Keeping Your Bicycle Chain Clean

A chain is an easy thing to avoid maintaining, but a clean chain makes for a happy bike. Your chain is made up of over 100 links and each link has 4 individual pieces, that’s over 400 moving parts. If one part freezes up, you have problems. Chain maintenance is often avoided because it is super greasy, slimy, and just plain icky. There are 100 different degreasers and 100 different lubes, with lots of good and great ones. Contact me with your questions and I will give you my two cents on what works best for your bike and budget. Here is the quick down and dirty version of how to keep your chain clean:

1. Flip the bike upside down. Get a can of aerosol solvent/degreaser/lube (WD40 type will work, though it's not the best choice). Grab an old towel, cut into a few pieces. Find a lubricant like Phil Tenacious oil, any medium-weight drip type oil will work.
2. Spray the solvent heavily on the chain, spraying as you pedal backwards. Let it sit for a minute.
3. Wrap a rag around the chain, hold the rag in your hand, rotate the pedals backward. Pick a clean spot on the rag and repeat a few times.
4. Once your chain is nice and shiny, drip the lubricating oil on your chain as you pedal backwards. Let it sit for a minute.
5. Wipe it clean again so the lube doesn’t attract dirt. All done. Go ride.

Doing this simple procedure once a month for the average rider will keep your bike nice and quiet, and shifting will be improved. Once you get into a routine, you can learn about degreasers that you hose off and lubes that are more specific to your bike, budget, and terrain.