Some questions:

1. For folks soaking your chains - I've read that that using a chain tool to unlink them multiple times weakens the newer chains to the point where they really should be replaced. How many times can I break my chain before it's probably time to replace it? Should I always break it at the same link?

2. Is removing the cassette for cleaning hard to do? I scrub the best I can, but it really needs to be soaked to get that "like new" look!