sand in my chain...

[mtbmargie]

so i went for my first mtb ride this weekend and got sand all over the chain and cassette and derailers. i tried getting the sand off but apparently not all of it. i went for a ride today and the bike was making a grinding noise every pedal stroke i took. how do i go about getting all the sand off? any help is greatly appreciated
-m

[SadieKate]

Do you get the drivetrain wet and then take it through sand? What happened?

You probably need to use Park Tool cleaner and really work at it with brushes or you may have to pull the chain and cassette off the bike so you can get down inside every nook and cranny. Sand is very destructive to drive trains.

Did you get it in the bottom bracket? Usually sand just gets on the rims.

[Adventure Girl]

I ride in an area with lots of sand. You will need to clean the entire drive train to get rid of all the sand. If you clean just the chain, the sand in the cassette will get back on the clean chain.

I take the chain off and clean it. Then I take the cassette apart and clean the gears in a solvent tank. Then put it all back together. It's kind of a pain, but worth it in the long run.

[mtbmargie]

Sadie and Adventure Girl, thanks for your inputs and help.

Do you get the drivetrain wet and then take it through sand? What happened?

not sure what happened... i guess i did but i don't remember riding through much sand. i tried cleaning with solvent and a rag but as adventure girl said, and i learned today, the sand in the cassette got back on the chain.

I take the chain off and clean it. Then I take the cassette apart and clean the gears in a solvent tank. Then put it all back together. It's kind of a pain, but worth it in the long run.

I was hoping not to have to do this. I guess that Park tool that Sadie suggested doesn't clean the cassette, just the chain? I have no clue how to take the chain and cassette apart. I just got this bike last week! This may be the time to invest in a bicycle repair/maintenace book. I'm an engineer... I think I can figure this out... I hope! Will I have to do this everytime I ride and find sand in the drivetrain?

Should I try anything else before diving into taking things apart? Should I take it to my LBS?

-feeling so clueless and sad that i may not be able to ride tomorrow.

[Irulan]

Zinn and the Art of MTB maintenance.

This is what I would do, and do do after rides in our sandy soil, when it's wet and muddy out. Muddy sand? sandy mud?

Hose everything off.. do not use a pressure sprayer. Then, I use the chain cleaner tool thingy on the chain, and I go over the cassette carefully with a rag in between each cog. Re-lube. I don't take the whole thing apart.

Irulan

[Adventure Girl]

Some chain lubes attract sand more than others. I have found that a dry lube is better than one of those sticky, waxy types when riding in dusty, dry or sandy conditions. If you go anywhere near sand with those sticky types, the sand jumps up and clings to your chain.

[madisongrrl]

Two important things about cleaning your chain:

1. Rinse the degreaser completely off and let bike dry.

2. Apply lube and let sit overnite. Wipe off with a rag in the morning.

I race XC and I degrease my mountain bike after every ride because I'm picky and it just performs better.