# How do you maintain your chain - dusty conditions - gravel / MTB **URL:** \ **Category:** Equipment\ **Created:** [May 24, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480 "2020-05-24T01:21:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AJS914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@AJS914](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AJS914)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/1 "2020-05-24T01:21:10Z")
Our trails have turned to a fine powder. When I come back from a ride my chain / cassette have a light dusting of powdered dirt. Sometimes it’s more than light. I could ride it one more time and probably get away with it. The chain might start squeaking by the end of the 2nd ride. I’m a Rock N’ Roll lube user. In less dusty times I do the apply/wipe routine every three or four rides. Lately, I have been hosing off the drive train to get rid of the dust/dirt, then letting it dry, and then doing the Rock 'n Roll routine. It’s just getting tiring doing this every ride. I’m curious what others are doing… ---
**Author:** ![Northshorerider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Northshorerider](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Northshorerider)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/2 "2020-05-24T01:49:47Z")
I’ve gotten into the habit of washing my entire bike after every ride. I do low pressure rinse, spray drivetrain with simple green and scrub with tooth rush, sponge bath everything else with car detergent, then rinse again. Then I wipe as much water off drive train as possible and relube. This is a necessity as I live in a small apartment and don’t want dirty bikes inside. It doesn’t take very long either, because my bike never really gets dirty! ---
**Author:** ![mtbjones](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mtbjones/32/12895_2.png) [@mtbjones](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/mtbjones)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/3 "2020-05-24T02:01:48Z")
I live in a region where the trails turn to moondust in mid summer. There can be several inches of silt on the trails. I start by degreasing the chain when new. This must be done throughly. The best methods are discussed throughly in the chain waxing thread. I just use a citrus degreaser a couple of times in an old bottle and shake. The chain is then rinsed and dried and I’ll put a heavy coat of lube on it. Before the first ride, I wipe off the excess lube. Then I wipe down the drivetrain and relube after every ride. I then make sure to wipe excess lube from the side plates but leave it on the rollers. Takes me about 2 minutes to relube and wipe. ---
**Author:** ![Stringwise](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/stringwise/32/8504_2.png) [@Stringwise](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Stringwise)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/4 "2020-05-24T02:42:45Z")
I went to a waxed chain for this reason and have never looked back. ---
**Author:** ![Kuttermax](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kuttermax/32/101635_2.png) [@Kuttermax](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Kuttermax)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/5 "2020-05-24T21:17:24Z")
Rock N Roll does work well in these conditions. For my non race chain I use Rock N Roll Gold on both gravel and XC bikes. I wipe down after each ride and reapply frequently. For new chains I strip factory grease by soaking chain in mineral spirits for a day or two and then ultrasonically cleaning before applying Rock N Roll the first time. Periodically I’ll give the chain a good cleaning with the ultrasound cleaner. For race day chains, I’ll use Molten Speed Wax. It’s great and holds up really well over the course of a long event. The wax does seem to help dirt from penetrating as much into the pins and rollers. ---
**Author:** ![jezza323](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/jezza323/32/13269_2.png) [@jezza323](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/jezza323)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/how-do-you-maintain-your-chain-dusty-conditions-gravel-mtb/36480/6 "2020-05-25T05:38:24Z")
Dry dust is perfect for waxed chains, nothing for the dust to stick to, basically just falls off the drivetrain instead of getting into everything. Ive done \>400km of dry dusty rail trail and gravel roads since my last wax and the bike is dustier than the drivetrain