Cleaning my bike on tour

[Boring_Username]

If I go on a 2 day bike trip and return with a muddy bike, I feel under an obligation to wash my bike before going on my next 2 day bike trip.

But if I were to go on a 14 day muddy bike trip, I very much doubt I would feel under an obligation to wash my bike 6 times while on tour, even if washing facilities were readily available.

Am I being illogical? Should I Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Dirt?

[Jdsk]

"Know thyself!"

: - )

You have to be comfortable with your decision. How about trying it both ways and seeing how you feel?

Jonathan

[MrsHJ]

I think there are practical issues about finding somewhere to clean your bike but also it’s a good thing to keep your chain etc clean.

The US trails can be good for having bike cleaning stations. Not so common in Europe but I’ve occasionally seen a hose set up at a trail head in the UK. I admit that I’m pretty lazy about that sort of thing but I did spend a couple of hours cleaning my bike before entering a B&B recently- didn’t want to embarrass myself by dripping mud all over the floor. I took a shortcut that was exceptionally muddy after a heavy night of rain. The routes I tend to do don’t usually cause an issue.

Click on the photo and look at the brakes!

[Nearholmer]

It’s worth cleaning your drive train daily to save grinding it to expensive scrap.

[Galactic]

I just use a squeezy water bottle to clean the chain and the brakes (if necessary). Everything else can wait until it rains

[tatanab]

Clean drivetrain - at least the chain - if it needs it after days of rain. Other than that, I don't even think of cleaning. It is quite nice to get home after a month on tour with a machine clearly showing the dust of travel.

[st599_uk]

After 3 days on EV15, my Navy Blue bike looked Silver. Never seen so much fine dust - there were times I couldn't see the pedals.

Cleaned it under the shower at a city beech.

[foxyrider]

On a short trip, unless something like MrsHJ's clogging occurred, i wouldn't do any cleaning. On longer trips of 2 or more weeks i will usually have at least one 'mini' service at which point the bike will usually get a wipe down/lube.

The 'badge of honour' both during and after a tour is of course a bike that doesn't look pristine.

[mumbojumbo]

Take an old pair of undercrackers,dip in puddle and remove surplus dit. Ditch pants.

[Slowroad]

I use dry lube on my touring bike, as it is easy to clean the chain. I give it a clean and re-lube the next morning about once a week, or more if it gets really grotty. Hoping to keep the Campagnolo cassette going for a few more years! I cycle-camp so it's probably a bit easier to find somewhere to do the cleaning, but I do make sure it is out of sight as people might think I was getting oil everywhere.
I also tour sometimes with my Brompton, and it did once end up in the shower at a German youth hostel after a cloudburst and lots of mud!

[Nearholmer]

I’m no serious tourer, but I do tend to ride at least 50% off-road when I do go for a week-long trundle, sometimes getting very muddy if the weather is bad. Last year I picked one very wet week in July and about three days in was so plastered in mud that a guy jet-washing an excavator on a building-site kindly offered to do the bike and my legs, which I gratefully accepted.

[ossie]

Chain/ gearing only on tours up to a month...also looks less nickable looking like a bag of sh_t, even when drying my socks off the rear rack.

[Cugel]

It depends on the nature of the mud/dirt. Stuff with hard grit in it will soon grind down a chain and then your cogs and chainrings. Ditto your brake pads and rims/discs.

Some "muds" are best got orf reet quick. Yesterday I coated the lower bike in a thick coating of cowclap - not a grinder but certainly a stinker; perhaps also a rotter and likely a small cut infector. Off with it toot sweet!

Cugel the clean.

[axel_knutt]

I rather like arriving back home with a grubby bike, clean ones look as if they haven't been anywhere, or done anything. I recall a couple of occasions I cleaned the bike, but I'm not sure why, just a whim I think.

[Dingdong]

If I go on a 2 day bike trip and return with a muddy bike, I feel under an obligation to wash my bike before going on my next 2 day bike trip.

But if I were to go on a 14 day muddy bike trip, I very much doubt I would feel under an obligation to wash my bike 6 times while on tour, even if washing facilities were readily available.

Am I being illogical? Should I Learn to Stop Worrying and Love the Dirt?

Unless I was using disc brakes, the only thing ever bothered with is keeping the chain clean and lubed on longer tours. So I carry an old tooth brush cut in two and a very small tin of oil. Works for me!