C-Sig Training Series
Cleaning and Lubing Your Bike
- Clean
your chain every 200 miles, or when the chain gets wet, to prevent road
dirt from wearing out the chain on the inside. This wearing is sometimes
incorrectly called �chain stretch� because a worn chain is longer, but
nothing actually stretches, the links just loosen. A worn chain will
eventually wear out the front and rear gears.
- Mount
the bike on a stand so you can freely turn the pedals backwards.
- Put
newspaper or a drop cloth (plastic dry cleaner bags work�just throw out
afterwards) under the bike to catch excess oil spray and drips.� Use another rag to shield the lower part
of the wheel rim from oil.
- Using
a clean cotton rag on the chain, backpedal 4 times to remove excess dirt
and grit.� Use a degreaser that will
not harm the bike�s paint such as WD-40 or a citrus degreaser from a bike
shop. The WD-40 comes with a small �straw� that fits in the nozzle for
precise application.� The citrus
degreaser is a non-petroleum product. Backpedal as you apply the product,
then let it sit for several minutes to penetrate and loosen remaining old lubrication
and dirt.
- Meanwhile,
apply light bicycle oil or the WD-40 to pivot points on the derailleur.� Wipe off any excess.� (Don�t use on the hubs, bottom bracket or
pedals that are greased because the WD-40 or bike oil will can dissolve
the grease.). An old-fashioned threaded quill headset (the kind held
together by a big nut) could also use
some oil, but not a modern unthreaded headset.
- Another
approach to cleaning the chain is a plastic chain cleaner from the bike
shop. Follow the directions to fill it with citrus (detergent-based) degreaser, snap it over
the chain and rotate the pedals backwards twenty times. Clean out the
little tank and do this twice. With practice, this approach can be less
messy than hand cleaning and works fine for modern chains. The citrus
degreaser can also be used with the hand cleaning approach. Here is the
background on the changes in cleaning chains in recent years: Modern bicycle chains (since the mid-�80�s) lack bushings
(inner metal tubes) at each link, so they are much easier to clean than
before. In the old days, cyclists even cleaned their chains by soaking
them overnight in gasoline. Modern chains, with no bushings to hold in the
dirt, are very easy to clean so choose the most convenient method for you.
- Toothbrush
off any dirt on clipless pedals, then brush excess dirt from the
derailleur, bottom bracket and wheel hubs.�
Use a sponge or rag dipped in soapy water or a cleaner like Simple
Green or Bike Wash to clean the bike frame, wheel
rims and spokes.� Dry
thoroughly.� To remove any oil from
the wheel rims, wash the wheel rims with a very dilute solution of
dishwashing soap and water using a clean oil-free rag or paper towels. As
part of your post-ride tire check, make it a practice to wipe dirt off the
wheel rims after every ride; it will prolong the life and effectiveness of
your brake pads.
- Now it
is time to lube the chain.� Choose
between wax-based oil like White Lightning and non-wax lube like TriFlo or ProLink.� Each has advantages and
disadvantages.� The advantages of wax-based
products are that they somewhat pull dirt out of the chain and they
protect well in wet weather. The disadvantage of wax-based lubricant is
that it dissipates quickly and must be applied weekly or before each long
ride. If you use oil, you will have to choose between light and heavier
oil. The light stays cleaner and is good for day trips in dry weather. The heavier attracts
more dirt, but is needed for wet weather or multi-day journeys when you
might face many prolonged dirty or wet conditions.
- Oil
products like TriFlo or ProLink
must be applied very sparingly then wiped off the outside of the chain so
they don�t attract more dirt.�
Rotate the chain one time only as you add the lube by drops to the
links, but don�t worry too much about applying to every link.� Then rapidly spin the wheel so that the
lube applies itself evenly over all the links in the chain.� Wipe down any excess with a lint-free
cloth.� Oil lubes will last several
hundred miles between applications, but must be reapplied after riding in
wet weather. If you can hear your chain, oil it!
- Check
the wheel rims a final time to ensure that no oil has leaked on them; oil
on the rim will adversely affect your ability to brake.
Source:� T.K. at Larry & Jeff�s Bicycles Plus, 1690 2nd Ave., NY,
NY� (Since updated)