Michael Barmache

Last year I posted some recommendations for cleaning off your muddy cross bikes . That post can be viewed by searching the OBRA email archives and was posted on 10/26/2010 with the same subject heading .
Nomad2go pressure washers are still around and distributed by myself however I have decided to sacrifice my standings in the 60+ field and instead purify my soul and body in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas by taking a month long cycling trip to Tuscany and Sardinia and will be gone thru Oct 25th .

If anyone feels the need to acquire one of the Nomad2go portable pressure washers they will be available thru Melodie at the Cross Crusade Tent and can also be found at West End Bikes, Cyclepath, Athletes Lounge, River City Bicycles and the US Outdoor store in very limited quantities until I get back at the end of Oct.

Mike Barmache
Nomad Sports
mbmd@comcast.net

Michael Barmache

This is a repost in case any of you avid crossers missed it . Hopefully this is some helpful advice and hopefully not construed as some shameless self promotion .
See / read Part Two in my next post if you would like to try one out .

First off so as not to confuse anyone I am not Dr Mike Murray. While we are both ER physicians and can claim equal expertise in that area I am additionally trained and specialized in how to effortlessly clean off caked on muddy cyclocross bikes & mountain bikes in less than 3 minutes with a minimal amount of effort which is something he cannot claim to be proficient in .
First : It is absolutely mandatory that you clean your bike while the mud/ dirt and grime is new and wet and has had NO opportunity to dry ie : before you go home and preferably immediately after your race.
Second: The tools you need that are an absolute necessity are the following : 1 sponge and 1 nomad2go cordless pressure washing machine .
Three: Lean your bike up against some suitable object ( a tree , bike stand , someone else's car table etc) or have someone hold your bike who is as muddy as your bike is . He will reap the secondary benefits of backspray.
Four :Turn on the Nomad2go pressure washing machine and adjust the nozzle pressure to emit a medium mist . Hold the nozzle which is conveniently connected to a twenty foot hose about 1-2 inches away from the tubes chainstays and fork and spray the bike clean This will take all of about 1.5 minutes . Any fine dirt that does not come off can easily be removed with the sponge along the tubes or fork . As the machine operates at 90 PSI the spray is more than enough to clean your bike but not harm headset or bb bearings
Five : adjust the nozzle to emit a strong jet if needed to blast off any clumped on mud in your brakes ,front and rear derailleurs and the bottom bracket area where this all collects - Note that steps four and five can be interchanged or combined/ alternated . Another 1.5 minutes Total 3 minutes
Optional step: dry with a towel but not essential
Six : you may now put your bike back into your 40000$ SUV without fear of getting your leather seats dirty.
Additional bonus : You can also use the Nomad2go pressure machine to clean yourself off of the mud that has caked to your legs and other sensitive areas rather than rolling yourself around in puddles like I saw people doing at PIR.
Warning : If you wait until you get home you will be faced with a cleaning project that will take you 30 -40 minutes and not 3 minutes and you will not get your bike as clean
Seven . After doing all of the above relube your chain with your favorite preparation , drop some triflow or some other lubricant onto your brake and derailleur pivot areas and you will be good to go for the following week .
Discalimer : I do not work for or represent any drug company and do not have any conflict of interests in that regard. However besides being a ER Physician I am also the Oregon distributor of the Nomad2 go pressure washing machines .
More info and pictures at Nomad2go.com
I sell these machines locally and if you contact me I'd be happy to show you one .The price is 249.00 minus a 10% obra/ bta discount which makes them about 225.00
RCB / Cyclepath / Athletes Lounge/ Enselle are currently carrying them as well as some as yet to be determined shops . Discover Bikes has them in Hood River and Webcyclery in Bend .
The sponge can be purchased locally at Costco or any supermarket
Trust me These machines will improve the quality of your life
If interested let me know - I am authorized to sell these directly to you as well
Mike Barmache MD
Nomad Sports
tel 503 244 6479 hm
cell 503 702 6473
mbmd@comcast.net
Ps I will post this weekly for the remainder of the Cross Season
It is also convenient to carry one of these around in your car . If you ride a lot on wet roads you know that your bike will collect lots of road grunge . When your done with your ride just immediately hose off the bike wherever you have finished . By the way the machine operates cordlessly off a rechargeable 18 v nicad battery or thru a 12 v car cigarette light / aux power port