Bicycle Washing

[S. Arlington Observer]

After cycling almost daily for a couple of years (I AM taking a break after freezing saddles, especially during this rainy gloom) I have encountered an interesting issue. I live in a condo. After a winter of mud, salt and spray my bike needs a good wash. But we don’t have hose bibs (or a hose) or any other way to wash anything outside at my building. I did put it on the front of a bus in a heavy rain one time, which was mildly effective. (At least I felt it got rid of the salt brine). But that was not a full solution.

In my case I think I can get around this by prevailing on a friend in a single family house to let me come by and use their hose (if I am ever home again on a weekend). But, given the number of condo and apartment dwellers in the area, a place to facilitate cycle washing would be a good infrastructure addition. Or, perhaps, even a commercial opportunity.

What do other multi family dwellers do?

Topic

[Tim Kelley]

Check with your property manager–I’ve found that the builidng maintenance folks usually can help out.

[Tania]

Love to learn of some spots where I can wash my bike. I’m told there’s a hidden spigot our in our common area but then I’d have to buy a hose and I’m not so sure I’d even be allowed to wash my bike there.

Checking with building maintenance is a good idea – I’ve chit chatted with one of the guys about bikes a few times and he always remembers that I went out biking the Saturday of the blizzard this year. He just might hook me up.

[KLizotte]

I live in a high rise building too. I take the bike out to the garage, put it up on the mechanic’s stand I own, and wash it via lots of rags and a big old fashioned bucket of soapy water. The garage has drains in the floor so it is all relatively painless (I still hate that chore though).

[MFC]

If you don’t have anything closer, maybe see if someplace like VeloCity or Phoenix Bikes will let you wash your bike there. I’ve seen threads or discussions where people use their bath tubs, but that could be problematic if you have room-mates or a significant other.

[Vicegrip]

Stand it up in the shower.

[Tania]

@Vicegrip 139536 wrote:

Stand it up in the shower.

Must be nice to have a bathroom big enough to allow this. And possibly someone else to clean all the scuff marks off the walls from the tires.

[ginacico]

Does your neighborhood have a pool? They hose the deck off every day, and would likely let you do it there.

Otherwise, PM me if you want to stop by consularrider’s house (just off the W&OD near East Falls Church) and use the hose.

[Vicegrip]

@Tania 139540 wrote:

Must be nice to have a bathroom big enough to allow this. And possibly someone else to clean all the scuff marks off the walls from the tires.

You know you have a point there. Have an abode with a full size shower you likely have an outside spigot too. That said I have washed bikes in bathtub / shower stalls. I am not proud of it and I can assure you I was not married at the time.

First step is to look at left hand. If a ring is present on 3rd finger go full stop. He / she will likely have something unhappy to say when they walk in as you are lovingly toweling off your bestest bike.
Drive train facing out to you, front wheel up towards the back of the shower. Hand held shower head, a paintbrush and some water based de-greaser or shampoo even. I like cleaning with a paint brush. It gets into the nooks where most of the crud that matters is hiding. wet up, go at it with the brush and some cleaner, rinse and leave for a few hours to drip mostly dry.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Lawn sprayer outside in a common area. Soap in a separate spray bottle.
http://m.sears.com/?sid=LIAxSgLx376653245x26603673245&gclid=CNyPipnD1cwCFRFZhgodL04NIw

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[hozn]

You are welcome to use the hose in my front yard any time. But I imagine there are more convenient solutions.

[KWL]

@hozn 139560 wrote:

You are welcome to use the hose in my front yard any time. But I imagine there are more convenient solutions.

I think we need a “Hose Spotter” app. [and the hose in my front yard is available, too]

[mstone]

drive through carwash

[Rod Smith]

There’s a spigot and hose on the side on my house but I don’t use it. My bikes are aluminum so there’s not much concern of corrosion. If there’s enough dried mud on there to effect the weight of the bike, I knock it off with a stick. The parts that need to be clean, water shouldn’t be able to get in there and if it does you need to relube. A toothbrush and a damp rag is the most love my frame will get. The wheels of the bike with rim brakes do get washed, with a bucket of soapy water and nylon bristle brush, in the tub. That black stuff that gets on your rims from braking in the rain is nasty and I don’t want to deal with that if I have to fix a flat. When the wheels are off, I wipe off the brake pads and sometimes the frame.

[hozn]

I tend to agree with Rod. While I almost never wash my bike with a hose (usually damp rag is great), I did break out a bucket and brush+rag for the road bike after last weekend’s race. It has that fine grey powder in every nook and cranny (still).

[dplasters]

3rd the bucket of water. I use microfiber rags i bought in bulk at home depot. clean the tires/rims quickly and give the chain some love if it needs i.

I need an Avenger A6 now…….

[Author]

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