Carbon Pro Dri-Shine

Carbon Pro Dri-Shine is a clever detailer designed to keep bikes looking showroom fresh with nominal effort and seems more effective than most I've played with to date. However, mud encrusted cross and mountain bikes will still require a bike wash blow-over and bucket rinse first.

Coming from the school of sudsy water and polymer waxes, I tend to approach waterless cleaners with a sense of scepticism. Many contain silicone derived additives, which impart a really glossy sheen but rapidly develop a grimy patina, particularly during changeable conditions.

Carbon Pro weren't forthcoming with precise ingredients but stressed its biodegradable, non-corrosive, and UV repelling protective properties.

£12.99 buys a modest 8oz bottle, though there's a 32oz workshop option too, which works out cheaper if you've a big fleet or fancy pooling resources with friends. However, being a pump spray, the 8oz still represents surprisingly good value.

Application is point n' shoot intuitive; shake the container, flick nozzle open and squirt in single bursts from a distance of 20cm. For best results, transfer via a soft cloth and work gently into the surfaces. Finger marks, brake dust, oily prints, road spray and watermarks vanish instantaneously. More ingrained or complex contaminants (wet lubes, diesel, greases etc) require second helpings and elbow grease but nothing major.

Traditional road framesets were spotless in eight minutes. Results seem uniformly good on all materials/finishes, though metallic enamels and jaded carbon composites responded particularly well. Use on saddles and leatherette bar wrap is best avoided.

Thus far my workhorses remain resplendent, most residual dirt wipes away effortlessly with only a soft cloth and those entering seasonal hibernation are still gleaming with little evidence of dust/dirt. Winter's slimy, salty cocktail will be the acid test but for time being I'm suitably impressed.

Verdict

Convenient bike sprucer with decent staying power