Why can't you wash a bicycle ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sad and Single
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Sad and Single

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A few years ago, I was at a car wash with a friend of mine . We were there because he wanted to wash his car . He had HIS friend's bicycle with us in his trunk . This bicycle was all hopelessly crusted with dirt . I said to him "Why don't we surprise your friend and wash all the dirt his bike for him ?" . He said "He'd have a fit if we did that !", and he implied that you can't wash a bicycle . WHY can't you wash a bicycle ? What could possibly happen if you washed a bicycle ? They're not exactly made of paper .
 
most people say you cant wash a bike because it will rust. if you dry the bike and oil the chain and pivots on the bike you wont rust it and will improve the ride / steering quality as well.
 
Three reasons.
One, the chain rusts up and once it rust, even with a full can of WD-40, it will never be the same again (always jumping off the sprocket) Second, the ball bearings on bikes are not sealed. It will wash the grease out of the wheel bearings, handle bar bearings, pedal bearing, derailer, and out of the gear sprocket. Third, the frame is not completely sealed and the metal is not treated on the inside. The bike will spray rusty water at you for weeks.
 
You can wash a bicycle if you use a household hose. The high pressure from a car wash wand can strip decals off, force water into the shift cables and remove the lubricants from the chain
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