Grease
 

One silly problem I have is that I keep getting grease on my trousers (coming from the chain etc).

Sure enough using the mixture of cooking oil, old machinery oil and massage oil (perfumed with Vanilla, Mmm) on my chain and derailler was, thinking back at it, not such a great idea after all.

Anyway at the moment I wear a leg warmer thing (designer for winter sports) over my shoes and that protect my remaining trousers but its flashy pink fluorescent color is getting me some attention I could do without.

I am therefore thinking of perhaps cleaning my bike and using (I discovered this exists) some non-staining bicycle wax instead. can anybody advice me on 1) what to use for lubrication 2) how to clean it. Does it really not stain?

I've had pretty good luck with Pedro's Ice Wax. When the time comes to clean, Simple Green and a tooth brush...No problem.

Clean the chain thouroughly with some solvent and a toothbrush.
You can then apply some wax to the clean chain. White lightening is a bike wax suspended in a solvent , which evapourates. It leaves a solid lube layer which is pretty clean. There are a few others waxes of this type, but none of them adhere well to dirty chains.
Have you considered a chain guard ?

I just carry a change of clothes if I'm going somewhere important. That keeps the grease off. I also don't bike in my spanky clothes (except for my cycling specific gear of course!)

Chris

Also, dunno much about wax on chains, but I believe that IS the lubricant...someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I used to also have the problem of getting grease/lubricant/etc. from my chain on my pant legs when I had freshly lubricated my chain. These days when I lubricate the chain, I try my best to get the lubrication only on the parts where it counts -- on the inside part of the chain, on the rollers, etc. And then I thoroughly clean off any lubrication that managed to get on the outside part of the chain.

Luckily, I only ruined one pair of pants before learning how to maintain my chain better....

No matter what kind of lubricant you use, your chain will pick up road grime which will stain anything it touches.

Get your self a reflective ankle band. It will keep your trouser cuffs out of the chain and will make you more visible to night drivers.

When I commute wearing long trousers, I always wear a pair of cheap work socks, the type which go nearly up to your knee. These things can be purchased at most dollar stores, or even odd lots, quite cheaply. The 3 or 4 pairs I have look awful by now, but I no longer get chainring imprints on my nice, new $40 dockers!:cool:

D*Alex, that is an excellent idea! I assume your are talking about what are described as "over the calf" tube socks that are $7-8 for 6 pair at Wally World.

I have only ridden a couple of times in slacks when I made quick lunchtime runs to drop off my bike at the LBS for work. I am sure there will be other times. I'll have to bring a couple of socks to work for that.

Mike is right, I can't imagine anything you could use on a chain being, or at least staying, non-staining. Even dry parts on a bike pick up road grime that can stain.

Also, gaiters used for cross-country skiing make good grease protectors, but look a BIT silly, IMHO

That's an idea. I haven't seen these on recent bikes much. Where does one get a chain guard?

They are not compatible with front derailleurs.:(

Even good US and UK bike shops seem to omit chainguards.
They are standard equipment on Dutch city bikes:

http://www.gazelle.nl/cgi-bin/bikes/...egment=comfort

A Giant dealer (they are 1/2 Dutch) may be able to source one, since their Dutch models often come with chainguards.

Give Harris Cyclery a go as well:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/index.html

They dont work well with front mechs, but if you live in a flatter area, and want a clean utility bike, rather than a racer, then fit a single chainring. A wide range cogset at the back will cover all the range you need. You could even go really continental and fit a Sachs or Shimano 7 speed hub gear.

Bikes sold in the US also seldom have rain guards even when the same models do if exported to Europe. But then I don't care so much: New Mexico is usually dry and when it rains there is not way NOT to get wet, no matter the equipment.