Is there any place in the city where I can get my bike cleaned for a reasonable cost?
Where can I get my bike cleaned?
Sat, 02/12/2005 - 6:10pm
Sat, 02/12/2005 - 7:29pm
#1
car wash on Houston St (nm)
nm
Sun, 02/13/2005 - 9:06am
#2
It's gone.
If you're referring to the car wash on Broadway & Houston, it’s gone. A new shopping center has taken its place.
Sun, 02/13/2005 - 10:23am
#3
What do you mean?
If you are talking about just getting the muck off and cleaning the chain, do it yourself. In a yard or a bath tub, wet it lightly and sponge it down, careful not to rub the grit into the paint. Avoid getting water into the BB and hubs. Get a Park or other chain cleaner and some slovent, then some lube.
If you want your bike dismantled and cleaned, again you can do it yourself. But a shop has the tools, etc to do it. Most shops that sell road bikes do it for $75-125. I used Mr C. (Carlos) here in Brooklyn and in two days had a rig that looked brand new.
So, up to you! G'luck!!!
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 6:40am
#4
Green Thumb
This doesn't answer your question directly, but I've found that a garden sprayer works well. Also called compression sprayers, you can find them in hardware or garden supply places for under 20 bucks.
For the non-horticulturally inclined, basically it's a jug with a hose and an integrated air pump. You fill it with water, pump it to build some pressure, and hose away. You can get up enough pressure to blow off dried crud, but not so much that it'll force it's way into sealed bearings, etc.
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 11:02am
#5
Where can I get my bike detailed?
???
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 12:15pm
#6
I took mine to Sids once to have them clean everything and tune it up. If you don't have the time it's worth it.
Cleaning your bike in the bath tub is such a mess. I guess I need to small tub to clean the gears and chain separately.
Sun, 02/13/2005 - 5:20pm
#7
bike cleaning
i believe stan told me bicycle habitat on Lafayette is a good bet
Sun, 02/13/2005 - 8:41pm
#8
free bike tuneup
This won't help you with your existig bike, but Larry & Jeff's 2nd Av. Bicycles Plus gives free tuneups/cleaning for the life of any bike you buy from them. They like it brought in at least twice a year--beginning and end of season--and any other time it gets really muddy, etc.
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 9:02am
#9
"i really don't mean to sound all pissy, but bike cleaning is really one of those things that should be able to do for yourself. (unless you really are in need of an overhaul, which is a different topic entirely...)
in all seriousness, garden sprayers work, as do water bottles. or let the crud dry, brush off what you can with an inexpensive 1"" paint brush and go to town with windex/fantastic/formula 409 pre-moistened wipes.
it ain't rocket science."
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 10:54am
#10
Unless you ride an Orbea Starship, I guess.
Seriously though, where can I go to get my shorts embrocated and tires pumped?
- Christian
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 11:07am
#11
who can be bothered
this is a city where many people apparently do not even open their own doors, whether to their building or their taxi; if they can't do this, do you really expect them to clean their bikes? if certain people can not bring themselves to clean their own bikes, we should just be amazed and happy that they are out riding it!
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 11:59am
#12
Sorry, I hate to remind people...
...we are free to make our own choices.
While I do clean AND DO MINOR REPAIRS to my bikes, I do NOT particularly enjoy doing it. With the limited time available to ride when working full time AND having a life OFF the bike, isn't it more important to spare the time to ride than to clean the bike? There're still a lot of us who are married to a real person rather than married to our bikes!
So if this guy wants his bikes cleaned, so what?
Further more, I distinctly remember there was an ad on our bulletin offering to clean bikes for a fee, though that was more than a couple years back. Maybe someone has a collection of old club bulletines?
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 12:15pm
#13
oh, you're right. and don't bother learning how to change a flat (because that's what ride leaders are for).
in all seriousness, one of the best ways to learn that you may have a cracked rim, loose spoke, frayed cable, etc. is when you're cleaning the bike. better to discover a problem in the workstand then out on the road.
and this is written by someone who had to walk home saturday morning after the pawls in his cassette hub blew out.
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 12:45pm
#14
"In all seriousness, judge from the amount of complain I heard from some winter riders, it often takes almost as long to clean the bike as to ride it THIS TIME OF YEAR.
So if the difference is NOT riding at all, or cut in half of one's riding time in order to contineu riding through the wintery road, wouldn't a ""bike cleaning"" service desirable? There's a difference between knowing how to do something and to have to waste precious time to do it over and over again when one have better thing to use that time.
How many of you still iron your own shirt? It's not exactly rocket science either."
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 2:18pm
#15
I Do...
"""How many of you still iron your own shirt?""
I do. I've even been known to sew a button or two.
Plus, I clean my bike myself as well.
But this is all after I've done a bit of rocket science for fun."
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 2:46pm
#16
geez. it takes 10 minutes to wipe a bike down after a nasty ride (2 minutes if you have fenders).
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 2:10pm
#17
Agree with April
"I have been commuting all winter ... tomorrow will be 1000 miles since Jan 1 - My Litespeed is the main bike - with a hybrid as backup for snow. 10 minutes to wipe down a bike the ""right"" way is not enough time. My bikes have so much dirt from a 16 mile (one-way) commute that they need to be throughly cleaned by a pro.
I take my bike to Piermont Bike Shop in Tenafly where Pollo quickly cleans it, on the spot and gets in places I wouldn't. Although I can check my bike mechanics myself, he has parts in the shop and can make any adjustments I need.
Why not spend the money if you have it on your bike? BTW, Mr. C's is a great place to get your bike cleaned."
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 3:22pm
#18
Free Sample Lube for Easy Clean
Diane,
The guys at Piermont in Tenafly are great -- Pollo & Jason have free samples of a chain lube called Purple Extreme -- since you commute every day, this stuff is magic! I rode through our recent snow, slush & salt & didn't have to clean or relube at all in about 165 miles.
Usually, I'd clean & relube the chain every ride in snow & salt/solvents. The web site for the company says it was developed for chains used in salt water & rates it at 400 miles or more.
As a side benefit, since it doesn't get dirty, it also keeps the black grunge off the rear rim, brake pads, spokes, etc.
Get a sample from Jason & try it -- just clean the chain from any & all grease, dirt & wax before you use it.
Tue, 02/15/2005 - 3:28am
#19
Past Club Bulletins
There's a great collection of monthly club bulletins on the archive page, right here on the NYCC site. I'm not sure which edition the ad may have been in, but I am sure you'll love the photos, the reflections on current events of the day, and the crazy ride titles.
http://www.nycc.org/home_archive.shtml
Fri, 02/18/2005 - 3:05pm
#20
Bike Shop Policy, Practice...& cleaning
I believe Larry & Jeff's on 87th Street offers only 5 years maintenance on sales of bikes, like virtually every other shop, including Larry & Jeff’s Bicycles Plus on 79th & 3rd. The 2 stores are separately owned & operated.
Also, this maintenance is usually for standard / basic adjustments & cleaning only – cable stretch, derailleur adjustments, etc. Work such as wheel truing, performance cleaning / lubing (which is what this link is about) & parts replacement is usually not free.
This is not only true of Larry & Jeff’s but of most bike shops.
As for service at any bike store, if you show them your loyalty by spending your money with them, they’ll certainly treat you better. However, if you decide to save a few dollars by purchasing your $35 chain for $31 from Performance, don’t expect your local bike shop to install it for free – or almost free – when you stop by on a Friday evening in May, before your Saturday club ride! Yes, bike store owners & employees, like each one of us, deserve to earn a living too. Some of the finest cycling suppliers will not sell to catalog sellers for just this reason – they want their products sold by knowledgeable sellers. I’ve found 2 stores I like & go out of my way to support them.
As for bike cleaning, if you decide to do it yourself & it’s not that difficult or dirty, download a pdf file on bike cleaning from www.purpleextreme.com ; this company is run by a guy who was a pro team mechanic in NY for many years & the information is the best I’ve seen.
Mon, 02/14/2005 - 7:00pm
#21
Thanks
Thank you all for your suggestions.
And its not that I'm lazy, its just that living in a studio apartment in the city my space is limited. I'd either have to use my bathtub or get a bucket and clean my bike on the sidewalk outside my building - and probably get more smart comments from passersby than I've received in this thread.
Wed, 02/16/2005 - 2:41pm
#22
That's what it's there for
The bathtub is perfect to clean your bike. Take off the front wheel, it should fit nicely. you can shower the dirt off, then spray and wipe, then rinse. After it drys, relube the chain. total time, 10 minutes
Wed, 02/16/2005 - 7:40pm
#23
And...
the dishwasher is perfect for deep cleaning the drivetrain: cassette and chain came out with a sparkling shine!
Wed, 02/16/2005 - 9:28pm
#24
Your Best Idea to Date
"""the dishwasher is perfect for deep cleaning the drivetrain: cassette and chain came out with a sparkling shine!""
PS: if it is taking you as much time to clean your bike ""this time of year"" considered as it is to ride your bike, you need to either a: ride more; or b: up your OCD medication...
"
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 7:17am
#25
... or
c: ski instead of ride! Nothing to clean.
d: spend time with significant other (aka get a life).
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 5:16am
#26
Check with your plumber or super on that one...
I doubt he/she'd agree. I learned this one the hard way.
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 1:22pm
#27
Exactly!
Well, most didn't get the sarcasm in my dish-washing the drivetrain suggestion! ;o)
I know people who CLAIM to clean their bike in the bathtub. Most only does so once or twice a year, which is not the issue here. For those who does it regularly (weekly), they're either:
-- Haven't live in one place long enough to find out
-- Renters who couldn't care less if the drain does clog. Just call the landlord/super.
Plus, they don't take bath or at least no one in the same household does. Because cleaning the bathtub afterwards is even worse than cleaning the bike itself!
Thu, 02/17/2005 - 2:01pm
#28
Most is plural. Subject verb agreement is secondary in importance only to having a clean bike. But is harder to contract out.
- Christian
