A clean bike is a happy bike and a happy bike usually means a happy rider. It may not be the best part about riding, but when done properly can bring a sense of satisfaction and a job well done. Unfortunately it’s not always easy to clean your bike properly. Caked on mud, grit in the derailleurs or grime on your chain can take some serious time and energy. Enter the Nomad 18 Volt Portable Pressure Washer. This small washer may just be the answer to your cleaning needs.
The Nomad is small so it doesn’t take up much room in the car or garage, has just enough pressure to get the job done, is quiet and easy to operate. The water tank hold 3.5 gallons of water and is filled through a filter at the top. A side pocket holds the nozzle and hose and can easily hold a few cleaning brushes, rag and smaller bottles of de-greaser and chain lube for those that want to do the job right. The shoulder strap comes in handy when lugging 3.5 gallons of water out to the garage.
Using the Nomad is incredibly easy. The top orange section is the tank. Unlatch it from the base, fill it up, lock it back on, attach the hose to the unit and spray nozzle, turn it on and go. With 90 P.S.I. grit and grime comes right off, but it won’t take the paint off either. This portable model was designed for bikes and the like, not for industrial strength cleaning. The nozzle has a few nice features for ease of use. First, the spray is adjustable by simply twisting the barrel. Put it on the narrow stream for cleaning the drivetrain, then back it off a bit and spray off all the dust and dirt from the frame. There is also a small trigger lock button so you can let go of the trigger and it will continue to spray. The hose is 20 feet long, which is plenty.
The Nomad comes with two power sources. The first is an 18 volt battery (charger included) or a 12 volt power cord so you can plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter. While the battery life is not expressly stated, the battery will last long enough to go through the full three and a half gallons three times according to the Nomad website. The battery and 12 volt cord can be stored in the battery compartment when not in use.
This is a great idea for the cyclist that likes their bikes clean and shiny. A full self-contained unit, the Nomad travels easily and is even easier to use. At $250 retail it’s not cheap, but you could easliy use it to clean the car, camping gear, a kayak or, according to Nomad, your dog. For the 24 Hour mountain bike racer or the neat freak that only puts a clean bike in their car, the Nomad is worth a look. Find all the details at www.nomad2go.com
