I keep a bike at my mum’s house as the riding there is lovely. Having had a baby in the last year I’ve been off the bike and not travelled back as much (different countries) so the bike has sat for the best part of a year in a (very damp) garage.
Found the chain horribly gunked up which made me wonder whether I’d waxed it as I do with my regular bike at home?
Also, what would you recommend to clean up such a gunked up drivetrain? Just a good thorough clean with chain/cassette degrease?
Thanks!
by shoegazing_puncheur
6 Comments
Just clean it with a good chain cleaner and brush. I like those that clamp on the lower chain (like muc off x3)
I personally do not wax chain on my commuter because riding in the wet requires too much maintenance.
I would take it off the bike and put it in a small jar with lid, filled with liquid degreaser and shake it like crazy to clean it.
You want to start cleaning off old crud and lube before you add new lube. Just clean the chain with an old rag on the bike. Add new lube. And then clean chain again to remove excess lube. You only want the lube on the inside of the chain or it will build up like this.
I like to take my chain off every 750 miles or so and put it in a Gatorade bottle with 90% isopropyl.
Then I warm that up in a sink of hot water and shake shake shake.
Comes out very clean.
Then I hang it on a metal hook and set it on fire to burn off the excess and dry it.
Then I lube each link and then wipe clean and put it back on.
Do you have shifting issues with your front derailer ?
Dish soap. Is cheap and works.
Toothbrush, mineral spirits and rag. Then dot each roller with lubricant if you don’t wax it. Clean regularly.