I've started cleaning my mountain-bike chain more regularly, using this process:
- Wash off mud.
- Use chain-cleaner tool with de-greaser.
- Wash off de-greaser.
- Dry chain (see below).
- Re-lube with wet lube.
- Wipe off excess lube with rag/paper.
The bit I'm having trouble with is #4 (dry chain). What's a good way to achieve that? Currently, I do this:
- Dry chain as far as possible with rag/paper.
- Squirt GT-85 all over chain to drive out water.
- Dry chain (again) with rag/paper.
...but even then it's clearly not dry enough, because when I put the new lube on the whole lot emulsifies into a brown gloopy mess :-(
At this time of year (winter) I'm normally doing all this when I get home after a couple of hours riding and a couple of pints in the pub - late at night, in the dark, outside in the freezing cold, often in the rain - so I'm looking for a quick solution that doesn't involve a workshop (which I don't have, far less an air compressor).
I've tried leaving it overnight before putting the lube on, but in cold weather it's still not dry in the morning. And it tends to form surface rust too...
Do I just need a better (fluffier?) rag? Or is it simply not realistic to be able to clean it and re-lube it within 15 mins?