Originally Posted by Trek'n Teresa
I ride on trails which are usually very sandy and dusty.
I usually try to clean my chain approx every 2-3 weeks, and
this is done without the aid of a chain cleaning tool.
If you ride primarily off-road, you may want to consider cleaning the chain after each ride as a part of your post-ride clean up. You don't need to overdo it. Just use a rag to wipe down the chain, then relubricate. Since your conditions are dusty and sandy, you should try a dry lube. Again with the lube, don't overdo it since too much grease will attract all the dust and sand.
If you do this regularly, you do not really need a chain cleaning tool. They are convenient, but IMHO, they only really needed when the chain is a real mess (like mud and grime is caked on the chain). They do not make sense to me unless you fail to maintain your chain on a regular basis or ride in really adverse conditions.
Enjoy your next ride.
- Jeff