How to Polish and Protect Bike: STOP Waxing Your Bike!

[@hzoonka4203]

Its all about advertising the product!

[@JibbaJabber]

Another great educational vid Mike. However, I did it the lazy way: Step 1: get a complete professional clear wrap. Step 2: ride Step 3: wash & dry. Then again, I guess I should really treat the wrap surface with a bit of a coating as well 😊

[@bikesbymike]

Yup. That’s a faster way to do it! But you can also add a ceramic spray to improve the shine of Paint Protective Film.

[@anthonyg-can]

Another awesome video… I love keeping my bike in pristine condition but there’s so much information out there… differing and evolving approaches, and conflicting advice. I am sure I am overpaying for stuff. I had been using Muc-Off Wunder Shine Protective Wax, but I’ve never been sure about whether it does anything.

[@bikesbymike]

I did use Muc-Off Wunder Shine years ago. Can't say it performed any better or any worse than any other product using carnauba wax. Carnauba wax, regardless of branding, is a simple wax that performs similarly regardless of who packages it. There are a couple cycling brands I simply won't support and Muc-Off is one of them. I try to only spend my money on those companies that are honest and evidence-based. This is my own personal opinion, but there have been a few questionable "red flags" that have popped up over the years when it comes to Muc-Off's marketing practices and claims over product performance. If using their lubes, you may want to check out the episode Zero Friction Cycling did called "Episode 20 Muc Off Files - Cycling's most dishonest Marketing???". All four their lubes, many quite expensive, performed among the worst ever tested.

[@reinierg]

How about using one’s ear wax as frame polish?

[@bikesbymike]

No to ANY type of wax on your bike, Reinier 🤪

[@AlbaTech]

I use surplus ceramic coating from my vehicle on my framesets before building up the bike. Useful info for the uninitiated but you did miss a step - you should be using whatever your equivalent of CarPro Eraser is to remove the polish and oils before applying the ceramic spray.

[@bikesbymike]

Yes. You’re right. I left out the use of a clay bar. I haven’t used it myself, but people swear by it, so I should have put in one extra step.

[@TESTA-CC]

Frame Wax with 3inch polishing wheel in a drill is the best shine you will ever get on a bike frame.

[@normwachholz7221]

Soooo, does all this effort make you go faster? Seriously, I suggest wearing a respirator to avoid these chemicals from getting into your body. To your point, "bike" products are a serious rip-off. Car products are also, but since the assumption is that you're covering a much larger surface, they are better value. A couple key differences between the environment that cars and bikes are kept in is that cars spend much more time outdoors whereas fancy bikes don't see so many hours of sunshine. On the other hand, cars (usually) don't get sweated on, so you might want to wrap the top tube of you bike in cling wrap 🙂

[@bikesbymike]

Well, a shinier surface is more slick. And there is less drag with airflow passing over a slick surface. So, YES, a blinged up bike will be faster! Wait-just remembered the dimples on a golf ball thing. Never mind.

[@normwachholz7221]

@@bikesbymike Well by that reasoning, the more wrinkles you have, the faster you go. So the net message is to invest in bike beauty products and forego expensive facial creams 🙂