Vent: I used to think chain cleaning was a waste of time

I was at the trailhead in Sedona last weekend and my drivetrain started making this awful grinding noise halfway up the first climb. A guy stopped and asked if I'd cleaned my chain before the ride. I hadn't, and he pointed out the thick red dust caked in my cassette. He said, 'That's not just dirt, it's grinding paste.' I went home, soaked the chain in degreaser for 15 minutes, and the amount of grit that came out was insane. My shifting is now smoother than it's been in months. How often do you all actually deep clean your chains versus just a quick wipe?

2 comments

2 Comments

moore.joel1mo ago

That "grinding paste" line really hits home. It's not just about noise, that grit acts like sandpaper on every metal surface it touches. I used to just wipe my chain down too until I wore out a cassette in one season. Now I do a real deep clean with a brush and degreaser every couple weeks during dry months. The difference in how long my parts last is crazy.

cole8361mo ago

My old chain probably looks like a fossil by now.