How do you keep your chain from being black?
 

??

Don't bother trying to prevent this from happening.

ride it with pride.

buy a black chain

"that's the way it's supposed to look"

but in all seriousness, it will get dirty no matter what. the only people who will give you s*** for a dirty chain are people on this forum

I read in Zinn's book that after lubing the chain, you should wipe it down with a clean dry cloth.

He said you want grease in the recesses of the links, on the outside of the chain there is no need for the grease, also, grease is sticky so that dirt will accumulate. And that dirt can work it's way in between the links and cause wear.

Do what 99% of this forum does. Don't ride your bike.

Are you implying that some people do actually ride their bikes?

I thought this forum was all about how to build up a nice track bike to mount on the wall. The road forum is for people who actually ride isn't it!

Just keep wiping the excess. Do it everyday!

Nah, the road forum is for people that cosplay on weekends when the weather's nice and think they are the only real cyclists.

Dry wax lube, but it'll still get dirty, just won't rub off as much

Try a different lube.
Personally I like the rock and roll lube.

I only have to reapply it after a ride through heavy rain, plus it cleans and lubes the chain.

You ask for the impossible.

I suggest you don't put the lock through the CR and get a chain guard. Disposable nitrile gloves also work well.

If you find a lube that doesn't get black after 30 miles and actually works, let everyone on this forum know about it. You will instantly have 1000's of friends.

You could go to a belt drive. This is a major advantage belts have over chains.

the dry lubes may help a little bit, but road grime is pretty much unavoidable.

Wax lube (white lightning) works ok in this regard. The idea is that when it gets dirty it just flakes off.

Now, it won't work as well as real wet lube, but you'll avoid some of the chainring tattoos and such.

Do you think it is necessary to lock up that thoroughly? Maybe it is where you live ... but it sounds like it could possibly be excessive.

+1 to wax.

i use pedro's ice wax. dob on, wipe off, dob on, wipe off... at least once a day. is there grit on my chain? yes. but does it still look nice and shiny and new after three months? you bet!

there's lots of discussion on ice wax at http://www.mtbr.com/cat/accessories/...47_131crx.aspx

Black is ok, it happens.

Don't want to get things dirty? Don't touch your chain. It's probably not necessary to lockup your chainring.

The chain is a very vulnerable and important component on the bike and therefore requires regular maintenance (cleaning and lubrication) to remain relatively trouble free while performing all its tasks. The alternative is frequent replacement but that in and of itself is maintenance. Maintenance (or in your case just touching such a component) is frequently dirty work especially when that component is positioned down near the souce of grime stirred up by the wheels riding on the trails, roads, etc, and having some sort of grime attracting lube to help it run more smoothly for a longer time. But in your case you might carry a pair of latex gloves.

About the gloves, I think he worries also about his actual lock getting greasy, which will transfer grease to whatever he is holding his lock with.

dont lock your chainring.

i just switched to ice wax for the drier summer months...it works really well and the chain doesn't get nearly as gunked up
i was using 'chain j' before

so, just get the right lube for the conditions you ride in

Get an enclosed chain case.
They are very popular in England.

It works beautifully in SoCal weather, not sure about you Northerners ;)

did you bother to clean all the crap that collected on your chaingring and cog when you cleaned your chain? thats like cleaning a white shirt and rolling around in the mud again wondering why your shirt is still dirty.