Sand - the enemy

DHA987S

Where I ride (north downs) the majority of places are sandy. Now I have two issues from this, first when riding it's bloody hard - any tips? Second, my chain gets covered in the stuff, am I over doing it by degreasing every time then relubing the chain?

Cheers

cooldad

Where do you normally ride - North Downs covers a huge area. We ride in the Surrey Hills, which has virtually no sand.
But sand is just evil - no easy way to ride it if it is deep.

As for chains, use a dry lube that won't attract much sand, and what is there can be wiped off after the ride.
Wet lubes will just create a sticky mess.

DHA987S

cooldad wrote:

Where do you normally ride

Currently Blackheath, Albury, St Marthas Hill and Newlands Corner area. A lot of the bridelways to get anywhere are sandy

Cat With No Tail

As said above, try using dry lube where possible, and sealed bearings on absolutely everything you can.

Other than that, you've just got to be prepared to take a bit more time about cleaning than other, non-sand dwellers, and be prepared to replace stuff a little more often.

cooldad

DHA987S wrote:

cooldad wrote:

Where do you normally ride

Currently Blackheath, Albury, St Marthas Hill and Newlands Corner area. A lot of the bridelways to get anywhere are sandy

Very sandy bits. A few miles across to Holmbury, Pitch and Leith Hill it's much less sandy, and excellent riding. Lots of singletrack.

Take a look at London Calling in rides. We have a loose bunch that normally organise a ride there most weeks, always happy to meet new people. We are a motley crew of various ages, fitness and skill levels and ride for fun so no pressure on heroics unless that's your thing.

DHA987S

cheers, will take a look. But I think I need to improve my fitness and stamina, my legs had nothing in them today

andypaul99

DHA987S wrote:

Where I ride (north downs) the majority of places are sandy. Now I have two issues from this, first when riding it's bloody hard - any tips? Second, my chain gets covered in the stuff, am I over doing it by degreasing every time then relubing the chain?

Cheers

Find more of it and ride as hard as you can

Its great for building fitness!!

cooldad

DHA987S wrote:

cheers, will take a look. But I think I need to improve my fitness and stamina, my legs had nothing in them today

That's ok, we spend quite a lot of time resting. But if you want to check the area out quite happy to do a ride at your pace.