[Insert tons of angry emoticons] This one is for WAY too many of my cycling friends…you know who are are…just please don’t kill the messenger. CLEAN YOUR @U#$#)* DRIVETRAIN! OK, I guess this is a pet peeve of mine, but your bike, legs, and fellow riders will thank you. Not only does a clean drivetrain sound good and look good, but it reduces wear and tear and actually makes you faster. I know it takes time and requires getting dirty, but it’s a lot more pleasant than cleaning the bathroom… So, what should you do? Well, that is open to tons of debate. Once people find a routine that works for them, they stick to it. I’m not any different. I think the general concepts are the same, so I’ll tell you what I do.

1. Remove the wheels and chain. The wheels are a no brainer, but dealing with chains depends on your situation. I highly recommend using a master link (eg, KMC) that allows you to easily remove and install a chain using something like the Park Tool MLP-1.2. If you don’t have a master link, you can still clean your chain using one of the main chain scrubbing tools available. I personally use a KMC Missing Link, so my cleaning protocol is based on that.
2. Soak your chain for 1-24 hours in jar filled with degreaser. I find this loosens up most of the gunk and essentially allows you to start over with a “new” chain. Once it’s done soaking, I shake it up, pour out the degreaser, add water, shake up again, pour out water, and repeat until the water is clear. I then remove the chain and thoroughly rinse it to remove the degreaser.
3. While waiting for the chain to soak, I’ll clean the chainrings with degreaser. For the cassette, I like using an old sock to get in between the cogs and will also use a cog brush.
4. Once the chain is cleaned, I remount the wheels and install the chain.
5. For lube, I use Prolink ProGold, so I can add lube while the chain is still wet. If you’re using a wax based lube, you should wait for the chain to dry. I turn the chain and add a drop of lube to each link. Once I’m done, I run the chain several times backwards to ensure it’s thoroughly coated. After a few minutes, I then take a dry rag, and remove excess lube.

That’s it, you’re done…that wasn’t hard, was it? I’m a big fan of Finish Line USA products and they have a good YouTube channel with cleaning tips.