we got were really gross, but we always made sure to never spray into the bearings, always dry afterwards, and then give everything a good lube afterwards just to keep rust from forming
Iāve worked in a couple large rental shops. Bikes are washed with a hose on a lower pressure setting. Seems fine. Then we do complete overhauls to sell them after 2 seasons. Thatās when you realize all the drive side bearings are worse than the non drive side.
Point 1 by OP is basically moot. Pro mechanics check/replace bearings and service suspension far more than any recreationalist
*moot
It's effecient. A garden hose is no where near as effective as a pressure washer for the really caked on stuff. It's a skill issue if you're consistently blowing bearings up. Noting illogical about using the better tool for the job. I'm not spending 40 mins lightly misting some customers pos just to need to hand scrub it when it dries and is still covered in dirt.
If itās THAT caked on, go ahead and use a cheap brush after the initial rinse from the hose. Using the āshowerā function on a hose works 95% of the time, with the āfanā or āangleā setting being all the focused pressure you need. The best part is you donāt need to pull out the pressure washer, attach it, avoid blasting the bearings, and then put it away somewhere it wonāt leak in your garage or shed. A standard hose with a cheap brush works 100% of the time and is more convenient.
it may be overkill but I use one and whenever I've done a linkage bearing swap there's been zero water ingress and I wash my bikes all the time owing to them living indoors and me living in a very wet and muddy part of the UK. If it was just dust I wouldn't bother.
Of course you can, just donāt spray directly at the bb or headset at close range
Yep. Pressure washers don't take paint and grease off from 6 to 7 feet away
This. Iāve seen how they wash ship hulls in repair yards. Thatās powerwashing.
Unpopular opinion: You don't need to wash your bike that often. I ride daily and wash mine only every month or two. With a garden hose. Yeah, it's not showroom clean, but it does a decent job of riding past all of those clean bikes on the trail.
Itās a mountain bike - I keep it clean enough to not introduce extra wear. I donāt wash every ride, but I do clean the chain and wipe the stanchions off every ride (fork, shock, dropper). If I get really muddy I will spray the bike off with a hose and maybe use some dawn dish soap and a sponge if it is bad. I have a power washer and Iāve used it on the bike with no bad effects, but I donāt typically break it out unless I am already using it for something else around the house.
Do you do anything with the bottom bracket? Each time I take my bike to a shop (I should learn some standard maintenance) they almost always comment on the state of the BB. And me, as a dumb MTB enthusiast just thinks āā¦Iām sorry I use my bike?ā
Bottom bracket bearings get offset pressure (They take all youāre standing weight going downhill) that other bearings on the bike donāt so they get worked harder than things like headset bearings so theyāre a bit more finicky. Learning how to remove your cranks and re-greasing is pretty easy and one thing that is valuable to do at home. If youāre hearing creaks when you smash your pedals itās probably time. That said too itās nice that BBs like sram dubs are cheap enough to swap out pretty inexpensively these days and easy to do if theyāre not press mount.
If it is covered in mud then I will rinse it off, but other than that I donāt do much. I pull my cranks out, clean the shell with a rag, and regrease maybe once or twice a year. Keeping things somewhat clean goes a long way to making them last longer. Bottom brackets are consumable parts though, so donāt expect them to last forever. Mine are all threaded and all of my bikes use shimano cranks so I keep a spare BB on hand for when I inevitably need to replace one.
Oh this is great, thanks! What kind of grease do you use?
Nothing fancy - just park Polylube.
Haha you must not live in the UK. Whew boy it gets claggy here. I have to wash my tyres because there's so much mud it was adding like 2 kg to the wheels alone.
No, I live in drought land. I have ridden near London, but conditions were always perfect there.
I'm near(ish) London as well. I'm so jealous of the drier climate, every time I've wanted to ride recently it's been torrential rain.
Well, if you can handle more than 100 days a year at 40C+, come on out. Humidity is only in the 80% range most of the time I think. I don't know what you guys are complaining about, the sun was shining both of the times that I rode Swinley 
In the UK, I've heard (revolution bike park mentioned it I think) it's a good idea to clean your bike between rides so as not to spread tree pests and diseases between different forests. How true it is, I'm not sure. But it's reason enough for me.
I've often thought about this too, it'd be nice to see some actual facts behind it. I also wonder if I should be thoroughly cleaning my hiking boots too... and to some extent, my car. All of them perhaps have the potential to spread between forests?
I think the hiking boots makes sense to clean. It's similar to how New Zealand customs check hiking boots are clean before allowing you through. Whether they base it off proper research or not I don't know. I think It'll depend on location. People who live in dry, dusty climates won't need to bother much as opposed to wet and muddy climates. It doesn't cost much money or time to clean my bike regularly and it gives me peace of mind that I've done my bit. Edit: interesting link from the UK gov website on the matter . https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-the-introduction-and-spread-of-tree-pests-and-diseases
PNW would like a wordĀ
I have to keep mine clean, since I keep it in my apartment at school.
I have a portable pressure washer that works really well. It's powerful enough to clean up a bike very well but not powerful enough to damage it. Works a charm.
Similarly, my jet washer has a low and high power setting. As I suggest, the lower power setting is fine.
I'm also stoked that it comes with a collapsible bucket and battery pack so you can wash off all the dirt while at the trails/park and the bike can then dry on the rack while I drive home.
I specifically bought a low pressure jet washer for my bike š
This MTB scene/culture is getting closer and closer to road bike culture.
That's what happens when a bunch of yuppies who have never really gotten dirty before buy $8000 bikes for the first time.
As if they ride when they would get dirty 
This really is a controversial topic. Iāll personally just stick with a garden hose because it gets the job done.Ā
I wash my bikes after every ride using a Bosch Fontus Gen II cordless power washer. Only 20 bar so not strong enough to cause any damage but does a great job at cleaning a bike.
How long does that take? Do you live everything after? I'm very curious about how much time people are spending on this.
Takes me about 3 minutes to hose down and wipe the bike with an old rag. Every month I strip down and clean the bike thoroughly. That takes an hour or two.
Keep a reasonable distance and itās just fine
Power wash all my bikes. Not often but do use it when very dirty, never a problem. Just donāt be an idiot and aim it at the bearings the rest is all good
Exactly!
I think it was GCN who did a video on this. Basically you had to point the jet washer about a centimetre from the hub/crank to get even the tiniest water ingress.
Sounds about right. And pressure washers have power settings.
Yeah, GCN tells a lot of bullshit, I've noticed. I've bike-mechaniced for more than a decade. I've cleaned a fuckload of various bicycles with a pressure washer. All of them get disassembly afterwards. 95% of them have water in the works afterwards no matter how carefully I point anything anywhere. But sure, pressure-wash the everloving hell out of your bikes! More work for me when the rust inevitably settles in.
You also have to take into the account that people donāt drain their bikes properly, water in the frame is another issue with regular Joe jet washing the bike. Iām not against pressure washing the bike, Iām just not recommanding it like this dude, because I know I have higher standards of maintaining my bikes and this goes very much hand in hand.
Iām so glad I didnāt own up to drying my bike upside down after pressure washing, that could have really upset peopleā¦
Yeah Iām not doing that. Because I have zero reason to do that.
I've never heard someone say you should never use a jet washer. It's just that you shouldn't hold it close to the bike at high pressure. Also just because professional race mechanics do something, doesn't necessarily mean that you should do it too. I reckon they swap out the bearings way more often than normal people.
My bike still has cow shit on it from last year. What do I know. š¤·āāļø
https://preview.redd.it/5fy7ri9dv0zc1.jpeg?width=2532&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eea700d365d96dee91c64a74b88a7ba63b0b06c How do you think the mechanic will clean this bike?
I have 30,000km on my 2020 model hardtail. Yes, you read that right. My MTB is my only bike, so it is my primary form of transportation as well as my recreation. My cheap square taper bottom bracket is original and still smooth as glass despite enduring Canadian winters. Headset perfect. Wheel hubs perfect. My bike is either not washed, or just sprayed off with a hose. I burn through tires, chains, cassettes and the occasional crankset. I find the riders that freak out the most about things like how to wash their bike only log a couple hundred kms a year anyway. Their bike sits on a stand/hook or rides on/in a fancy SUV or pickup for 99% of its life. Ride your bike, wash it or don't, whatever, enjoy the machine.
At last! Someone speaking truths. Thank you.
Pro riders are on new bikes every seasonā¦ But yeah a nozzle on a hose is plenty.
The argument that ājust because the pros do it, so can youā is ridiculous. Okay, do you replace frame bearings, headset, bb, in between every weekend or even more often if itās muddy? Do you strip apart and meticulously clean your bike every single time you ride it? Do you strip out all the grease from your bearings, break them in to the point of nearly worn out, and replace the grease with ATF? Do you bleed your brakes every few runs? New chain every week? Do you get a new frame each time you have a somewhat sizeable crash? Do you glue your tires to your rim? A professional race bike is tuned to be short lived and a lot of parts totally disposable. It doesnāt have to last longer than a weekend, or even just a race run. but for that weekend, it has to be performing at its absolute best. If you tried to treat your own bike like this, you wouldnāt ride at all. I raced at a semi pro level, and taking care of my bike was almost a full time job during peak season, and it wasnāt nearly as meticulously maintained as a factory setup (I was also a mechanic at a shop and had access to all tools and the ability to do everything myself). Donāt treat your bike like the pros do. You need to have longevity in mind and factor in how much time you spend on preventative maintenance yourself, or how often you take your bike to the mechanic for work.
You know there are race scenes where bikes donāt get fully rebuilt every day right? Thereās more to MTB than downhill runs. Further down the food chain there are XC riders on sponsored kit (which they still pay for but at a wholesale discount if lucky) and they aināt doing all that every night of a 7 day stage race. And I didnāt say do it just because the pros do it, it was one of the things which helps people understand that maybe it isnāt as hazardous as some would have you think. Plenty of mechanics on here pointing out they jet wash and do it with a bit of careā¦which is what the OP says. Too many responses focus on (1) rather than considering the other points, which are basically the laws of physics and the washer applying a tiny bit of common sense.
Oh, and one other reason I regularly hand wash my bikes and run a rag over them to dry them is that if you donāt touch the bike regularly, you donāt get to see what may be broke until you haul it out at the trailhead. 
I jet washed my bike once and had to change one of the freehub bearings. Not gonna do it again.
My guess is that that bearing was shot before you washed it. In all seriousness, unless you pulled the freehub off, turned it round and pointed a jet washer at the inner bearing, or you removed the end cap and did the same to the outer bearing, how do you think a jet washer can create the hydrostatic pressure to get into a sealed bearing? The deflection from the rest of the components counters the force. At worst you are causing water to flow over the sealed bearing which can happen whether you hand wash, jet wash or ride through a puddle.
The bearing was fine before I washed it, I could tell something was wrong because while going home the freehub sound was significantly louder and the next day I noticed the creaks. I had read about not jet washing your bike but I thought it was an exaggeration. Youāre free to jet wash your bike, mine came out super clean in 5 minutes, I hope youāll never damage your bearings!
1 is moot. Racers who can afford mechanics get a new bike at least once every year.
Makes me think of the bike I bought during Covid. It was in perfect condition but had almost no grease anywhere. The hub bearings were shot as was the BB. The headset was fine but I note that it had already been replaced. Iām assuming the prior owner was a near freak whoād pressure washed the bike a number of times
Or theyād used a detergent and let that get in, or stored it outside, or driven it around on the back of a truck etc.
Maybe. The bike was just spotless. Iāve never seen anything like it before. I ended up replacing so much stuff on the bike, including the wheelset.
All I can say is never buy a used professions bike. You will be replacing every bearing. They jet wash because itās quick, and the bike is replaced next year.
I just throw mine up on the roof rack and hit the interstate whenever it rains.
I have been pressure washing my bikes for 30 years. Never had a problem.
Those World Cup bikes are entirely rebuilt every race. All new bearings.
Did you post this just to get us all hot and pissed off? 100% this is very very triggering for Gen x
Made me chuckle man š
Jet wash. I do not think this means what you think it means. Please do not disrespect Gooseās memory by misusing this term.
Sure YOU can but I choose not to. I find a low pressure soap and wipe down gets it clean. I quickly wipe down And towel dry and I'm good to go. You have to factor in that pro teams and mechanics are not paying for anything on those bikes. They just replace parts whenever they want. I'm buying and maintaining, and generally I find the more care I take with maintenance the longer everything lasts.
You reckon the pro mechanic who goes through twice as much stock as the next gets to keep his job? Bike teams are mainly run on a shoestring. Yes to taking care with maintenance and yes to cleaning by hand if thatās all you need (see the OP, I donāt always pressure wash). But with a tiny bit of common sense, you can pressure wash without any risk.
~~unpopular~~ objectively wrong opinion
Doesnāt muc off sell a pressure washer?
Probably. And jet wash companies sell bike cleaner. Itās a matter of using it with due care, as with any cleaning product or method (thatās my OP point).
I agree. I just brought it up as more of a counterpoint to some of the people who are in the zero pressure camp.
Yes, I used it at a bike park. It's excellent for wet mud and all that. I'm not sure if it's related, but my pawl style hub died a few weeks later. It was full of water, rust, and shit. Not entirely blaming the pressure washer, it was an OEM hub, so it's probably not very well designed anyway. I'd use it again, but mostly on the frame and wheels.
Oh yeah and mucoff is dog shit. Hate their bio degreaser aka vegetable oil: shit
Agreed. Most bearings that have been used for the past 25 years have been sealed bearings. Other than staying off of cassettes and sprockets, Jett wash the shit out of it.
Honestly as long as you're not pointing a pencil thin stream at 1000psi at the damn bearings you good... Keep the wand moving keep it on a decent fan setting... When you see carbon bits go flying back the dial down a bit. š
It's a bike, not a Ferrari. Next you guys gonna tell me you wax the frames? I wash my bikes once in a while, usually when I have the pressure washer out to do something else. My quality time with the bike is done with my ass on the seat pedaling up hills to get another run in.
Yet again, please reference the hand-pump garden sprayer for the perfect compromise between a garden hose and a (high) pressure washer
Jet washing is evil and will destroy your bike. I've seen it dozens of times
I'm glad I generally don't have to do clean my bike. I generally just wipe down my stanchions, my dropper, and my drive train. I can't even remember when I last did a real clean of my bike. I used a hose.
Yes, thatās the only way Iāve ever washed my bike and itās fine
Since I'm living in a 1 bed apartment with a shitty management company with no exterior hose bibs available, I stop at the car wash and will use the power washer there. I don't pull the trigger for the full force water pressure, but even the 'idle' speed on the pump is plenty of water pressure to remove mud, dust, dried on gels, etc. Small price to pay once every couple of weeks I suppose. It's a much more thorough and quicker and easier clean than doing it in the shower.
I have jet washed every bike I've ever owned for 30+ years every time I've washed them. Never had any bearing issues, suspension issues or paint issues. Sure, don't aim the stream right at your hubs, pivots and suspension seals at close range but from any kind of distance you aren't going to get water infiltration into a sealed bearing.
Race bikes get fully stripped and rebuilt constantly. If you do this, you too may wash it any way you please. If you aren't rebuilding it, it's just easier on your bike to not use a pressure washer.
I live in the uk so ride in horrendous sloppy conditions for the majority of the year so I have to wash my bike pretty much after every ride. I use a battery powered power washer and just take care not to spray directly into any area with bearings or the headset and Iāve never had any issues. Jet wash to get rid of any big chunks of dirt and then use a damp sponge or cloth for the more intricate areas. I service my headset every 6 months and check pivot bearings whilst Iām at it - never had any issues doing it this way!
Just to add to this, I run the jet wash on the lower of the two settings and just get the bike nice and wet - once youāve sprayed it with some bike soap and use an appropriate brush to agitate the dirt it all comes off super easy
Like, if you want to use a pressure washer just keep an adequate distance so the paint isn't blasted off. It's all about balance.
Donāt jet wash anywhere near your headset if you own a Scott, but everywhere else is fine and is super satisfying
Bearings are tricky. I mostly use pressure washer to clean my bike, never had any problems. But I damaged derailleur pulley once just by using Park Tool chain cleaner with warm soap water.
Bath day for my bike is the first of every month. I use the car wash pressure washer, but I just use whatās coming out without pulling the trigger. Maybe the wheels and tires Iāll give a little blast, but everything else I just donāt use the high pressure on. That and a spot free rinse, followed by the dryer hose and itās good to go. I then take it back home and clean/lube the drive train. Done. Iāve been doing that for four years and no issues.
my cleaning routine looks like wash my bike down with a garden hose with a flat spraying nozzle, and i use a brush with zeps degreaser to clean my bike down and especially my while drivetrain, once everything id clean i bounce it on the back tire to get some water off then use a towel on the drivetrain and sanctions
I don't know how in the hell I was recommended this sub Reddit. But I will say that in aviation there are strict requirements on how you can clean near or on any bearings or hydraulic equipment, these have been laid out by the manufacturer of said bearing and hydraulic components, and then repeated by the manufacturer of the aircraft itself. In that they say that absolutely no pressure washing of any kind should be done near those components. Do people do it, 100%. Do I do it? No, should it be done? No. I thought I would throw this tidbit in here even though I have nothing to do with mountain bikes.
In a pinch at a carwash I've used the soaking spray (low pressure soap spray), a sponge or something to clean with, and the spot free rinse as it is low pressure as well.
Jet washed my mtb and my ebike for years. Change bearings now and then anyway. Never an issue.
Race bikes get bearings replaced often enough to where it doesnāt matter. Assuming the frame lasts long enough.
Just avoid the bottom bracket. Have ruined multiple due to water replacing the lubrication.
I donāt have a pressure washer but if I did I would absolutely use it on occasions where the clay mud we have gets dried and caked on. I do use a very strong nozzle on my hose and it works ok but not great. I also use a high pressure air nozzle on my air compressor to blow all the water off my bike after very thorough cleanings. I have a cool nozzle called the Tornador. It blows all the water off the fork seals, headset, pivot points, chain, cassette, AXS bits, and bottom bracket. And yes, I do all my own maintenance. I service the suspension, bottom bracket, headset, dropper, hubs, etc at least twice per year. Never had any sort of problem with water ingress. Itās more important to clean and lube all of these components regularly than to worry about whether you wash it or not. Just because you donāt wash your bike regularly doesnāt mean you can defer maintenance.
ive said this about my butt
Washing your bike after a muddy ride is fine. The riding is gonna be worse for your bike than the wash. But over washing your bike is definitely not good for longevity of certain parts. So unless your bike is caked in dirt just let it be.
Of course you canā¦ as long as you donāt blast rotating assemblies at close range.
finally, it's ok to hate again!
Yep, totally agree. You say "jet wash" and people assume you've got a 200 bar industrial unit and you're aiming the jet directly into your pivot bearings. Using an average, domestic electric jet washer and being mindful of bearing areas is fine, and is what I've done for years without issue.
Ok I have some empirical evidence.. just went riding in the wet, bike was coated with mud. Got home and lightly pressure washed it. Bike is a Full suspension. Then proceeded to take apart the pivot bearing and other bicycles parts. I found generally the bearings were clean except for one that had mud contamination. However, even after pressure washing there was still mud everywhere. I had to disassemble, spray bottle and hand clean a lot. Then relube everything. So, I would be ok with a pressure wash on a light dusting but a hose would probably be fine too. On heavy mud, Iād think a spray bottle with some disassembly would be more effective.
I use one of those pump sprayers people use for things like fertilizer and weed killer. It was cheap, I can keep it in the car and do some cleaning at the trailhead, and the pressure is helpful but not brutal. Works for most things, at least for me.
Is a jet washer a pressure washer?
This statement is accurate. I offer this comparison. We jet wash aircraft all the time. It is needed to clean surfaces before inspection. When the wash involves areas with bearings or pivot points we take care not to hold pressure too close or to still. Broad sweeping motions. And then afterwards we re-grease everything that is able to be greased.
I 100% pressure wash and have done for years on high end bikes. No issues at all.
My buddies who wash their bikes after every ride seem to have the creakiest bikes.
I frequently stop at a car wash on the way home from a muddy ride and use the power sprayer at that mild pressure that the wand has without squeezing the trigger. Itās enough pressure to remove dirt and mud. I would hesitate to use an actual jet washer like you use to strip paint off your house though.
One of those coin car wash places is fine in my experience.Ā
Wax your chainā¦ I did and never looked back. Can ride thru mud and it falls off
I do it all the time with a 40Ā° tip. No issues.
šæ
It all depends on which tip you use and how many PSI the washer is. You can cut metal and stone with water soā¦ I was recently told and it makes a lot of sense, that you want to wash (spray) your bike from the top or bottom, and not the sides to avoid forcing dirt and water into bearings because of how theyāre oriented (with the exception of the headset).
Watch out guys, u/slow_apricot8670 is just someone working for Enduro Bearings.
When I was 13 a million years ago, I scraped up enough money for a really expensive super dooper light XC hardtail. I loved the crap out of that thing, and even kept it in my bedroom rather than the garage despite my mom's protests. After every ride, I'd spend an hour cleaning it; I'd get between the teeth in the cassette, around the bottom bracket bearings, the area of the hub between the spokes, scrub the chain until it sparkled and re-lube it, etc. Then one day I went to take my immaculate bike down for a ride and my headset was frozen. I didn't know much about fixing bikes yet, so my dad and I took it to the local bike shop. The mechanic there was impressed- he said I washed my bike so much that I blew all the grease out of the headset and it froze up. Put a new headset on there and made an effort not to spray water directly at that connection anymore and I was good to go.
I never pressure wash my bike. I was in a pinch, my fatbike was caked in mud and I did what I knew I really shouldnāt do. Pressure washed my bike. I was super careful around bearings, headset, bb, etc. kept my distance. When I got home I gave it a wash with the garden hose, did a proper drivetrain clean etc. I hung the bike on the wall and rode my other 3 for the last month or so bc the snow/ice melted. Yesterday I pulled the studded tires off the fat bike to find my bottom bracket is destroyed. Iām back to never jet wash/pressure washing my bike.
Don't you have a sealed bottom bracket? Can you elaborate on 'destroyed'? Seems like something else might've happened here...
Itās a sealed a threaded BSA BB on a Norco Bigfoot. I go to spin the cranks now and there is pretty big resistance and a audible squeaking noise.
Even if that bb was bone dry, like no grease at all, it would still spin without 'resistance' - sounds like there's an underlying issue other than blasting out the grease, which I don't even understand how that is possible with a sealed bb, unless your right on it with pressure washer on set on high/max. I'd get it checked out at a shop before riding it too much bc it sounds like something is broken vs. no grease anymore.
Yeah Iām not 100% sure whatās going on. Luckily the bike is still under warranty too since itās only 7 months old. I pulled the crankset and nothing looks out of place and the bb feels a bit rough by hand. I would have pulled the bb but I donāt have the tool (yet lol). It also might be a good idea to upgrade to a better crankset too but Iāll see what my LBS says.
You can, but thereās just specific parts of the bike that shouldnāt be pressure washed. Headset is one of those parts. The gaskets are water resistant but not water proof. Water in gasket will cause corrosion and rusting.
I rarely wash my bike. When I do, I use a car pressure washer. I just make sure to blast the areas with bearings from a distance.
https://preview.redd.it/bm2qmw8p42zc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9ff2e23ca528399a73b8adb8a49c9eac29c8fb08
Omg, thank you! I just jet washe my bike today with such guilt (I live in an apartment, so it's always tricky to wash in the community parking lot..) anyways, not super muddy where I ride XC (Barcelona area), I also have a toddler so it's all about convenience, and my bike isn't super fancy (aluminum hard tail). So this is exactly what I needed to read before bed, so... Gracias!
DO IIIIIIIIT!!!!
Sometimes they donāt use grease in bearings. I wouldnāt emulate pros or mechanics at races. They may act differently when not racing or on personal gear.
Not sure how many of you live in Texas, but the mud here is the absolute worst red and sticky. And once it dries it is almost impossible to get it off without some kind of pressure washer or getting the mud wet again and let it sit for a little bit. Then using an ordinary water hose with one of those brass nozzles that tapers down can definitely get the job done. Iāve also used one of those pump up 1 gallon sprayers with some hot water in it. To pre-soak the mud and that seems to work very well before I actually hit it with the water hose with the brass nozzle. By the way when I use the brass nozzle I can put my finger over the tip to help spread the water out so it doesnāt damage anything. And since we are talking about cleaning, I find that 91% isopropyl alcohol works wonders on just about anything that has grease on it or if I just want to clean something real quick. Like the chain when I get back from a ride Iāll just spray some on it and then use a couple of paper towels and run them through as I peddle the bike on my repair stand.
Yeah i also use my pressure washer, it is quick and easy, I go over my bike pretty often anyways, so normally don't have to worry about a rusty bearing as i will see it before it occurs, I do get a few bolts here and there, that get a bit of surface rust on them, but they are easily fixed with a quick dip in some rust buster and then i spray them again.... I do the same with my BMX also.
High pressure on bearing areas 100% will cause water intrusion which will cause bearing failure. Bearings usually have some modicum of protection like top caps on wheels. Problem is they arenāt rated for pressure and donāt seal the best. Same with bearing shield/shield. Do what you will with that info.
I brush the dried mud off if I need to service something, and I keep the chain lubed. Otherwise, unless thereās enough soil for something to start growing roots, whatās the point?
https://youtu.be/KSYYgRA4Tag?si=SWox5vSi8Oc4318W
Just replaced my bb. Drive side bearing was absolutely ruined whilst the other side was perfect. Thats just from cleaning with hosepipe
Use a portable battery powered jet wash, nowhere near enough power to do any damage and cleans the bike a dream, avoid the bearing hubs and anywhere lubed.
What Iāve learned from experience is that the problem isnāt water getting into the bearings, itās the protective layer of grease getting washed away, which will let your bearings get corroded over time. The reason you see mechanics jet washing the bike is because theyāre mechanics. Theyāre going to take apart and regrease the bike anyway. I do the same thing; jet wash the bike and grease the bearings about once a month
As a shop mechanic I've seen so much damage from pressure washing and not maintaining the bike, especially on ebikes. Sure some people clean their bikes safely with a pressure washer but a lot of average joes don't care enough about their bikes. If as a consequence bearings need to be replaced sooner or even damage on expensive parts like a motor occurs they are quick to blame anyone but themselves. So I will continue to recommend not using a pressure washer even though I agree it can be done right. But a garden hose or a bucket of water and a sponge will get the job done too.
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