Cycling where there's sand

[mjr]

What is this problem with dirty chains of which ye speak?

Don't get too smug - sand does slowly accumulate in the bottom of the chain case because it gets in by the rear hub and probably along the joints and oily sand won't drip out of the drain holes as easily as water does. It's a good idea to open the case every month or so and rinse out what's accumulated inside before the sticky grit mounds get too tall and start being picked back up by the chain.

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

I used to cycle on the sand from Irvine to Troon when the tide was out,and yes,it left a fair old mess of the chain and cassette.
I will tell you what was really dodgy though,the road running alongside the beach towards town
The thin layer of sand on tarmac made even the slightest of bends a bit "drifty".
As for the chain and cassette ?
I would have to find the nearest garage and wash them pretty quick.Who knows why I thought it a good idea to have a beach ride.
Even then,I couldn'tget all of it off,so the ride through Troon,Loans,up Dundonald Hill and back to Irvine was causing unseen damage.
I used to whip it off altogether and thoroughly clean them.

 

[slowmotion]

I've been up the LF1 from the Hoek to Zandvoort a few times. It's through sand dunes on the North Sea coast and it has wind-blown sand all of the way. I've never done anything special to clean the bike....but I am a slob.

Edit: yet more sand....