Winter washing - Bilt Hamber?

[foxM1223k3]

Now that winter washing is back to being required in the uk, I wonder why bilt hamber products dont generate more interest?

Auto Wash is a highly concentrated shampoo (wax free) which also has corrosion inhibitors.
Atom Mac is a post wash corrosion inhibitor specifically suited to braking surfaces.

With low temperatures it is almost impossible to completely dry the bike after washing, so it seems sensible to use products which contain corrosion inhibitors that will sit in areas where water remains?

 

[mooby77]

Atom Mac

Auto Wash

not sure on the shampoo , but the atom mac , if you wanna go down that route ACF50 does the same thing and is cheaper , use on my motorbikes and on a few components on the bikes , be careful with any of those inhibitors , keep away from your brake discs etc , it is also a bit of an attractant for dust etc

 

[Highland Wheels]

ACF50 is a very different product, You wouldn't put that anywhere near brake discs.

 

[mooby77]

ACF50 is a very different product, You wouldn't put that anywhere near brake discs.

Thats what I am saying , dont put it anywhere near brakes etc , Go spend your money on Bilt Hamber dude , personally some cheap PH neutral , non wax shampoo is what I use , and I have treated non plated parts steel parts with ACF/50 , no problem using a small brush / dilution ratio. Why would you use that Atom Mac on paintwork , pointless , especially on a mountain bike , it's not as if you ride it on salt spread roads , maybe you do , go for it

 

[foxM1223k3]

Thats what I am saying , dont put it anywhere near brakes etc , Go spend your money on Bilt Hamber dude , personally some cheap PH neutral , non wax shampoo is what I use , and I have treated non plated parts steel parts with ACF/50 , no problem using a small brush / dilution ratio. Why would you use that Atom Mac on paintwork , pointless , especially on a mountain bike , it's not as if you ride it on salt spread roads , maybe you do , go for it

Unsure of other countries but in the UK bilt hamber products are very affordable.

Auto wash is £26 per litre and only 5ml is required per wash sp approx 13p.

Atom mac is approx £22 for 500ml and is diluted to 2%. I reckon you need way less than <30ml of diluted product to treat appropriate areas on an mtb so that is <3p.

My thinking is corrosion happens in mostly difficult areas where water collects such as bearing interfaces etc. Spending 3p on a high quality corrosion inhibitor which will get into those exact areas therefore seems like a good idea?

 

[Ndanger]

I have use Acf 50 in aviation for decades. Importantly ACF-50 is not hygroscopic.

That means it does not absorb or attract water from the air. In fact, it does the opposite:
ACF-50 is a hydrophobic compound — it repels water.

When applied, it displaces existing moisture and leaves a very thin, non-drying film that keeps oxygen and water from reaching the metal.

It is commonly used in aviation and marine environments — even with salt air or humidity, it prevents corrosion rather than trapping moisture.

Property	ACF-50 behavior
Hydroscopic (absorbs water)	No
Hydrophobic (repels water)	Yes
Moisture displacement	Excellent
Film type	Very thin, non-tacky, self-healing if rubbed lightly

 

[theremotejuggernaut]

Why clean it? Seriously.

UK winter means it'll be filthy by the time your 100m from your car or house.

Brush off dry mud. Wipe with a damp cloth.

I get that it's nice to look at when it's clean but I just don't see the point.

I'll clean mine properly if I need to work on it. No one wants mud in their suspension but otherwise, nope.

 

[foxM1223k3]

Why clean it? Seriously.

UK winter means it'll be filthy by the time your 100m from your car or house.

Brush off dry mud. Wipe with a damp cloth.

I get that it's nice to look at when it's clean but I just don't see the point.

I'll clean mine properly if I need to work on it. No one wants mud in their suspension but otherwise, nope.

I think this is definitely an approach, but my thinking is wet mud contains salt + other things and will stay wetter for longer, so it seems like leaving it dirty is a bit like applying a corrosive gel to everything? By comparison clean water does not contain the impurities and will dry faster so therefore causing less harm?

This is what led me to thinking about using a shampoo containing a corrosion inhibitor and after cleaning applying a specific corrosion inhibitor product as well.

 

[Hawk13]

I use ACF50 on my push bikes (and motor bikes) during winter. I just clear off any significant mud and then a quick rinse after every ride....and then a proper wash every 6 weeks or so and a reapply of ACF50.

A leaf blower is a good way of drying a bike

 

[Bndit]

Nano Tech Bike Cleaner Best there is, made for bikes. You spray it everywhere, does no harm on brakes and you can clean your chains with the same stuff.

 

[Pizzman]

I love the I don’t wash my bike comments. To each their own. I wash mine as part of the riding process.

After your done not washing it , what other useless destructive point do you try to prove to complete strangers?

I’m not even trying to convince you to wash it. Put it away dirty.
You have your destiny in your hands as it should be.

Love me some internet knowledge. There musty be some poopy buttholes somewhere on this forum. It’s just going to get brown and smudgy again.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

 

[Pizzman]

Nano Tech Bike Cleaner Best there is, made for bikes. You spray it everywhere, does no harm on brakes and you can clean your chains with the same stuff.

I use this

 

[foxM1223k3]

I always try to keep an open mind, but I cannot see how leaving a bike like this is less detrimental to long term health than washing so the only 'contaminant' remaining is clean water: