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Learning to leave the chain alone more often
I used to dunk every bike chain in solvent after each ride, thinking it was the only way to prevent wear. This took forever and made my hands smell like chemicals. One afternoon, a veteran mechanic saw me at it and pointed out his simpler approach. He just gave the chain a quick rub with a rag and added a bit of oil. I tested this on my own bike for a few weeks, sure it would cause problems. The chain stayed quiet and kept shifting smoothly, with no extra grit. Now I only do a full clean when the bike gets really muddy or after a long tour. That saved time lets me handle more repairs in a day. Sometimes the old detailed way just isn't worth the effort.
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wendym826mo ago
That veteran mechanic was onto something with his rag and oil method. Most chain wear happens inside the pins and rollers where grit can't even reach, not on the outside plates. So stressing over spotless outer links misses the real point of friction.
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hunt.hayden5mo ago
Hold up, a bike coop actually had a sign telling people to stop cleaning their chains? That goes against everything you see online. I figured those places would be all about the deep clean.
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diana_wright6mo ago
Back at the bike coop, we had a sign that said 'Stop cleaning your chain so much.' A dry rag and a bit of oil after each ride keeps it happy. You'll save hours and your chain will thank you by not wearing out as fast. Full degreasing is for mud festivals or winter road salt.
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