Daspydyr 

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?

RIC0

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

-_RebelRidin'_-

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)

mtnbiker66

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

Darth_Firebolt

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

craigcraigcraig

a dirty chain that knows what it's doing.

Daspydyr 

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.

Daspydyr 

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

-_RebelRidin'_-

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.

Bachelor Reform

a trail without dog crap on it...

Daspydyr 

+1

jimx200

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

Daspydyr 

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.

Maelstrom 

I can think of a few things better to be honest

yerodtr

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.

Daspydyr 

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?

RIC0

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.

Maelstrom 

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

dminor 

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

Maelstrom 

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

MindlessDeviant

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!!!

Sixty Fiver

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.

never

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.

never

You meant something like a pinner DH run, right?

Daspydyr 

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?