I get asked this question a lot. Water and bikes are not friends. If you bike is muddy mist it down with a hose and use a cloth to wipe off the mud. I use rubbing alcohol to wipe down my bike. It takes off grease and other grime. I tend to do that every other ride depending on how dirty my bike is.
On my mountain bike I use a soft tee shirt type material to wipe off the part of the shock or fork that goes inside(stanchions). I do this after every ride. Dust that collects there acts like sandpaper and can cause damage. Doing this can save seals and lengthening the time between service. If you must use water make sure you dry of your bike after every wash. Never use high pressure to wash your bike it put water in places that grease or oil should be.
I remember a customer came in 6 months after buying his new full suspension bike complaining that all the pivots were making squeaking noises. The mechanic and myself noticed that the bike was very clean and asked how often he washed his bike. He said he power washed it after every ride. We explained what he was doing and gave him a discount on the labor to replace all the pivots and told him never to power wash his bike again. He was grateful for our generosity.
Keep on Pedaling
Marco
Comming down from Mt Gridley with my brother and Friends, Ojai California
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