How to Maintain a Clean and Efficient Bike Drivetrain

Keeping your drivetrain clean and lubed is a great way to maintain proper shifting performace and pedaling effieciency, and will extend the life of your bicycle.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine what kind of riding you do most. If you ride in the dirt, you should clean and re-lube your chain after every ride. If you ride on the road, you should clean and relube your chain at least once every three or four rides, depending on the conditions (rain, excessive road grit, etc.).

2. Select a chain lube that is appropriate for the type of riding you do and the area you ride in. If you ride in the dirt, you may want a heavier lube. If you ride on the road, you may want a lighter lube. Check with your local bike shop for recommendations.

3. Run the chain backwards through a clean cotton rag until the chain is fairly clean and dry. Lube the chain with your favorite lube, making sure that some lube gets on each link. Run chain back through the rag once more to remove excess lube.

4. Remove the rear wheel from time to time to clean the cassette or freewheel. You can "floss" the cassette or freewheel with a clean rag to remove built up gunk. If it is really dirty, you may want to scrub the cassette or freewheel cogs with an old toothbrush and a solvent like WD40.

5. Wipe off your front and rear derailleur. Afterwards, spray the derailleur pivots with a light, penetrating lube.

6. Wipe off your chainrings from time to time with a clean rag. If they are really dirty, you may want to scrub them with an old toothbrush and a solvent like WD40.

7. Clean the rear derailleur jockey wheels from time to time with clean rag to prevent a build up of gunk.

Tips & Warnings

• If your chain is really dirty, you may need to remove it to clean it properly. However, if you regularly follow the steps above, you will not need to do this.
• Some shops sell chain cleaning units which run the chain through a solvent bath. However, most mechanics consider these to be gimmcks. Again, following the recommondations above should keep your drivetrain clean.
• You should generally repace your chain every 2000 miles. If you wait longer than that, your old chain may begin to put undue wear on your cassette or freewheel.
• Look into some of the "dry" lubes that have been developed lately. While these many not be approprite for all conditions, they don't pick up much grit and grime.
• Remember that WD40 is essentially a solvent and not a lubricant. Also, grease is not appropriate for bike chains. Make sure to find a bicycle-specific lubricant for your chain.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

on 11/22/2005 There's no better way to destroy your chain than to lube dirty chain. Instead, take your chain off the bike and properly clean it by soaking it in some degreaser for 20 minutes and using a brush to clean off the gunk. That's the proper way to do it. I just throw the chain in an old plastic bottle (Gatorade bottles work well because of a wide mouth opening) with some degreaser and vigorously shake the bottle for a minute. Let it soak for 5 minutes then shake again for a minute. Repeat. Take the chain out and let it dry completely overnight and then lube it!

on 11/22/2005 Though the HowTo conveys some cleaning units as "Gimics", some are very good. Many of them, with the right cleaning solution and lubericant can improve the performance significantly. The cost of the unit is little more than that of a new chain, and can extend the life of your chain five-fold.

If you ride in the mud, sand, or dirt often, consider a Cleaning Unit.