milkbaby

After searching, I've seen a lot of posts about whether to clean a new chain, what lube is best, how often to lube, etc... But maybe not as much debate about how/whether to clean a chain.

I've been using Rock'n'Roll Gold chain lube which I think comes in mineral spirits and/or something that helps clean out the gunk, and I have a bottle of Progold ProLink lube too (hate to visit a new bike shop and not buy anything). I just apply the lube, let it sit/drip off a little, then wipe the gunk off the outside and wipe again the next day. There is still a small amount of black gunk sitting on the side plates and whatnot. I'm wondering how much this really matters and whether using one of those chain cleaners or removing the chain and degreasing is really worth it.

Wondering what the collective opinion of BF might be?

RacerOne

I wash my bike with soap and water including the chain. Then it gets relubed, wiped off in 15 minutes. It's not clean unless I can run my finger down it with no residue on my fingers.

MegaTom

There's a lot of road construction going on in my part of town... so there are a lot of roads in not-so-good condition; and combined with all the rain we tend to get in Central Fla., it makes for some disgusting drivetrains. So I regularly use my Park Tools chain scrubber with Simple Green citrus degreaser. I do this about every other week and I wipe the chain after every ride in between scrubbings. If the chain and gears get exceptionally sloppy, I remove the chain and bathe it in a bottle while I clean the gears with a spray bottle & brush.

DXchulo

I had one of those chain cleaning machines a while back and it was more trouble than it was worth, really. It's just as quick to use some Simple Green and an old toothbrush. Just keep the chain on, spin the crank, and brush away.

ls0725

I use 2 brands, one is like yours, the Progold ProLink and it is good. I go to REI and ask the bicycle mechanic in there what he uses, he said Tri-Flow so I bought that too and alternately use them.

I dont have special cleaning tools, just wipe clean with cloth, apply oil and repeat every start of ride (usually 40 - 60 miles per ride). Clean cassette and front rings every 2 months.

With chain maintenance, you will get a lot of opinions, recommendations, tips, tricks, etc. here. Each to his own personal preference i guess.

kimconyc

I only use a chain cleaning tool if it gets really bad (like riding 80 miles through salted roads). Otherwise I just use Pro Link (mineral spirits) and rag to clean.

I've been using Finishline Pro Road Ceramic recently, however, as it is seems to quiet down the drivetrain better than Pro Link and lasts longer as well.

ls0725

This is not the first time I heard of these. Pro Link seems to make the drive train noisier compared to others.

hammy56

ftw

Jimbo397

ftw********************???

deep_sky

Not really, I regret wasting money on that. I can get my chain cleaner with a dry rag than with that thing. It just doesn't do much except make a mess as the bristles dont actually get up in the chain where they need to.

monsterkidz

I don't mess with chain cleaning machines. If the chain is filthy I'll remove it, soak it in mineral spirits. Wipe it down, let it dry and re-lube with Rock n Roll cleaner/lube.

halfspeed

I know it's heresy, but people obsess too much over their chains.

merlinextraligh

plus a gazillion. I use Pro link on mine once a month whether it needs it or not.

If I've ridden in nasty conditions, I might clean it with a rag and a citrus solvent, then do the Pro Link thing.

As long as it's quiet, I don't worry about the chain, and I replace it on reasonable intervals.

I'm sure with more fastiduous maintainence I could coax another 250- 500 miles out of my $40 chains, but it sipmly is not worth the bother.

silversx80

+1. Douse in red Rock"N"Roll lube, wipe off excess. Done for another 200-400 miles.

grafsk8er

for the win...get with the lingo here jimbo =P

RacerOne

For those who can't bother messing with filthy chains, just don't let them get that way. I've never seen mine go from shiny clean to anything more that just a little dirty in the filthiest of conditions.

prathmann

Periodic cleaning of the chain will certainly make it look nicer and will minimize those ugly black marks if the chain happens to touch something else (legs, fingers, car carpet, etc.). But, in my experience, it doesn't make the chain work any better or last any longer than it would if you just kept adding enough lubricant without doing any cleaning at all.

As long as the chain is lubed all that grit will quickly get pushed to the outer edges of the chain where it sits without doing any harm to the moving parts of the chain or the rest of the drivetrain. A few years ago someone on rec.bicycles.tech did an experiment to see just how useful cleaning is at prolonging chain life. He divided his chain in half, marked one of the links to distinguish them, and then used two quick-links to reconnect it. He then used the bike as normal, but every few hundred miles he removed the chain, carefully cleaned only one of the halves, reassembled and lubed the whole chain. He kept track of the elongation of the two halves to see how much each was wearing. What he found surprised him - the uncleaned half of the chain wore less than the half that he was thoroughly cleaning periodically.

travkat

So... all those pro mechanics that clean and lubricate chains after every ride are crazy then. All they need is some pro-lube and a rag, or was it no rag and some simple green and a toothbrush. The chain on your bicycle has the most moving parts of the entire bike. Only morons don't clean and lubricate their chains regularly. I work in a shop and I absolutely hate when people come in with disgusting drive trains...especially the "Roadies".

rollin

Bingo.

Also, the biggest reason for dirty chains is over lubing. Extra lube attracts dirt. After lubing wipe down the chain.

scirocco

Not at all. Pro cycling is all about selling something, and clean sells better than dirty. But don't confuse that with functionality.

BL4zD

I was under the impression that the reason to keep the chain properly cleaned and lubricated was to reduce the wear on the teeth, not the chain, since chains are relatively inexpensive to replace. The experiment about which portion of chain stretched more wouldn't really answer that question, imo.

DXchulo

It doesn't really matter whether you're trying to save the cassette or the chain (why not both?). They both work together, so both need to be clean if you want to prolong the life of either one.

BTW if your city is going through a drought, try cleaning your bike. It's guaranteed to rain the next day.

Ames

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/chains.html Enough Said

kbtommy

Clean with mineral spirits. Lube with chainsaw oil from Home Depot. Cheap, effective, done.

merlinextraligh

I had the opportunity to watch the I Banesto Team mechanics during the Tour de France. The mechanics also retaped every bike's handlebars, checked every adjustment on the bike, stripped the tubular tires off the wheels, and glued on new tubulars on every bike. They also pulled the cassettes off, and cleaned individual cogs.

When there is big money on the line, and its your full time job to make sure the bike is perfect in both function and appearence, what is rational is different from what is reasonable preventative maintainence for your average amateur rider, who has other things to do with their time.