I've had my Brompton probably 4-5 years and bike all 4 seasons. In the winter, I'd usually only bike on nice days. Weather has been below freezing for like two months now and I've been volunteering, which involves me biking even in less ideal conditions.
In past years, I saw people saying they wash their Brompton in the shower. It always seemed like some goblincore shit.
Well, I became the goblin. I was out biking in the snow, and on top of a month of grime I had a smattering of mud and slush. I couldn't just set the bike in the corner, cause it was all gonna melt and create a mess. I put it in the shower, and if it was gonna melt there, I might as well wash it down.
It was actually way easier to wash all the grime away. It created very little mess and cleaned up easy. I wish I had just embraced the goblin within and done this earlier.
Downside: when I went to ride today, dirty water from the head tube spilled everywhere. I wish I had partially unfolded and sealed the hinges prior to washing.
Lesson 1: just wash your bike. Keep it happy.
Lesson 2: seal the hinges, or dump them out if you wash while folded.
by 2pnt0
3 Comments
Is this not terrible for the chain?
Been washing our bikes in the shower with me too ever since. After that, I give the shower a deep wash as well. Makes the missus happy, so basically a win-win.
I also did this for the first time recently. Took the chain off first and cleaned it in the ultrasonic separately.
Worked out pretty well. It was the same problem as yourself, the road grit, snow and ice were absolutely gunked in everywhere and couldn’t take inside places anymore without the Dympa bag