Mountain Biking - Is there anything better than a clean chain?

My drive train was getting noisy. I cleaned up everything else first, did the chain last. I couldn't beleve the difference. Is that where I should have started?

If you lube your chain like your supposed to a good cleaning of it should be done every other month.

Due to the gritty-ness of the terrain I ride here in Duetchland, I do a quick clean and complete relube of my chain every 3 rides or so, or else it just gets gunked up.
I pick up a lot of dust, mud, and sand. (its always wet.. and our area was known for it's Sandstone back in the day, its what all the Castles are made of, there are a lot of deposits from it)

I can think of a few things that are better than a clean chain.........

I can think of a few things that are better than a clean chain.........

we don't want to know how often you "lube your chain" mtnbiker66.

a dirty chain that knows what it's doing.

Our dust is so fine it gets everywhere. I soaked the chain three times in Simple Green and was still getting gunk out of it.

a dirty chain that knows what it's doing.

Dude, go to the corner, I'll let you know when you can come back out.

This thread reminds me... I need degreaser...
I think they sell simple green here..... Some cleaners they don't sell because of environmental hazards or what not.

I can think of a few things that are better than a clean chain.........

a trail without dog crap on it...

a trail without dog crap on it...

+1

a trail without dog crap on it...

Dogs? Nothing compared to some of the trails we share with horses here in N. Cal. Another reason the learn how to bunny hop.

Dogs? Nothing compared to some of the trails we share with horses here in N. Cal. Another reason the learn how to bunny hop.

Farmington, NM hosts the longest continuing running MTB race in America. Trails are shared with horses, affectionately named the Road Apple Rally. Ned Overend won again this year.

I can think of a few things better to be honest :)

Our dust is so fine it gets everywhere. I soaked the chain three times in Simple Green and was still getting gunk out of it.

I would stay away from Simple Green and other water based cleaners. I personally use mineral spirits in a chain cleaner tool. Works great and dries quickly.

I can think of a few things better to be honest :)

Well, that's why I asked the question. I am keeping an older bike alive while saving for a new 29er HT (the idea of the month). What is really key to keeping a good older bike sharp?

Simple green in a 32 oz gatorade bottle, let it soak for about 15 mins or so and shake it ever so often. Rinse and dry completely and it's ready to be relubed.

I think TONS of riders apply lube and take off. Just about every bottle of chain lube says to wipe off all excessive lube from the chain. My buddy's drive trains look like he dumps a qt of oil on it and takes off.

Well, that's why I asked the question. I am keeping an older bike alive while saving for a new 29er HT (the idea of the month). What is really key to keeping a good older bike sharp?

Sorry I should note I am a sarcastic person who answered this question beyond the confines of the box you had intended. I definitely meant something else ENTIRELY ;)...

YEs a well kept drive train is a very good thing in the world of biking :)

^^ There is something amiss here - - you should not be apologizing for being the affable a$$hole that you are ;).

^^ There is something amiss here - - you should not be apologizing for being the affable a$$hole that you are ;).

:D...you never know, old dogs can change...

Maelstrom is full of shi*t............yes I will be a newb to say it just because I want assclown sarcastic bull**** answers in threads to liven this place up!!!

Every month does not cut it here... there is too much clay dust floating around and it will gum up a chain in no time and this only gets worse when you are riding on the trails.

I use homebrew... love it.

Dogs? Nothing compared to some of the trails we share with horses here in N. Cal. Another reason the learn how to bunny hop.

Pfft, horses...try riding trails used by cows! Keep your mouth closed and hope the trail isn't soft so it gets rutted to hell.

Sorry I should note I am a sarcastic person who answered this question beyond the confines of the box you had intended. I definitely meant something else ENTIRELY ;)...


You meant something like a pinner DH run, right?

Sarcasm, sexual innuendo, mindless deviancy, animal poo paranoia? Oh yeah, that's why I drop down here from the 50+ thread. Keepin it real as you kids say, EH?

^^ If you are a 50+ regular, you are already too far gone to be helped by visits to this forum :D.

Maelstrom is full of shi*t............yes I will be a newb to say it just because I want assclown sarcastic bull**** answers in threads to liven this place up!!!

Bitter much? Jeez...next time I aim, I will try not to hit your cornflakes.

Every month does not cut it here... there is too much clay dust floating around and it will gum up a chain in no time and this only gets worse when you are riding on the trails.

I use homebrew... love it.

serious answer for me depends on the time of year, I don't do anything with consistency and a full deep clean takes too much of my time. Like my tubes, I don't patch, I replace, I sometimes keep a couple of chains in the ready and swap them out to clean or soak them, saves time when I really wanna hit a trail

You meant something like a pinner DH run, right?

Exactly, thinking a nice run down gargamel on a clear sunny day...pack a lunch and stay in the mountains for a long run

^^ THAT sounds like a great day!



Next day we send never down Trespasser. I dibs taking the pictures of him :D.

haha...is that one of the new trails to replace No joke (may the great trail RIP)...I haven't had my rubber on that trail yet, getting ready for next season though. Been too long since I have been riding often enough. Want to get in 60 days again this year...

I thought I rode No Joke this past August?

I thought I rode No Joke this past August?

sorry I should clarify.

no joke was rerouted thanks to the olympics (**** you IOC and vanoc) and the trail, while still fun, it not the sheer awesomeness it once was. It was truly the perfect trail in so many ways. It felt like a beautiful xc trail pointed down. Just pure single track speedy joy...

Part of No Joke was still there - - was part of the Crankworx Garbanzo DH course. Part of it was closed due to preparation for the Olympics, so they made New Joke to take its place.

Mael, Trespasser was that off-piste sphincter-pucker trail that I posted the vid of that you said you recognized parts of . . . includes Shalemaster?

ahhhh yes. They really should find a trail and call it sphincter-pucker, that would be a great name haha

I would say that having a bike to ride, is better than a clean chain.

Exactly, thinking a nice run down gargamel on a clear sunny day...pack a lunch and stay in the mountains for a long run

Now we're talkin! Overnighter @ Lake City, CO in search of Moby Trout! Hittin some high MT lakes. That's what I clean my chain for.