Chain cleaning - how often?

[Hip Priest]

The road bike chain gets cleaned after every ride if it's been wet, and every few rides in the dry. The commuter bike chain gets cleaned either when it starts turning orange and / or starts falling off.

 

[tyred]

Thank you Mssrs Sturmey and Archer for building me a gear system that doesn't need to wind the chain through a load of stupid jockey wheels and dangle it down low where it seems almost as it was designed to pick up shoot, for allowing the use of a nice thick bushing chain that lasts for years with nothing more than a few drops of engine oil every once in a while, can easily be covered with a guard to keep my trousers clean or even covered entirely to keep it clean and dry so it will last even longer.

Hard to believe this wonderful invention was patented in 1902.

While those that insisting using the clunky dangly gear system talking about weight saving and performance gains, I will be having my tea and relaxing whilst you clean your chain.

 

[Hip Priest]

Thank you Mssrs Sturmey and Archer for building me a gear system that doesn't need to wind the chain through a load of stupid jockey wheels and dangle it down low where it seems almost as it was designed to pick up shoot, for allowing the use of a nice thick bushing chain that lasts for years with nothing more than a few drops of engine oil every once in a while, can easily be covered with a guard to keep my trousers clean or even covered entirely to keep it clean and dry so it will last even longer.

Hard to believe this wonderful invention was patented in 1902.

While those that insisting using the clunky dangly gear system talking about weight saving and performance gains, I will be having my tea and relaxing whilst you clean your chain.

One guaranteed way of popularising said system with modern road cyclists would be to re-brand it Sturmetto Archelli.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Them there English-type bike gears seems to sell it on pretty well around here.

 

[slowmotion]

Sturmey Archer? Do they still have those leather strap thingies that keep the rear hub spotless, and an oiler hole with a tiny flip-up cap?
It's all coming back....

 

[mjr]

Sturmey Archer? Do they still have those leather strap thingies that keep the rear hub spotless, and an oiler hole with a tiny flip-up cap?
It's all coming back....

Sadly not. I have to lubricate late hubs by injecting oil through the axle.

 

[Illaveago]

Has any one mentioned http://sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html#cleaning yet?[/QUOTE.
I am in the process of stripping down my chain to clean and lubricate each individual piece. Oh! Sorry I was having a bad dream. Who has all that

Spare time and dedication to do that? It would be far easier to buy a new chain.

 

[Illaveago]

Am I missing something? In the 60s and 70s cycles would possibly get the odd look at the weekend. Oil the chain oil in the front an rear axles and bottom

bracket. Where as cars got serviced every 3000 miles. Nowadays cars get serviced 12000miles or more whereas cycles seem to need servicing every

Time you go out.

 

[User16390]

Could I have a link to the Mickle method please

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Could I have a link to the Mickle method please

http://www.cyclorama.net/viewArticle.php?id=349&subjectId=9

You see the little magnifying glass symbol at the top of the page here........

 

[tyred]

Could I have a link to the Mickle method please

He gets royalties every time it's mentioned

 

[Doyleyburger]

Generally wipe down and degrease my chain, cassette etc every 2 or 3 rides but this obviously depends on weather conditions. I think the trick is to just put a drop of the lube on the actual links of the chain rather than plaster the whole chain with it on tap as you spin the pedals backwards. This will keep your chain a lot cleaner and make your lube last longer.
Iv learnt from my own experience there
Then just wipe off any excess.
I probably do this more often than I need to as it's just an excuse to go to the shed and see my bike

 

[mickle]

He gets royalties every time it's mentioned

It's why I drives a Escalade mutha farka.

 

[winjim]

These chain cleaning threads remind me of that toilet paper advert with the children talking about how clean their bumholes are.

 

[mjr]

Am I missing something? In the 60s and 70s cycles would possibly get the odd look at the weekend...Nowadays cars get serviced 12000miles or more whereas cycles seem to need servicing every Time you go out.

There's something to be said for 1970/80s Falcons, isn't there?