Dreaded sand - help me out here...

[Buffalo]

So I can't get away from riding on sand based material. Today I spent some time with a chain lube (light oil - maybe veggie based, given it's environmental boasts on t'label) getting rid of thick black greasy stuff (maybe manufacturers coating..?) from chain and gears but there was so much sand material stuck in all the smallest of crevices. I've used a small brush to get the worst of it out of the chain link and cogs and sprayed the lube in the hard to get places to flush out as much sand particles as I could. Movement sounds better, but still a little graunchy.

What's the best way to prepare for riding on sandy material in order to protect the workings? Lots of hosing down and re-lube after? Just lots of re-lubes and no hosing? I'm thinking possibly, once the snow comes, to take the chain off and soak in thinners to get rid of the rest of the grease-stuff and then just use thin oils but it still seems to build up every ride.

In terms of components, are any better suited to sandy conditions? I could upgrade where necessary, particularly bottom bracket if some are better sealed. I notice my gear shifting is hard once the crud builds up on the cogs - maybe this is a function of the close-set cassettes these days? When I were a lad only had to deal with 6 maybe 7 on the back, now there is 9!

Thanks for any hints/ tips

[IroningMan]

Use a teflon dry lube and fit a split link so you can hoik the chain off easily to clean it - after each ride if need be.

[anonymous-user]

dont get a hose anywhere near a bike, ever. all you do is force the sand and other bits of crap into the places where you really dont want them to go...

[shalmaneser]

just take it off and degrease it as often as necessary I'm afraid. You're probably best off using a dry lube and reapplying fairly often!

[HereBeMonsters]

pablo said:

dont get a hose anywhere near a bike, ever. all you do is force the sand and other bits of crap into the places where you really dont want them to go...

Huh? Just use the hose to flush the sand out of those places...

[Kermit power]

HereBeMonsters said:

pablo said:

dont get a hose anywhere near a bike, ever. all you do is force the sand and other bits of crap into the places where you really dont want them to go...

Huh? Just use the hose to flush the sand out of those places...

A hose at normal tap pressure is fine. It's pressure washers, or even just pressing your thumb over the end of the hose which you want to avoid. If it has sufficient pressure to push sand to just where you don't want it, then that's exactly where it will push it.