How do you get the grit off your chain at the end of a ride?

prj45
prj45 Posts: 2,208
edited October 2007 in Commuting chat
Pulled up on my home street the other day and my bike sounded like a cement mixer.

So, reluctantly got the degreaser out, the bucket of water, the muck off, the brushes and the lube and tried to clean my chain and cogs in the near perfect darkness of my back garden.

How do you clean you chain when you can't be bothered.
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Comments

  • Aidocp
    Aidocp Posts: 868
    On my commuter I wipe with a rag occasionally when I can't be bothered with a full clean and use a chain cleaner other times. On my other bikes Ive got quick links and find I can get a better clean by removing the chain.
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  • messier0101
    messier0101 Posts: 166
    get yourself a chain cleaner mate......a lot less hassle.

    I've got the Finish Line one, and it's pretty good.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Baby wipes
    I like bikes...

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  • Pagem
    Pagem Posts: 244
    the trick to keeping a chain in good nick and with less hassle is to clean it little and often.

    i use a rag to wipe off excess crap after every ride. in addition, around once or twice per fortnight (depending on weather/conditions the chain has been expsoed to) i use a chain cleaner with degreaser.
    Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.
  • DavidTQ
    DavidTQ Posts: 943
    I use one of those chain cleaners where you clip over the chain and turn the pedal, I have found though that using dry lube instead of wet that I get less crap sticking to the chain.
  • BentMikey
    BentMikey Posts: 4,895
    I like to wipe down my chain regularly, after every ride or every couple of rides. Past this I do the Sheldon Shake, which is the best way to get a clean chain. A chain cleaning machine won't even come close to this method.
  • Totalnewbie
    Totalnewbie Posts: 932
    I have been wondering when to clean the chain on my bike as it's brand new and I know the lubricant they put on new chains is quite good stuff. I've been through a few rainy days but the chain doesn't look all that dirty (full mudguards probably help) so I've been holding off.

    I've done about 250 miles on the bike though so I suppose I should think about it?
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  • Gambatte
    Gambatte Posts: 1,453
    chain cleaner, or use a powerlink and take it off to clean
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    When you can't be bothered giving it a full clean, blast the grit out with WD40. Wipe off then apply the lube.
    Save the proper clean for the weekend.
  • Ale
    Ale Posts: 180
    I have a powerlink, so I snap the chain off and clean it with a baby wipe in each hand (dip them in degreaser if it's really mucky).

    I then give it a wash with warm water in the sink, dry it with some paper towels, snap it back on and lube it.
  • Gambatte
    Gambatte Posts: 1,453
    My 'big clean' method

    Not saying its right, but it works for me.

    Powerlink gets it off, shallow bowl with degreaser, let it soak, but keep agitating.

    Bigger bowl with diluted degreaser, wash it with a brush.

    rinse with more dilute degreaser

    Dry it with a cloth, WD40 to drive out any moisture.

    Dry with cloth again, refit.

    relube next morning.

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