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I'm pretty lazy when it comes to cleaning my bike. It has to be particularly filthy to warrant getting a hose to it ... unless I'm riding somewhere non-local.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64785552
Just another request for folk to clean their bikes before and after travelling to ride somewhere. Please.
Noted.
Will do.
Good point.
Yeah, ditto here for bikes & boots
Indeed, bikes and boats get a good clean. The only challenge I have is that is usually at home, where I can get the proper facilities. I am wondering if I need to make better use of facilities before I leave an area or invest in a mobile cleaning doofer.
I wonder if there's an interactive map anywhere to track this.
If I do a long day epic I can cross several counties and many woods, fields, etc.
My thought isn't to clean the bike straight away because of biohazards, but maybe it should be.
I tend to only clean the drivetrain, suspension & dropper after rides. Rest of the bike doesn't usually get touched regularly.
The only challenge I have is that is usually at home, where I can get the proper facilities.
Same for me. I just reckon that waste going into the water treatment cycle is better than anything being dragged into an environment where it might cause damage.
@cokie on very long rides I doubt there's much you can really do. It's just about minimising risk, so taking extra care whenever you can is better than ignoring the problem completely. I do give the trees a good scrub when there's travelling involved, not something I'd normally consider.
My thought isn’t to clean the bike straight away because of biohazards, but maybe it should be.
It should. The number of claggy bikes that are going out of Peebles every day is depressing.
Clean and dry is the ultimate solution.
Best you can really do away from home is leave as much as you can behind. A brush to remove the loose stuff then spray it.
I'll post our work guidance later if anyone is interested. Its written by our ecologists for folk working in all the places you are likely to find walkers, bikes, and boats and is really supposed to be practical for multi location site visits with limited access to a hose and a week of sun drying.
Please do!
I’ve had it drummed into me that cleaning your bike too much is bad.. but that’s from a purely mechanical perspective and sits at complete odds with ecological risk.
We need a industry and community readjustment. It’s the only way I think people might learn and understand. Maybe STW can run an article?
Could change the thread title to something more descriptive?
It had never occurred to me to do this until I saw something yesterday about Tasmania. They have bike wash points mid trail for exactly this reason.
Thanks for the heads-up, OP
Maybe STW can run an article?
Like this one?
That's 5 years old now, plus the risks and hazards have changed.
Would be worth rewriting and focusing on all riders and areas, not just one event and location.
Of course, not in anyway disagreeing. But the fundamentals are the same; wash your bike & kit.
That article resonated with me due to several other cases, and historical issues, which meant it still feels relevant. I'm certainly aware as a result of it. The point being, it's been covered in the past and has had a positive impact, so an update or fresh article would be great.
This country is rubbish for outdoor washing facilities in general. So many times I've been to beaches where there are no facilities for rinsing your feet etc. I'm not talking about remote places here, places with big proms and stuff. Same goes for popular walking spots, never any washing facilities in car parks. Never an outdoor tap at public toilets or anything to give your boots a rinse.
This is probably because dick heads leave the taps running and/or people think it's drinking water, so places are scared to put things in. A basic rinse of is better than nothing though so maybe we need to start taking one of those cheap pump garden sprayers with us when we drive places for riding. You don;t need to go and buy some pricey pressure washer.
I work for the same company as joshvegas and it's a big thing, we now have to take biosecurtiy kits when we go out to sites. Part of my job involves walking along river banks in remote areas, so I will have to start taking them out with me when I'm back out.