English
As a racer who spends many weekends away at events there are a few items of kit that I would class as essential, especially for the 24hr races (team or solo). One of these is a portable pressure washer, like the Mobi Pressure Washer. Given the typical UK summer weather you will almost always end up with a muddy bike after a race or lap and although the big events tend to have jet washers the chances are you will end up queuing for ages to use one and probably damage the bearings on the bike in the process.
This is why portable pressure washers are worth their weight in gold, because all you do is plug it into your 12v cigarette socket in your vehicle, fill it up with water and wash away!
For the last few years I have used what I believe was the only one on the market, but now there are more available and I have been lucky enough to be given a Mobi portable pressure washer to try out and pit it against the competition.
The main body of the Mobi is made from a very durable hard plastic, which holds 15 litres of water. Enough to totally clean at least 2 road bikes and 1-2 muddy Mountain Bikes. The idea being to either fill it up before leaving home if there isn’t a water supply where you are riding, or when you get there if there is a supply. Then simply attach the trigger spray and power leads and start cleaning. The spray has a very wide pressure range (40-130 psi), which is capable of both higher and lower pressures than other portable washers available, handy for really sticky mud. Everything you need to use it can be stored on the outside in the mesh pockets provided.
15 litres of water plus the container is heavy if you are carrying it far, or if your short – like me! Luckily the guys who designed the Mobi have realised this and fitted wheels to allow easy transportation. This may sound like something trivial, but this is one thing that makes it stand above the rest. Either push it along, or fit some type of strap (like a dog lead) and pull it along. They wheels are lockable too, so it wont slide about when you have it in the car.
It’s not just for use away from the home either, as included with the Mobi is a power converter to allow you to use a conventional UK socket. For me this means I no longer have to trail a hose pipe from the kitchen tap, through the kitchen to the driveway. No more running back and fore to turn the tap on and off either and no more mess on the kitchen floor! The Mobi saves a huge amount of water compared to using a hose pipe, something worth considering if you have a metered water supply or just looking to prevent water wastage. We have never had a hose pipe ban in Mid Wales, but if you are in an area that does then this is the answer!
My main use of the Mobi is on my bikes, but there are literally hundreds of different uses for it from car cleaning to gardening. Having used a dirtworker previously, I can safely say that the Mobi beats it hands down. It is easier to use and transport, more flexible thanks to the power converter has a better adjustable spray and overall just feels better quality, thanks to the type of hosing used. If the events I am doing this year end up being as wet and muddy as last year then the Mobi will be on hand to get me through, so feel free to come and take a closer look.
Or for more info on the Mobi Pressure Washer click here
I have always been advice to not use pressure washers as they tend to force water into sealed bearings.
I understand the advantage in terms of speed, but I am wondering if the minimum setting is gentle enough not to compromise any water/dust seals.
Just make sure to use a water disperser such as GT85 or MucOff bike spray after washing. I find the Muc Off spray lighter than GT85 but more expensive.
Hi Filippo,
You are correct that some powerful pressure washers can damage bearings and seals, although these are often not adjustable and the mains powered or petrol powered types.
The lowest setting on the mobi is a very fine mist, lighter than rain so quite safe to use on bikes.
The pressure is totally adjustable from a fine mist right up to a single jet, which is powerful enough to remove the most stubborn mud. It is far more adjustable in terms of pressure than any other similar products on the market.
Hope that helps.
Matt
Hi Matt, I really valued your article and reply to Filippo. I commute by sports road bike 20km every day in all weathers, plus occasional weekend rides.
Q1> Like Filippo I had been told NEVER to clean my bike with a pressure washer, so it’s interesting to see a reputable retailer (Wiggle) actually recommending doing so. It sounds like a great idea, but what exactly do you clean? For example, can you spray the gear mechs at full strength to remove accumulated grease from the chain and then re-lubricate with a spray lubricant? Can calliper breaks be cleaned at full- pressure?
Q2> My commute is a very hilly route (Sheffield) and the biggest need for cleaning every weekend is to remove accumulation of break-block dust from the wheel rims (reduces breaking effectiveness and makes an unpleasant noise). I dislike this chore sufficiently to be considering buy a city bike with disc brakes. To what extent can the Mobi pressure washer help me with this chore of cleaning rims?
Thanks in anticipation for your advice, George
For all those worrying about cleaning a bike with a pressure washer watch Overcoming. In this you can clearly see the CSC mechanic cleaning the bikes with the presure washer. I use one and I am happy that as long as you are not an idiot and start spraying into your bb/headset/derailleur you should be fine.
George,
My routine for cleaning is fairly simple, although I usually clean the Mountain Bikes, cleaning road bikes is exactly the same.
1. Spray the entire bike with a cleaning fluid, such as Lifeline Bike Wash or Muc-Off. Wait a minute or two for it to get to work.
2. Spray off the Bike wash fluid and the mud/dirt/grime. I tend to use a medium pressure on the whole of the bike. I find it sufficient for removing the vast majority of any dirt.
3. Use a more powerful pressure to remove any stubborn marks. Some brushing may be needed in some areas. Dirty rims are an area that clean up much better with a quick brush.
4. Let the bike drip dry for a few minutes, then dry with a cloth. I use WD40 or GT85 on any vunerable steel bolts to prevent them from rusting. Then a quick blast of GT85 on the chain and then dry it off. I will then lube the chain before the start of the next ride.
From start to finish takes about 10 minutes, so its not much or of a chore, but something that is vital to keep a bike in tip top condition.
Hope this helps.
Matt
I’ve seen pro bike mechanics using pressure washers as well. Of course they are probably disassembling and re-assembling the entire bike everyday so probably won’t encounter any bearing problems. Sometimes I pressure wash some of the parts on my bike when I have it disassembled. Sure makes it a lot easier to get the grease and grime off and the parts look like new once they are cleaned. But, that being said I definitely wouldn’t use high pressure water on parts with bearings or anything susceptible to water.