GlennR

This cassette has over 10,000 miles and the chain has 5000.

Over the winter I disassemble the bike and put the parts I can into a ultrasonic cleaner. I ride about 125 miles per week so at least every 2 weeks I use Park degreaser and Simple Green 100% and some that's 10:1 mixed with water.

NoWhammies

@GlennR what ultrasonic cleaner do you use?

@Zaskar good tips about cleaning the bike too. I need to pick up some Park brushes for cleaning my bike. I've been using a shop rags to clean the chain and parts, but the grease is starting to get to be a but much and the wife is worried the grease is going to stay in the washer, thus getting on our clothes.

GlennR

Cheap Chinese 2L I got on ebay. I use it for rebuilding vintage ignition distributors.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Multi-Ultra...Frg4Ga6oosKOwQ

f4rrest

rutan74

I bought one a few years ago from Walmart before they became popular. My Wally-world one works really well too and I ended up saving some money over the Park tool.

john

rutan74

WFT? AFTER 1000 miles? You are pulling my leg, right? Is it all downhill? I am skeptical to say the least or you live where there is no dirt, sand or rain? My chain is pretty dirty after just 400 miles.

john

jadocs

That would be after 1000 miles with regular maintenance, cleaning and upkeep, not ridden 1000 miles without cleaning.

The first picture I posted, the bike has over 3000 miles on it (cleaned and maintained after every ride).

Nachoman

I get it. I used to be like you guys. I didn't care about making a thirty dollar chain last a few extra months. It was all about a clean machine.
Now all I do is re-lube the chain and run a rag over it.
I'm still pretty OCD about squeaks though.

fasthair

John,

I probably didn't word that correctly. The 1000 mile photo was just to show that if you take care an clean your drive train it can look just as good and clean as new. Didn't mean to imply that it was that clean after a 1000 miles. Not to light this fire but I use Finish Line wax chain lube.

fasthair

GlennR

1000... mine has over 10,000 miles

Seattle Forrest

Some lenses have magic at their widest aperture, and your 50 is one of them.

Dirt Farmer

You have crystallized my thoughts eloquently!

NoWhammies

Wow gents. Very impressed with these clean drive trains and chains. I can only hope to get my chain and drive train that clean. I have some work/learning to do.

Rides4Beer

This is my kinda thread.

I don't have any pictures of my drivetrains specifically, but I have about 5k miles on my road bike, and it looks new. Just got a gravel bike and have already been keeping it just as clean. Once you have a good routine down, it's not hard to keep them clean.

For me it's not about making parts last longer (which can be an added benefit), I hate a noisy drivetrain, and the best way to keep it quiet is to keep it clean.

Robert A

So I have a question. I found that my car drives better when it's washed, and even better when it's detailed. Do you think a clean drivetrain really makes a difference as compared to simply wiping and oiling the chain periodically?

Rides4Beer

I don't know if it makes any difference in performance or parts longevity, I'll never let my drivetrain get dirty enough to find out. lol

After every ride I wipe down the chain/cassette/front rings/jockey wheels (I also wipe down the rest of the bike, but we're only talking drivetrains lol). I add lube probably every other ride (or if it was wet out). If I hear any drivetrain noise during the ride, then the chain gets a full cleaning with the finish line chain cleaner (or any time it looks like there's some gunk building up between the links, even if it's not making noise).

OCD? Absolutely, but it's worth it when all I hear during my ride is the hum of my tires.

Zaskar

My cars look like my bikes. And yeah - I swear they drive better clean. But the reality is they don't. Bikes are different. When we wash our cars, we don't touch the parts that actually what make it drive better - it'd be like washing only the bike frame, crank arms and wheels.

That clean bikes (drive trains) make the bike ride better - faster, more efficient, shift better, etc. - is quantifiable. Lots of "studies" have been done to show the wattage (loss) associated with a dirty chain vs brand X lube vs brand Z lube... Pulleys, cogs, chainrings that are thick with grease, dirt "stick" to the chain. Dirty/worn grease in bearings...

The goal with making a bike faster/ride better is to limit the loss of power we apply - rolling resistance and aero get a lot of press. But, the loss associated friction can be as much as 6% of the power we apply. A new/perfectly clean drive train will (theoretically) top out at 98% efficiency. So, that leaves 4% of waste to wash off ;-)

rutan74

Glad you clarified that. I was jealous as hell thinking what am I doing wrong or where am I riding. Even so, that is a nice job.

john

Nachoman

from my OCD days.