I can see you live in So CA so yes there is lots of sand and water. First - make sure you are using a dry lube like Pedros. It will help keep the chain cleaner. I use a nice, soft bristle paint brush (about 2 - 3 inches wide) to sweep down the bike, get the dust off and get into the nooks and crannies. After that I use Lemon Pledge and I spray down the entire bike, including the chain and wiped it all off as much as possible. Then I relube the chain and all the pivot points. If your chain is very dirty, use a citrus degreaser mixed in water (this part is important). Put it in a spray bottle and spray the chain heavily. Wipe down well and lube well. Even with sand in the chain, you can still lube before a ride without first having cleaned everything down.


PS: Where do you ride?