Degrease, dry, and lubricate with drip lube

Remove built-up grit and old lubricant, then apply fresh chain lube to protect rollers and improve shifting. This full cleaning is ideal every 200-300 km or whenever the drivetrain looks dirty or sounds noisy.

Steps

1. Backpedal the chain through a clean rag to wipe off surface dirt and old lube.
2. Apply bicycle-specific degreaser to the chain and scrub links, rollers, and plates with a stiff brush while backpedaling.
3. Clean the cassette cogs and chainrings with the same brush and degreaser.
4. Rinse the entire drivetrain thoroughly with water to remove all degreaser residue.
5. Wipe the chain dry with a clean rag and let it air dry 30-60 minutes so moisture evaporates from inside the rollers.
6. Apply one drop of chain lube to each roller while slowly backpedaling. Use dry lube in dry/dusty conditions or wet lube in rain and mud.
7. Wait a few minutes for the lube to penetrate, then wipe the outside of the chain thoroughly. Lube belongs inside the rollers, not on the outer plates where it attracts dirt.

Tips

• Never use WD-40 or household oils as chain lube -- they evaporate quickly and offer no lasting protection
• A worn chain stretches and damages cassette and chainring teeth, so regular cleaning extends the life of all drivetrain components
• Check chain wear with a chain checker tool every 500 km and replace before 0.75% elongation