Dave Mayer

Your shifting problems sounds like it could be fixed with a couple of turns on the derailleur barrel adjustor. Try this first.

As far as chain problems, I am dealing with a second-hand bike I bought. The bike has a high-end Campagnolo drivetrain with lots of carbon giblets. The seller had ridden the chain to the point where it was absurdely stretched out, and so both rings are toast well before their time. The cassette is on the edge too. The rings alone will cost $200 to replace. So instead of replacing a $25 chain three times per year, now the entire drivetrain is pooched.

So here is my advice:

• Replace chains often. I am on #4 for this year. YMMV.
• Keep them clean and lubricated; silicates in dirt are especially effective at eating away at the bushings.
• Cleaning the outside of the chain is a good start, but the insides is what you have to get at to make the task worthwhile.
• Don't use water in cleaning a bike. It just gets inside the moving parts and rusts them.
• Water-based degreasers are useless, including anything 'green'.