No bike can run without a well functioning chain. So, it is extremely important to know how to maintain the chain.
While all components play a part in the performance of a bike, the chain is by far the most important.
Even if it is a general rule of thumb that all chains should be changed after 1,000 miles, taking good care of it and providing adequate regular maintenance will certainly increase the life of the chain. Don't use a chain any longer that necessary - if its rusted or stretched, it's time to get a new chain.
The chain is made of many parts, each of them in turn being made by pins, plates and rollers. If those tiny parts become full of gunk, your biking experience will be compromised and the cogs will certainly not benefit from it either.
The easiest way to take care of the chain is simply to keep it lubricated. Surely, overdoing it is not a good thing. Unfortunately, too much lubrication attracts grit.
And surely, if you have ridden through mud, and your chain is covered with it, it is essential that you clean it as soon as you get back home.
What is the best way to clean your chain?
It is not fun to take a chain off a bike, but it is definitely not impossible. And you can also clean it without taking it off. Simply spray degreaser (which you can get at your local bikeshop) onto the chain, the derailleur, the cogs and th echain ring. Wait about 20 minutes, and then remove the gunk with a brush or with a cloth. Then, simply hose it down. Then proceed to dry it. Then, lube the chain.
Lubrication
Your chain should be wiped and lubricated before you ride the bike. You can choose between water-based and wax-based lubes. It wouldn't hurt to keep a journal where you record the type of lube and the amount of time the chain lasts. This will allow you to assess which lube works best for you.
What happens when the chain sucks?
Have you ever seen this? This is what occurs whenever the chain doesn't let go at the bottom of the chain ring, and goes up instead. This is not an indication that the front derailleur is messed up, but rather, it indicates that the chain is worn out.
Chain wear indicator
Most people change their chains after 1,000 miles, but it is sometimes a bit hard to know how many of those miles have already been covered. Simple. Purchase a chain wear indicator, and use it on a week-to-week basis. You want to replace the chain as soon as it "goes out of spec" because if you don't, it will wear down the cogs on the drive train and you'll have to replace that as well, as the new chain you eventually do get probably won't fit.
While all components play a part in the performance of a bike, the chain is by far the most important.
Even if it is a general rule of thumb that all chains should be changed after 1,000 miles, taking good care of it and providing adequate regular maintenance will certainly increase the life of the chain. Don't use a chain any longer that necessary - if its rusted or stretched, it's time to get a new chain.
The chain is made of many parts, each of them in turn being made by pins, plates and rollers. If those tiny parts become full of gunk, your biking experience will be compromised and the cogs will certainly not benefit from it either.
The easiest way to take care of the chain is simply to keep it lubricated. Surely, overdoing it is not a good thing. Unfortunately, too much lubrication attracts grit.
And surely, if you have ridden through mud, and your chain is covered with it, it is essential that you clean it as soon as you get back home.
What is the best way to clean your chain?
It is not fun to take a chain off a bike, but it is definitely not impossible. And you can also clean it without taking it off. Simply spray degreaser (which you can get at your local bikeshop) onto the chain, the derailleur, the cogs and th echain ring. Wait about 20 minutes, and then remove the gunk with a brush or with a cloth. Then, simply hose it down. Then proceed to dry it. Then, lube the chain.
Lubrication
Your chain should be wiped and lubricated before you ride the bike. You can choose between water-based and wax-based lubes. It wouldn't hurt to keep a journal where you record the type of lube and the amount of time the chain lasts. This will allow you to assess which lube works best for you.
What happens when the chain sucks?
Have you ever seen this? This is what occurs whenever the chain doesn't let go at the bottom of the chain ring, and goes up instead. This is not an indication that the front derailleur is messed up, but rather, it indicates that the chain is worn out.
Chain wear indicator
Most people change their chains after 1,000 miles, but it is sometimes a bit hard to know how many of those miles have already been covered. Simple. Purchase a chain wear indicator, and use it on a week-to-week basis. You want to replace the chain as soon as it "goes out of spec" because if you don't, it will wear down the cogs on the drive train and you'll have to replace that as well, as the new chain you eventually do get probably won't fit.
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