Clean your drivetrain, pt1

Make the time to keep your bike running smoothly – it’s easy to do and well worth it…

It’s a good idea to clean your bike from top to toe as often as you can to keep all the moving parts working as they should and to help you spot any areas that need further attention, or replacing. As great as that sounds, we all know that when you lean your steed against the wall after a long, hard ride, your thoughts are going to turn to grabbing food and a shower much more readily than grabbing an oily rag.

With that in mind, it’s worthwhile staying on top of keeping your drivetrain – the chain, jockey wheels, cassette and derailleurs – clean and in good condition, at the least. These components do most of the work and live closer to the ground so are more likely to collect road filth.

Over the next couple of issues we’ll take you through everything you need to know to keep your bike running sweetly. And as a smooth-running chain makes cycling easier and life more pleasant, let’s start there…

01 Scrub chain

The chain is the most important part of the transmission. Put regular washing-up liquid in a bucket then fill it with hot water – wearing rubber gloves will help you use hotter, more effective water. Alternatively, use a proprietary bike cleaner. With the chain in the biggest gear, apply the mixture vigorously using a stiff bristle scrubbing brush, and soon you’ll see a bright, shiny chain emerge.

02 Degrease cha in

With the chain free from dirt, apply a biodegradable degreaser and allow it to soak into all the links. This will remove any debris and sticky residues you can’t see, and make for a free-running chain. Rotate the cranks backwards a few times to get the degreaser right into the links. Allow to drip-dry, or wash off with clean water.

03 Wipe c ha i n

Use a soft, lint-free rag to wipe the chain completely clean – you’ll be surprised what still comes off a cleanlooking chain. You’re aiming to massage the links, moving them through as wide a range of movement as possible – this helps expose the sections of link normally hidden from view.

04 Lube chain

Only apply lube to a clean chain. We prefer to lube a chain as little as possible, with as light a lube as we can. Use a dripper bottle – it’s easier to apply accurately and with minimum wastage. Coat the inner face of the chain (not the outside plates), spinning the cranks to get the lube into the links. Wipe off any excess with a rag.