My new bike and its new rusty chain - advice please

MB Lacey

Went out for a 40k spin on Sunday, pouring rain and cold (but I enjoyed it), when I got back I wiped my bike down (just with a rag) and ran the chain through an old rag to give it a clean too.
I didn't lube the chain

Just home now, putting my hybrid in the shed, had a little loving look at my 8 week old scott and freaked out.
The chain and cassette are covered in rust, felt like crying - is there anything I can do to get rid of the rust?

Here's some crappy images of chain, cassette and the lube/ degreaser.

Seaneh

It's just surface rust by the looks of it, just give it a good clean and a fresh coating of lube and you're grand.

RidleyRider

Just surface rust, put something that cuts threw grime on it and you should be fine after that.

If not... You'll have to put up with them or replace them.

Tomred13

Hi MB Lacey

same advice as above, its only surface rust so you will be grand!! dont be to hard on your self,, it happens to the best of us.. get some wet lube for the winter months and salty roads. this time of the year is hard on chains so after every spin i clean, dry and relube. also for old school cleaning use an old toothbrush to clean between the links of the chain. anywho best of luck.
Tom

MB Lacey

Thanks folks, 'just surface rust' and 'you'll be grand' calmed me right down.

When you're new to looking after a good bike the last thing you want is to see loads of rust on your beloved silver chain.

Also when you're new to looking after your bike, the chain maintenance can seem a bit daunting; when to use degreaser, when not, which lube to use, do you rinse off with water, are you supposed to leave an hour between degreaser and lube application.
Will the rub of an old oily rag after a ride just solve everything? :rolleyes:

Anyway - Have just sprayed chain and cassette with degreaser, brushed chain/ cassette with brush, left for few mins, washed degreaser off with cold water from hose pipe, left for few mins, ran the chain through a cloth until there was very little black coming off, sprayed chain with lube, left a few mins, wiped off excess lube and wiped rims of wheels clean of any spray.

I think I'm good to go, the rust came right off (mostly - will give another clean at the wknd)

Like new, well nearly:

07Lapierre

Do that after each spin..only takes a few minutes.

bcmf

Super Scrimpers top tip ( am watching super scrimpers on the tv hence the reference )
Get an old toothbrush. Get a small container that can be sealed. Half fill with diesel or keosense. Dip the brush in the fluid and just run it over the chain when its on the cassette. Dry off and put on good quality lube.

Lumen

07Lapierre wrote: »

Do that after each spin..only takes a few minutes.

Degrease and relube twice a day? Don't think so.

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

Degrease and relube twice a day? Don't think so.

I certainly don't do it more than once a week, and if it's not been particularly wet can get away with it every couple of weeks even over the winter

velo.2010

My bike below after Saturday's club spin. We cycled through slurry on the back roads around Carbury/Edenderry. Mudguards simply didn't work. No choice but to hose the bike down after for the crap that built up around the drivetrain. Sunday comes and three hours in pissing rain undoes all my efforts at scrubbing the bike clean. Couldn't be arsed cleaning the bike again and of course the following day the chain/cassette had a thin film of rust.

So what did I learn? Don't sell your Winter bike and rely on one decent bike for the whole year round! :rolleyes:still won't buy another bike though.

MB Lacey

velo.2010 wrote: »

three hours in pissing rain ..Couldn't be arsed cleaning the bike again and of course the following day the chain/cassette had a thin film of rust.
]

Is it because the chains are new and dont have much oil/ lube on that they rust so easily?
I've never cleaned the chain on my hybrid, had it for years, cycle it everyday in **** weather and its never gotten rusty.

07Lapierre

Beasty wrote: »

I certainly don't do it more than once a week, and if it's not been particularly wet can get away with it every couple of weeks even over the winter

If u loved your bike you would clean it at least every week !

07Lapierre

Lumen wrote: »

Degrease and relube twice a day? Don't think so.

A bit OTT i admit. I clean my commuter/winter bike once every week.

Wishbone Ash

MB Lacey wrote: »

Thanks folks, 'just surface rust' and 'you'll be grand' calmed me right down.

When you're new to looking after a good bike the last thing you want is to see loads of rust on your beloved silver chain

I wouldn't describe it as "loads of rust". It's simply the chemical reaction from metal in contact with oxygen and moisture. Next time you're passing a steel fabricators or builders providers have a look at the RSJ's stored in the yard. All will be 'rust coloured' but it's only superficial.

RV

Lovely bike BTW

kenmc

Jeez lads where's all this "ah it'll be grand" rubbish coming from? The only acceptable answer to a problem such as this is
YOU NEED A NEW BIKE!!!!

what_traffic

Whats the moisture level in the shed like MB Lacey? Could that be a factor here as well?