Sorry for such a noob post but Ive been trying to research and I feel like every answer is different. I just got my bike for commuting after not biking for 6 years so I have no clue what the rules are for this stuff.
Somehow I live in a place that literally never rains yet yesterday and today it rained at the only time I had to commute..
Yesterday I wiped down the chain with a micro fiber cloth, relubed with this. Im not sure if its dry or wet, I asked the bike shop and they said its “kind of both” so if I should be getting different lube lmk.
Should I go over it with a cloth to dry it or should I just wait for it to air dry and then lube and the cloth after that?
Im just not sure what determines the chain “dirty and gunked up”. it obviously has some debris as seen in the pictures, is that dirty enough to warrant more cleaning and a relube? it seems to ride fine since yesterday besides a little extra noise on the rear brake.
Any help is much appreciated, just want to make sure Im taking great care of this bike as its my transportation now.
by Connect_Scene_6201
7 Comments
Chain looks grimey, it looks like you are perhaps putting on too much and this lube looks wet and sticky.
Presuming you are a fair weather rider. Get a good cleaner, brush, and degreaser. Rinse, Run the Burch and degreaser inside and out of the chain, rinse again. You can use one of the chain cleaning devices but I just scrub. Dry with cloth, apply dry lube, wipe away excess.
I wipe my chain off every ride and re apply lube and wipe off excess. This has resulted in minimal chain and drive wear.
If I use wet lube because I’m riding in the rain I’m degreasing after.
I live where it rains more than it doesn’t and commute most days.
That chain looks spotless to me. Go ahead and wipe off the excess oil.
It will not air dry.
I usually oil the inside of the chain (that makes contact with the chainring and cassette cogs), not the outside (if that makes sense).
I like to make sure my derailleur pulleys don’t get a build up of gunk either, so keep an eye out for that.
When is doubt clean the chain. It can’t hurt anything. You generally should apply chain lube, run the chain through its gears of you have any to get the lube in the rollers, then wipe off the excess with a rag. That will decrease the amount of gunk that can get caught in the lube.
Degrease and relube after every ride obviously
What lube are you using ?
How do you check your if your hair need a wash? Do you wait till someone tells you or you simply post an image to an online group?
If it’s dirty – it’s dirty.
Do you need to wait till it’s dry – it depends on the lube you’re applying but it’s enough to rub it with a dry cloth before applying almost anything.
How often? Depends how much you ride and your ride conditions.
Degrease, dry, lube.