January might have been a relatively dry month across Britain, but a combination of freezing temperatures and widespread gritting made the roads seem especially grimy. Cleaning a bike after every ride is an arduous task, but recommended if components are not to corrode or wear prematurely.
Win a bicycle cleaning kit
To make the task easier, we’ve got a Muc-Off 8-in-1 Bike Cleaning Kit to give away. The kit includes a washer bucket with snap-seal lid, 1-litre Muc-Off spray cleaner with trigger, 500 ml Bike Spray maintenance lube, 4 bike-specific brushes, and a micro-cell sponge. To be in with a chance to win the cleaning kit, simply leave us a message at the bottom of this page and we will draw a winner next week.
Bicycle showers
People often cite the lack of a workplace shower as the reason they don’t commute by bike, but the truth is that, in reality, it is far from vital. Of more importance is somewhere to store and dry clothes when it had rained. The demand for workplace showers inspired us to create our own DIY version.
The DIY shower hack transforms a standard loo into a fully-functioning hot water shower. The design uses a plasterer’s bucket, chair, chin-up bar and plastic curtain to create a functioning shower that can be assembled in minutes. Once finished with, the shower can be packed away just as quickly.
The DIY shower illustrates how creativity can overcome a reliance on facilities – in reality, you don’t need to build anything if you follow a few simple guidelines.
- The number one rule when cycling to a workplace without washing facilities of its own, is don’t skip a shower before you leave home. When you arrive at work, find a discreet spot and wipe yourself down with disposable baby wipes
- Take inspiration from cyclists in continental Europe who tend to ride their bikes slower when they commute to work – it doesn’t add much to the journey time and you don’t sweat. They’ve also understood how mudguards stop road muck getting on your clothes
- The easiest way to get access to a shower if there are no washing facilities at your place of work is to join local gym
- It doesn’t solve the problem of getting clean, but keep a supply of shirts at work. Wool stays clean the longest.
Environmentally friendly cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it. Read our insider guide to cycle insurance.
Furthermore, every cycle insurance policy you buy from us helps support the work of the ETA Trust, our charity campaigning for a cleaner, safer transport future.
ETA cycle insurance has a low standard excess of 5% (minimum £25) and offers a new-for-old for life – however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.
For over 26 years we have been providing straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Whether you use your bike to commute, shop, race or amble in the park, ETA Cycle Insurance has you covered. We never devalue bikes no matter their age, allow you to buy your replacement bike wherever you like, replace stolen quick release components and handle claims in-house.
The Good Shopping Guide voted us to be an ethical company like no other.
George Baker
Looks like a decent kit. Would luv to win.
Paul
I removed half a garden’s worth of soil from inside my mudguards by hand the other day. I can see this kit would be a huge help.
Steve Denniss
In between a winter road bike and the cyclo-cross season I have exhausted all my cleaning materials, winning this would be particularly beneficial!
Chris
Ideal for our cycle club at work
Maxime Pley
I’m running out of cleaning products. This kit would save me 🙂
Joeleoly
My bike is dirty. It made a scooter blush.
Guy
Would love to win!
Eddie
Looks good, I hope my bike approves too!
Stuart Lamb
After cycling across canals and trails all week I’m having to scrape mud off my bike every weekend. A kit like this would make my life easier
Paul M
Cleanliness is next to cyclist! Would love a kit like that.
James
Would love to win such a useful kit – would make me clean the bikes
Clive Durdle
Yes my Christiania cargo trike needs tlc 🙂
Steve Curtis
I love my bike……………would love this kit to help me keep it cleam 🙂
Joyce Edmond-Smith
bike cleaning is not my favorite task this kit might even make me like it .
Phil
My bike could do with a good clean.
Stephen Attree
Def one for the bikers at work.
Geoff Nelder
Potatoes are growing under my mudguards so I need the cleaning kit urgently!
Neil
This looks brilliant! Nothing like another set of tools! (“,)!
Will be very very handy for those hard to reach places in and around the chain..
sign me up!
🙂
Geoff Hudson
Wow… what a great looking kit. I don’t suppose it comes with a chap to pop round to show me how to use it…. about once a month would be perfect!
Michael Joy
I’d like a cleaning kit.
Ben Pendery
Pick Me!!!!! (Please)
Chris
I’d like to win – I promise I won’t use it to clean next doors car despite it deeply offending my eye everytime I leave the house!
Symon Vegro
My bike is so dirty that the laws of physics are breaking down … this kit would prevent a Black Hole being formed, and the potential destruction of the entire planet 🌎
John Holiday
On my recent visit to Portugal with Brompton, one chap said it needed a good clean after I demonstrated the fold!
Annette
Me me me!!! Please =)
Anna Shakoor-Green
I have quite a few bikes to clean! Three of my own, plus three or four that I use with trainees.
Mark B
Muddy water’s making a mess of my bike. It’s giving me the blues. Help me clean my act up!
Peter Clark
My bike is getting filthier by the day in this weather. Would be the ideal remedy!
Frank Lee
Cleanliness is next to Godliness – I’m sure I ride faster too!
Jennifer Richardson
I would love the dirt on my bike to just MUCK OFF!!!!
Pete Hughes
I use Muc-Off products already but the full cleaning kit would be very welcome.
Al Reed
Just take it steady on the way in and ride hard on the way back, no need to get all sweaty! My bike could definitely do with a shower though.
Chris
Bike really needs a clean
Al
My bike could do with some care!
Jim Woodlingfield
Towing two children in a trailer and they love muddy puddles, this kit would sort the bike right out. Fingers crossed!
Alex Ralton
I would like to win someone who will clean my bike!
Sam
Why did I buy a white bike? Really need to win this kit!
Chris H
Or if you happen to work nearby, there’s the Holborn (‘midtown’) cycle vault. Showers included.
https://cyclevault.inmidtown.org/index2.php
Rory Harkins
My bike would love you forever!
o dang
Looks like this kit will save my bike from the hose at my local car wash joint…
sara garside
What a brilliant looking kit, and all in a bucket ! The brushes look fabulous, and a change from old toothbrushes. Please consider me. Thank you.🚲
Jeremy Pond
Muc-off!!! Your giving this stuff away! Count me in so I can keep my dream wheels ticking over sweetly.
Phil
I’d like to clean up
Nick Rossell
Great!
Paul Evans
Would definitely make winter cycling more bearable, get all that nasty road grease off the bike, yes please!
Ruth Panting
The man at my cycle shop is in despair about the mud on my bike. I would like to give him a treat when I next take my bike to him for a service, so yes, the kit looks very useful.
Peter Chisnall
Sparkling!
Sue Hodson
My darling daughter wouldn’t have to be paid any more to clean my baby…she’ll love using all the specialized products! Yes, please!!
Denise Robson
My bike has requested that I send you this message: she is a little embarrassed at having not been cleaned for a while and urges me to use all proper means to put this right.
connie
Oooh oooh ooh!!! I want it!!! I need it!!!! My precious kit!! 🙂
Greg
I’ve got a Silver Machine
It flies out of a dream
It’s antiseptically clean
You’re gonna know where I’ve been
I’ve a need to clean my Silver Machine
(After Hawkwind)
Stephen Perkins
Oooooohhhhhh, shiny!!!
Karl Wallendszus
I was thinking just the other day that I could do with something like this as I was cleaning grime off my bike with an old toothbrush.
JP Nelson
I ride my bike everyday in wind and rain snow,
to have some lovely muck off kit would make my old bike glow
she’d shine and sparkle as I ride on my daily commute,
and at weekends on club rides, my bike would look a beaut.
Can I win please?
Nick Harvey
I’m a mucky pup – and my bike’s no better!
The next Lance
I love the Muc-Off cleaner spray I use, would really like to try the other products here. Thanks again ETA
Alastair Seagroatt
Plenty of tractor mud, grunge, muck, animal dung, salt and more to clean off up here!
Keith Bradley
MUC-OFF one of the best product you can get. And Environmentally Friendly.
Great to see the chopper back Petty it has none standard Tyres. .
Debbie Jackson
Just what I need to keep my bike(s!) clean!
David Gray
Bicycle cleaning kit – yes please!!!!
Carl
Rub a dub dub clean bike in the club
Giuseppe Caruso
Please?
Ema
Would definitely like one of these….. 👍
Joel
ETA promoting a PTFE brand, not good, how about some Green Oil chain cleaner? http://www.green-oil.net
Pete Gateley
Just what the winter cyclist needs!
Nige
Great compact handy set – everything in one place – no more hunting in cupboards for washing-up brushes !!
Lucy S
This looks fab – just what I need to help get my bike through the muddy road works on my commute to/from work!
Charles
Dirty (bike) need to clean. Help me.
Dick Willis
Excellent, with that to hand I may be able to pursuade my son to clean his bike!
Kate Castanho
Looks like a great bike cleaning kit!
Sue Bower
Certainly an improvement on elbow grease!
Ashley Brown
Shiny, shiny!
Roger Birchall
It just takes far too long with the wife’s toothbrush !!, would be great to win!! ✔
Charlotte
This kit would make cleaning my bike SO much more enjoyable! I would love it!
Lynne Harris
Keeping my white bike clean in this weather feels like a full time job. So a new cleaning kit would be so much appreciated.
Cathy Carr
This would encourage me to clean my ‘beautiful bicycle’ more – its a thing of beauty + needs to be looked after more! help me!!!
Francis Voon
I’d like a clean bike!