Cleaned my drivetrain after 300 miles of winter commuting and couldn't believe the gunk

I've been riding my commuter through salt and slush here in Minneapolis since December. Finally got around to a deep clean last weekend and pulled the cassette off for the first time. The grease between the cogs had turned into this black paste mixed with sand. Used a Park Tool chain cleaner and some degreaser, took about 45 minutes. Has anyone else noticed shifting getting rougher over winter and then smoothing out after a proper clean?

2 comments

2 Comments

tara_jones941mo ago

Winter commuting turns your drivetrain into a science experiment in gross, huh? That black paste sounds like the secret ingredient for crunchy shifting and unhappy gears. Bet your bike feels like a whole new machine after you scraped all that off.

ben_ross511mo ago

Funny you say that, but I actually kinda like that black paste. lol It means I'm riding through crap weather instead of sitting inside, and that gritty grinding sound is just proof of miles. A quick wipe and relube every couple weeks keeps things smooth enough, I barely notice any difference. Clean drivetrains are nice and all, but I'd rather spend that time actually pedaling. A little grime never hurt anyone's gears.