Chain muck

[103Alex1]

Getting used to using derailleur bike with exposed chain on more varied rides... it's fine with shorts so 95% of the time not an issue but if I do need to go somewhere on it in jeans or trousers, what do people use to stop getting oil all over bottom ?

Not a fan of trouser clips - used some snapbands a couple of days ago when I couldn't be bothered to change but still wound up with oil streaks all over the hem area.

Am just a mucky pup basically - if it's possible to get stuff filthy am one of those people who always seems to manage it !

 

[jazper53]

Getting used to using derailleur bike with exposed chain on more varied rides... it's fine with shorts so 95% of the time not an issue but if I do need to go somewhere on it in jeans or trousers, what do people use to stop getting oil all over bottom ?

Not a fan of trouser clips - used some snapbands a couple of days ago when I couldn't be bothered to change but still wound up with oil streaks all over the hem area.

I have a spray bottle full of paraffin, spray chain and derailleurs and work in with paint brush and wash off with boiling water from kettle to leave oil and grease free and finally spray a bit of WD 40 works well for me

 

[flecc]

Since you have a spider & chainring combination on your Trek, you can fit a chainring guard to cover the outside of the chain as it goes round the chainwheel. You've got a four spoke spider but you'll have to get the right size one for your spider and chainring size. If you fit one of those and use a single cycle clip you should be able to remain clean. Here's a Google search link to many chainring guard suppliers.
.

 

[mike killay]

Tuck your trousers into your socks.

 

[Scimitar]

Tuck your trousers into your socks.

Ditto. I used clips on and off, for years but the simple expedient of trouser-sock-tucking means you're never stuck if you forget your clips. Apart from that, my ankles objected to clips in the end.

what do people use to stop getting oil all over bottom ?

I don't find my bottom is much of a problem, to be honest.

 

[AlMel]

The use of WD40 as a lubricant causes much angst amongst some bike aficionados, but I’ve used it for decades and find it effective as long as it’s applied prior to each trip. Its great advantage of course is that it doesn’t drip.

 

[wissy]

Tucking is also my best preference ....

 

[neptune]

If you want to maintain your chain without too much effort, use motorcycle chain grease. Clean the chain with paraffin , and allow it to drain overnight. Then apply the grease. Treatment lasts up to two months, even in winter.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I tuck my trousers into my socks, but it's not sufficient unless you have narrow trousers or long socks. I've ruined most of my jeans and other trousers by getting grease on them. Cleaning your chain and putting fresh lubricant on means that you get clean grease on your trousers instead of dirty grease, but if you go for a long ride, it becomes dirty anyway.

! think a chainguard is going to be the best solution if you can find a suitable one, but what I can't understand is that you can buy a £15 crank with a nice plastic guard on it, but the guards for expensive cranks all seem to cost from £20 upwards, when all you want is a plastic guard. I'm hoping that someone will be able to point us at a cheap plastic guard that goes on an expensive crank. I even thought of taking one off a cheap crank, but they use four outer fixing holes to mount them, which expensive chain-wheels don't have.

 

[Gdread]

These are great, fitted easily on my GT aggressor, but you need a bottom bracket tool. Fits around the front mech and works just fine. Does need to be trimmed to length but great value.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BANJO-STYLE-CYCLE-FULL-CHAINGUARD-FOR-GEARED-BIKES-WITH-TRIPLE-DOUBLE-CHAINRINGS-/281037939561?

Or

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Raleigh-Smoked-Triple-Chainguard-46-48T-RRP-11-99-/200902058392?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item2ec6b22198

 

[jackhandy]

A pair of Treckmates lightweight breatheable gaiters; I rarely ride without them, even in shorts!

If you use a cape in the wet, they should keep you pretty dry without overtrousers too.

Barguard chainsaw oil for the gubbins - It's Low-Fling (fink dat's chinese )

 

[Deleted member 4366]

These are great, fitted easily on my GT aggressor, but you need a bottom bracket tool. Fits around the front mech and works just fine. Does need to be trimmed to length but great value.


BANJO STYLE CYCLE FULL CHAINGUARD FOR GEARED BIKES WITH TRIPLE/DOUBLE CHAINRINGS | eBay

Or

Raleigh Smoked Triple Chainguard 46-48T RRP £11.99 | eBay

Any chance of a photo of it fitted, so that I can check that it'll fit to my FS Giant? Looks great for Alex's bike. If I understand correctly, the middle ring goes behind the BB flange?

 

[Gdread]

Yes, the flange has to come off. But straightforward to do. Bit dark for photos but hope this works

Apologies for filthy bike but its a daily user and the chain is lubed with motorcycle chain spray lube/grease, ain't getting cleaned until the clocks change!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Thanks for that. Maybe I can use just the front bit. I'll get one and see.

 

[103Alex1]

I'm fine with maintaining my chain and it gets cleaned once a week. It was getting grease and road muck all over bottom of trousers brushing the chain / chainring that was problem.

I hear what people are saying about tucking trousers in to socks - but sad thing is I actually only own one pair of socks long enough to do that .. usually wear them just above the ankle and trousers won't tuck in. Chainring bashguard much better solution then can forget about it and wear whatever you want.

Since you have a spider & chainring combination on your Trek, you can fit a chainring guard to cover the outside of the chain as it goes round the chainwheel. You've got a four spoke spider but you'll have to get the right size one for your spider and chainring size. If you fit one of those and use a single cycle clip you should be able to remain clean. Here's a Google search link to many chainring guard suppliers.
.

Thanks flecc. That's exactly what I'm after. I've sent off for an e.13 42T one which seems to get good reviews, very reliable/robust and apparently is fine with a triple chainring. Counted the teeth - having no clue how many there were on the mech spec (2nd hand bike syndrome !). Was not easy to find - lots of people seem to wind up removing their 3rd ring just to fit a bashguard. Not sure why that is - maybe I'm about to find out. Was £20 (total scandal !) - but RRP £36 so I didn't feel quite so bad.

Didn't have time to measure whether the holes were the right spacing so fingers crossed anyway .. you don't have a lot of choice for anything remotely affordable for a chainring that size.

I don't find my bottom is much of a problem, to be honest.

Lol. Kaboom tish.

 

[Gdread]

I think that SKS also do one but this one has a lot of space and adjustment potential and is cheap enough. The bankrupt bikes seller has been on eBay for years and often has useful stuff. Might be an issue if the PAS is fitted on the chain ring side

Worth trying, I cannot remember any grief fitting it and the tail end is pre marked for cutting down.

 

[103Alex1]

I've ruined most of my jeans and other trousers by getting grease on them.

Easy fix for it is to rub standard vegetable soap (not hand soap) on the grease areas under the tap before shoving in the washing machine. It gets grease and oil out great, just as well as any stain devils type fancy stuff.

My jeans were covered in oil on Tuesday - did this and there's not a trace of it on them. However I have managed to get friction wear in the bottoms of them, no doubt rubbing on chainring teeth or chain when I was out having fun yesterday. Decent chainring bashguard will sort that in the future too.

 

[john h]

i clean my chain and cogs once a month with paraffin i then melt paraffin wax in an empty can put in chain ,pure hot wax on cogs ;stops my jeens from oil stains ,[oil by its nature atracts dirt]

 

[jazper53]

Maybe a pair of gaiters, as link below, but should find them elsewhere cheaper

Mountain Equipment Alpine Gaiter from Taunton Leisure Ltd

 

[103Alex1]

I tried similar ones like that in the early days - and a pair of mini ones too. Unfortunately as I am very slim gaiters and the like never stay held "up" where they should be on me. Was always the kid at school whose socks slipped down. Nothing much has changed lol. Gave up on them and bought some more shorts instead !