Rusty chain inspite of cleaning,lubing

[GirishH]

Hello, I was going to ask this question in @Flowrider’s post, but since this is a slightly different issue, I decided to start a new post.

https://forums.bikeride.com/thread-9267.html

I’m nowhere near the ocean, so salt-related rusting isn’t a concern. I’m currently in the ninth month of a long bikepacking trip, and sometimes I stay in one place for a week or longer. During this week or longer break, I rarely used my bicycle. Since I have a quick-release chain, I remove it, rinse it with whatever soap I can find, scrub off the grime, wash it, and then dry it. After reinstalling the chain, I lube it. Right now, I’m carrying Muc-Off dry weather lube. Please note, I have limited space, so I can’t carry all the cleaning tools or soaps I’d have at home or in a city. The nearest bike shop is about five hours away..:-(

I went for a ride the other day, after nearly a month. I lubed the chain before heading out. It wasn’t a particularly wet ride, but when I returned, I noticed the chain looked much rustier than before. I’m trying to understand if I did something wrong and how to avoid this rust.

Yesterday, I hosed down the entire bike and cleaned the chain. This time, I didn’t remove the chain, but just scrubbed off as much rust as I could with an old toothbrush, then applied lube after the chain had dried completely.

Do you recommend that I remove the chain, soak it in soapy water, scrub off any rust, rinse thoroughly, and then lube it once it’s completely dry?

Any tip is helpful.

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

As mentioned recently, Rustoleum make a rust inhibitor, which is like an oil spray.

[Painkiller]

considering your away from home situation, I would just lube and use it. Where the parts of the chain touch and move together the rust will not affect it. when you can just upgrade to a plated chain of higher quality in the future.

[Criminal]

(06-11-2025, 06:45 PM)Painkiller Wrote:  considering your away from home situation, I would just lube and use it. Where the parts of the chain touch and move together the rust will not affect it. when you can just upgrade to a plated chain of higher quality in the future.

Hey All,
Painkiller hit it on the nose!! I was going to ask where you were seeing the rust. If on the rollers, then not good; plate exterior is just aesthetics and rust will increase with use depending on the quality of the plating/anodizing, maintenance, and/or conditions.

A quality chrome plated chain is what I recommend for adverse/extended use. For road racing it is more of aesthetics since the chain is not exposed to the same conditions as someone doing XC/touring/mtb, etc. Chromium is durable and rustproof, and thus takes longer to get worn off on the best chains; and on nice looking but cheaper chains (like my new "chromed" $16 FW where I am alr3ady wearing off the copper sub-plating after a couple uses) they will still be better than an anodized (not chromium plating) one which is better than a "quick dip" or no plating at all (probably rare these days).

@GirishH a couple touring tips that may or may not be feasible for you (or that you may already be equiped with) which do not take up much space, weigh very little, and can be used for multiple purposes. You need some smaller well sealing squeeze bottles (you determine the size acceptable); I use1oz. eye drop bottles because they are durable & you can more easily dispense small amounts as needed or remove the "dropper end" for more of a liberal application. This is more for roadside chain service and not a full drivetrain cleaning (cogs, rings, mechs).
Regarding chain care (you pick your own lube!) while touring a full day or more: I have a bottle of Gojo type with no pumice/abrasives & waterless degreaser that can clean a chain, other parts, clothes, and hands. Another bottle has isopropyl alcohol (70%-90%; higher is better) helps clean the degreaser out of the chain, cleans other parts, cleans hands, cleans inner tube for better patch adhesion; helps disinfect that road rash, and light fires. A bottle a dish detergent like Dawn will also degrease the chain, can be used for body and clothes also; but of course requires water. I also carry my chain/multiputpose lube mix in the same bottles. For long or quick outings I always have rubber gloves (2 pair minimum; surgical gloves preferred). I often use 0.5oz bottles for smaller tool kits/shorter rides.

I know on the road you can not bring too much with you; but often just a little bit goes a long way if used judiciously.

I just cleaned a my Rohloff chain. It took 4 full solvent baths to clean. Too expensive not to keep serviced better, but that was only 1 month's riding and technically only about 1/3 of a month's riding due to multiple bike use. If one chain can get that soiled from about only 200 miles on dry paved roadways; think about what only 5 to 10 miles on gravel roads will do even when dry. That's why having a clean spare chain (and a couple spare links; I carry a mini Pup chain breaker) on long trips is paramount aside from breakage. Emergency spokes is also a must for XC touring.

Presently completing contruction of a short lap (.5mi) single/double/triple track CX, XC course on my property and expect to be doing a lot more drivetrain service on a per use basis when doing laps on the trail and jumping. Photo of bridge and jump armature.