Keeping Your Bicycle Chain Clean

A chain is an easy thing to avoid maintenance on, but a clean chain is 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. One part freezes up and you have problems. Chain maintenance is intimidating and avoided because it is super greasy and slimy and just plain icky. There are 100 different degreasers and 100 different lubes, and there are lots of good ones and lots of great ones. Contact me with your questions and I will give you my two cents worth on what works best with your bike and your budget. But here is the quick down and dirty version of how to keep your chain clean.

1. Flip bike upside down. Get a can of aerosol solvent/degreaser/lube WD40 type will work, certainly not the best choice, but a good start. 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 rag around chain, hold rag in your hand, rotate the pedals backward, pick a clean spot on chain, 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.