Jul 29 2008
Cleaning Bike Chain
The easiest and most important bicycle maintenance that you can perform on your bike is cleaning the chain. This process is important because a properly lubricated chain will reduce wear on the bike's drivetrain.
Measure your Chain
It is possible for a bike chain to wear out. So the first step you should take before you clean your chain should be to make sure it is still in working order. The way you do this is measure the distance between the center of the pegs on 12 links. This should be right on the 12 inch mark. If it is less than 1/16th an inch different then the chain is in good condition. If it is between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch different it is time to replace the chain. If the chain is past 1/8 an inch off, then it has probably done damage to some of the sprockets and the cassette should be replaced as well.
Cleaning Your Chain
The easiest way to clean your chain is to use a bike chain cleaning tool:
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To use this tool you simply fill with degreaser, attach to your chain, and spin the pedals. It does the rest.
The lowest tech way to clean your chain is with biodegradable degreaser, a rag, and a toothbrush. First, take the rag and soak it in some degreaser. Then wipe the grime off the chain. This should take a few minutes. The second part is to take the toothbrush, adding degreaser to that or directly onto the chain and brushing in between all the nooks and crannies.