Dirtworker - Reviews

Getting filthy dirty is what Brit riding's all about, but if you've driven to your ride or location, or you live in a flat, a mud-caked bike isn't the way forward. If you don't want to be dripping the brown stuff all over your jam jar [car] or best shag pile [carpet] you might want to arm yourself with a Dirtworker. With a capacity of 14 litres, the Dirtworker can easily clean two filthy bikes. We were sceptical at first about how far the water would go, and how powerful the jet would be (the unit is powered by your in-car cigarette lighter point, but those worries went straight out of the window [were forgotten] - it's awesome.

The jet is adjustable so you can give your bike a good soaking; you get three settings - a fine mist, general spray, and 'solid' stream, powered by the 70psi pressure. It's not as powerful as full-on [big] jet wash, but you can take it wherever you drive, it won't destroy your bearings, and it's very economical.

You can even use it wash your car, or hose down next door's cat.

Verdict 9. An essential product for any serious bike with a car.

Mountain Bike UK magazine:

Thought I'd drop you a line to let you know how pleased I am with this product.

Excellent bit of kit - used to have to spend ages cleaning my bike after a ride mainly due to the mud being dried onto it after being on the roofrack at 70mph! Ideal amount of pressure from the Dirtworker - not too much to ruin bearings but enough to shift the muck. Certainly enough water in the reservoir for two bikes - maybe three if careful.
Storage 'harness' is an excellent final touch for keeping it all tidy in the boot of the car. A few club members have shown an interest in it already for themselves so watch this space!'

Adam Waller, Cheshire - 3 January 2006

'We have used the Dirtworker that you recently sent, and we all think it is even better than we had imagined... It is fantastic!'

Nick Larsen, Chargebikes.com - 30 December 2005

'I have been meaning to write to you for a while now. The Dirtworker arrived promptly as promised a good few weeks back and it has performed nothing short of brilliantly since then!

A wee drop of Hope Sh1tshifter on the bikes and a few seconds later we have clean bikes again. It just does not get any better. Simple to use, quality connections, a brilliant carry saddle for the hose, gun and electrical connector. This really is a top piece of kit.'

J Wright,Tullibody, Scotland - 21 November 2005

'...I introduce the Dirtworker. This yellow saviour is a jet wash that carries its own water, enough to clean about 10 decent washes and is powered by 12v car power so you can take it on the move. Pressure is not exactly skin removing but at 90psi [70] it is enough to loosen up pretty much every bit of dirt on a bike... The whole package takes up hardly any space and you can take it anywhere.'

Shred #40

'Recommended for enduro race teams and folk who are fed up of sticking filthy bikes in their clean cars after muddy rides.'

Single Track World, October 2005.

'Portable jet wash on the move. The four gallon tank houses a pump which dispenses water at a pulsating 70 psi, easily enough to clean a couple of dirty bikes. The whole unit is not much bigger than a full face helmet and an ideal shape for the boot of the car.'

What Mountain Bike, October 2005.

Testing time: 3 months (a few Soggy Bottom Rounds, and some night rides)

I'm sure we have all been there. You have just got yourself a new shiny clean bike (which stupidly is white) and you hit the trails in mid winter. You get back to the car and can't face the long drive home, knowing that the mud is slowly drying and covering the back of the car.

Luckily help is at hand in the form of the Dirtworker. For those who have not seen the yellow boxes appearing at races and car parks all over the country, the Dirtworker is a clever self contained pressure washer that runs off the cigarette lighter in your car.

Over the last few months I have used the Dirtworker after some wet and muddy rounds of the Soggy Bottom Series and after a few evening rides. The Dirtworker is so easy to set up, that even someone who stupidly bought a white bike can do it. The adjustable gun/nozzle plugs into the long tube which the plugs into the Dirtworker itself, and as long as you have filled the tank up and plugged it into the lighter, you are ready to go.

Apart from being easy to use, the water pressure is sufficient to blast off even the thickest mud. With an adjustable nozzle you can change the jet to attack the nooks and crannies. Maybe I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but I sometimes found the 14 litres not enough to get my bike shiny (maybe it's that white bikes never look clean).

Overall the Dirtworker does exactly what is says on the box. It's a great portable system ideal for cleaning bikes post ride, stopping the back of your car getting covered in mud.

Must have for racers: 9/10 Ideal for a quick wash down after the practice lap, and you skip the queues at the one hose in the field.

Does what it says it will do: 8/10 It Works the Dirt, but maybe enough water for only one really muddy bike!

Charlie races for the newly formed XCracer.com/Gary Fisher team in the Expert Category and is a regular at races all over the UK.

Charlie Wigfall