Dust

[Lewis Moon]

I must live on Arakis. I'm about to name my bike "The Sand Worm"...

Riding gravel around my area basically means copious amounts of dust. So much so that my bike develops squeaks and groans on the gravel that go away after a bit of paved travel. I get dust everywhere. Any suggestions on how best and how often to remove it?

[Steve in SLO]

Mist your bike down with plain water, paying special attention to drive train. You will have to lube chain more regularly, and clean your jockey wheels more often than you would on your road bike. If you want pristine, then add your favorite soap to the water and gently wash with a soft brush. There's no doubt more maintenance is involved with riding dirt roads than on tarmac.