Fifty Plus (50+) - First chain cleaning

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w2brdbkr
04-26-08, 03:45 PM
I now have 611 miles on my new bike so I figured it was time to clean the chain. A guy I ride with that has helped me & my buddy get started said he just uses a rag with WD-40 on it & just wipes his chain down after every ride.

I have done that a few times & at 500 miles the LBS did a quick adjustment & wiped down the chain at the same time, but today I took a rag with alcohol on it & wiped down the chain. Then I used some chain oil that I bought last year for my hybrid & put a drop or two on each link, let it set for a while & then wiped it down with a clean rag.

Hopefully that is all I need to do, I haven't been riding in bad weather & I've stayed on good roads. It looks like new now so I'm ready for another 600 miles. That will get me over 1,000 miles before my first century ride.

twobikes
04-26-08, 06:32 PM
There are a couple of other threads on cleaning and lubricating the chain right now. I have come to appreciate applying a liberal coating of new motor oil to the whole chain about every 100 miles. Then wipe it with an old rag while turning the cranks backwards. The oil is supposed to float the dirt and grit off of the chain and into the rag. I have been doing this for several months and must say my running gear is quiet and shifts are wonderfully smooth. A chain is a disposable item, like an oil filter (on a car) or an inner tube. Keeping the chain lubricated and replacing it when worn protects the more costly cluster and chainrings from early replacement.
zonatandem
04-26-08, 08:24 PM
Denver NEVER cleans his chain!

John E
04-27-08, 03:00 PM
It all depends on your environmental conditions and choice of chain lube. I live in a dry climate and use paraffin-based chain lube, making the road bikes pretty low-maintenance in this regard.
stapfam
04-27-08, 03:36 PM
My chains last well- but oiling a dirty chain just pushed the dirt into the rollers of the chain- Where you cannot see it. So a chain clening tool to brush the dirt off the chain- and it may take a couple of changes of the Fluid to do this. Then wash the water based cleaning fluid out with wd40 and drain. Then lube with your favourite lube.