How often do you clean your bike?

[Bruiser]

Now that I have my CR1 I've found I spend alot of time cleaning it.
I'm wondering how often other riders clean their bike.

[Weisse Luft]

I clean it when the chain feels gritty. After a ride in the rain or over dirty roads is a must, especially when the chain is lubed with that oily, gooey stuff.

When I use original White Lightning, I can get by 200-500 miles until the "grit test" forces me to clean. I always wipe & brush the chain down before application of WL and its always done AFTER a ride. If its dirty, it gets cleaned.

With this level of care, Dura Ace chains last me up to 10,000 miles before overall stretch in 106 links is 1/4". This is about 1/16" over a foot which makes my cogs last much longer.

The enemy of chains is grit and running dry. Most of the black chain dirt is not from the road but from the metal of the chain itself. I have saved my used chain cleaning solvent and effectively cleaned it by placing a magnet on the bottom of the plastic bottle. All of the black junk is highly magnetic "clay" as it takes days to settle out without the magnet.

[Bruiser]

I'm not just cleaning after every ride, I'm polishing it too .
The clear coat shows any dust, dirt or fingerprints. But damn the black and silver looks nice when it's clean.

Brian