Yes I do that too, but because I'm always in a hurry I don't have time to let it evaporate so I just toss a lit match at...this dries the chain in mere seconds. Then you pick up the charred chain as soon as the flames stop and pour you usual lube on it because the hot chain will allow the lube to penetrate all the small areas way better then room temperture.

Sometimes when I don't have time to wait for the gasoline to burn off and I don't need the bike right away, or simply having problems affording a gallon of gas, I will then toss the chain in the dryer and leave, then by the time I get back the chain is nice and dry and hot which enables my lube to flow better of course...problem is with this method is that usually my wife is hotter then the chain! She just doesn't get my obsession with my bike.

i totally understand, i do the same thing. go figure!

there are allot of ways to soak and clean a chain, but be careful to not do this for any period of time, there are areas that the solvents can soak into that will still be there when you put your chain back on.
You really should not soak a chain like this.
If you do, be sure to dry it out for quite some time and then make sure you get plenty of lube soaked back in.
I can see doing this for a mountain bike but a road bike chain should not get this dirty in the first place, remember to lube the chain and wipe it all down before you ride. Keep it clean and no excess oil and it won't pick up dirt.

I reuse my SRAM 10-speed powerlinks with no problems... I know they recommend against it, but I believe that the 10-speed powerlinks hold up as well as the 9-speed ones do.

WD-40 is mostly volatile chemicals that evaporate quickly. What's left behind is a very lightweight oil coating your chain. It's not enough oil to act as a lubricant for very long, so you'll need to add lubricant soon after the WC-4o0 treatment.

can someone explain to me why the hell I would CLEAN the chain? I always just add more oil on it once it dries out. And how do I even know it needs to be cleaned?

You need to clean chains??









;)

I used my Park Tools chain cleaner for the first time...........chain looks beautiful. But the garage, bike, bike stand, my clothes, etc. are all covered in black gunk. Use lots of newspaper underneath when cleaning and expect lots of spray and dripping. Or did I just use it wrong???

WD-40 is my vote. I used it the other day and it worked like magic.

Although it will take some time. You have to be patient i.e. when you clean the cassette. Qtips work great for getting into spaces, such as the links in your chain to get out grit etc. Remember, always be thorough.

When you are done, let it dry for about an hour, and lube it up. DON'T put too much lube on your chain, otherwise it will pick up even more dirt and grit on your next ride.

Also, if you do use WD40, remember to put a rag behind where you are spraying. The last thing you want is it to get into the bearings, wheels, or stem. Because, remember, its a degreaser.:p