Chain Grease on My Right Leg

OakLeaf . . Thanks.

I have to lean the hybrid way more than the road bike. I think I am leaning correctly because I have to lean it far enough to get my leg over the bike rack. I think it actually happens when I stand the bike up to get ready for riding.

I am taking note of your suggestion to make sure I am doing this lean thing correctly. Otherwise I am going to have to buy a lot of Dawn, Simple Green, Olive Oil, or cleansers. ;)

I think it happens when I bring the bike back up to get ready for riding. I seem to get too close to the chain. At least that is what I think was happening today.

Let's make it a fashion statement: Chain Grease tatoo. I too think it is has to do with the "lean" of the bike. I belive about 1/3 of my longer rides result in this badge of honor. Yes for those wonderful single use packages of Wet Ones. I have even used them to clean my handle bar tape on occassion.

Just think . . . we don't have to go to a tattoo parlor and pay for the tattoos. And we can only have a fresh original one any time we want. No two tattoos will ever be the same, nor will anyone else be sporting your tatoo! :D

There's a former ride leader who has a tat on his right calf that is NOT chain lube, but every time you look at him you THINK it is. :p

http://www.tatsandtags.com/bicycle-tattoos-2.html

If I ever bothered to get a tattoo it would be a grease print on my right calf, but since I haven't gotten around to a tattoo in the last half century (or so) it is probably pretty even more unlikely in the next half century (or so).

If you aren't in a place where you can wash conveniently, hand lotion and a purposeful wipe with a tissue or paper towel will usually clean it off.

One possible solution is to apply a skin cream such as Glaxal Base to the area before you ride. That way the chain grease goes onto a barrier layer instead of directly onto your skin and should therefore be easier to remove. Sort of like actors applying cold cream before putting on stage makeup, to make it go on more smoothly and remove more easily.

I just wish I could get on/off the bike without even getting the grease on my leg. "Prevention is worth of pound of cure." Is that the quote though?

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Originally Posted by malkin

If I ever bothered to get a tattoo it would be a grease print on my right calf, but since I haven't gotten around to a tattoo in the last half century (or so) it is probably pretty even more unlikely in the next half century (or so).

If you aren't in a place where you can wash conveniently, hand lotion and a purposeful wipe with a tissue or paper towel will usually clean it off.

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C'mon you know you want one!!!! :)
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-xSmN...-xSmNJkM-L.jpg

.....and for real ones, as already said, single package Wet Ones ftw!!!!

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Originally Posted by kajero

I just wish I could get on/off the bike without even getting the grease on my leg.

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I’d consciously pay attention to when the chain hits my calf until I learned a way to not have it happen often. When stopping I always unclip my left foot and lean that way to keep my right calf away from the chain. I also lean the bike to the left when moving my right leg over it and leave it leaning left while bringing my clipped in right foot to where I want it to power off.

When cleaning my chain after it’s clean and dry I lube each chain roller, let it seep into the internals and run the chain through a clean rag to remove excess. I’ll also give the chain a wipe before and after the first couple of rides to just remove any excess that has seeped out. That should help too.

I almost always end up with a clear imprint of the teeth from the front derailleur on the back of my right calf because when I stop I put my right foot down and the push the handle bars away from me a bit and then stand with the bike leaning to the left . If I remember I try to pull the handle bars a bit closer after I step down, but its a hard habit to break. Like someone else commented, if I haven't got a grease imprint or at least a smudge on my leag it is obvious I am not riding enough.

I keep simple green spray bottles in the kitchen and laundry room for cutting counter grease and burn on stick and for spot treating clothes. I buy a bottle of the concentrate and then water it to 50%. I keep handy wipes, Windex window cleaners or Lysol kitchen wipes out by the bike to get the stuff off myself and the bike as I come in from a ride. If I am doing a deep clean on my bike, I use simple green diluted pretty much overall, rinse and dry thoroughly, grease and re-lube and then finish it off with a swipe of pledge furniture spray on the frame to polish it off and keep it a little muck resistant.

Eh, just be glad they're not scars. I've got 35 year old chainring gouges that don't wash off. :cool:

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I prefer olive oil when it's my skin.

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This or baby oil.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Eh, just be glad they're not scars. I've got 35 year old chainring gouges that don't wash off. :cool:

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Funny you should say that. I got my first one at Hotter N Hell 100 in August. Gouged my shin good.

Baby oil! No scrubbing needed. It just wipes right off.

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Originally Posted by kajero

When I ride my Specialized Ruby Elite WSD size 44 cm I never wind up with chain grease on my right leg.

When I ride my hybrid Trek FX7.6 WSD size small, I always wind up covered with grease on my right leg. I have to really scrub to get it off. I have a much harder time getting off and on the hybrid.

Can someone tell my what I doing to make this happen all the time?

I don't want to wear longer bike pants/pants to avoid this.

Thanks

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That is funny I only have grease on that leg when I ride my Specialized Ruby Elite (WXL) and never have that problem on my mountain bike go figure.