Chain Cleaning

WD40 really isn't a very good lubricant, but it's not a bad cleaner! Next time you have oily or greasy hands use it to clean them.

Clean your chain with degreaser in one of those devices, clean the chainset and cassette with degreaser too, wash off very thoroughly and allow to dry. Then, using one of those chain retainers instead of the rear wheel, use an aerosol of chain lube to apply a modest amount. 4 turns of the pedals will see the chain round once, that's enough!

Try a agricultural stores/tractor shop for the chain lube aerosol, it'll be serious stuff.

That will do you for at least 400/500 dry miles.

You'll find that the chain will gradually turn black with some lube that oozes out, so, after every decent ride  clean the outside of the chain with a rag soaked in WD40 to keep it shiny. If you really care degrease the cassette and chainset as well.  Don't spray the WD40 directly on the chain or it simply removes the lube.

Remember, you are trying to lubricate those pins and rollers inside of the chain, squirting lube on the outside doesn't help, it just attracts dirt which then grinds away at your expensive metal. Keep the outsides clean and let the lube do it's thing inside.

Chains keep going round if you keep turning the pedals. But wear of first, your chain, and second, your sprockets and chain rings are much accelerated  by a dirty (& hence, worn) chain. 

Contrary to popular belief, chains don't really stretch, the roller pins wear which leads to greater gap between the rollers and then accelerated wear on the sprockets & co. 

I have a 115 kg friend who rides about 6000-7000 miles a year, and he didn't change his chain for 3 years, just using WD40. He did have to replace his entire drive train incl jockey wheels at the end of the time. On the other hand I'm an 80 kg Cat 2 racer who does about 7000 - 8000 miles a year, and my last dura-ace cluster (only 1 set of wheels) lasted over 20,000 miles, and the chain rings about 40,000 miles. I wear a (ultegra) chain out in about 2500 miles (to the wear length recommended by the manufacturers.) The cost of the 2 routes is probably similar.

The idea of chain cleaners or other solvents causing chains to crack is, in real world terms, B.S.

As mentioned elsewhere I use some motor oil and wipe the chain clean after each oiling about once a week, or after rain. I'm pretty sure there's something performance enhancing in just the silence of a clean, un-worn, freshly lubed chain  

Degrease and dry your chain completely with one of the methods described above, get some Squirt wax lube (unless you're from Scotland) and never clean the chain again other than giving it a quick wipe before relubing.

Also use two or three chain in rotation (every few hundred miles). You'll extend the lifespan of all drive components and you'll never need to measure the wear or to replace chain(s) too early or too late.

"Complicated" business made simple

The only way:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/chainclean.html

A while back I stumbled across what I can only describe as a chain cleaning philosophy which changed my perspective. I've lost the link but it was on one of the many cycling fora online and was named after one of their users who wrote it (if someone knows where to find it I'd much appreciate it!).

The simple essence was to add a little lube to the dirty chain, then run it across a clean cloth (all still on the bike), and keep doing so until the chain runs clean without marking the cloth. Then lube as normal (not leaving too much excess on as that attracts the dirt), and away you pedal!

It was suggested that this approach, little and often (ie each or every other time you ride) would lead to a constantly clean chain which always adheres to the Principle of Silence, and is no more expensive, and certainly less messy and faffy, than most 'systems' involving brushes and degreaser.

Last year I haven't cleaned my chain once. I have done 2000 miles of which less than 300 miles on the road in the dry.

Eveyone has their own method, try a few and see what works for you

For me personally i just wipe my chain clean once a week and lube if needed on my work bike

This is on a Ultegra 11 speed chain that does 100 miles a week in all weathers so picks up all kinds of grit and grime esp as part of my ride goes through a nature reserve where theres lots of mud, grit etc.. on the footpath

If the chain is so bad it needs a clean then i remove the kmc quick link , remove the chain from the bike, put some hot water in the sink and some washing up liquid in my hands and run the chain through my hands working the washing up liquid all over the chain, then pop into the water and keep working the chain, if real bad then a nail brush is used

Finally rinse the chain completely off and hang up to allow to dry, refit to bike and lube (another personal choice on what lube to use)

I get 2500 trouble free/smooth running miles from each chain doing this and average 5000 miles a year just going to and from work

Have tried a chain bath, aswell as using white spirit and other non toxic chain cleaning products, for me personally washing up liquid works best

Your wasting your time. It will be back to dirty in 2 rides. Just wipe it with a rag and re-lube.

Over the years I have used KMC & Shimano chains on several bikes, and I always follow the same cleaning method. I have experienced zero degradation to chain durability and function. After cleaning my ride feels like I have a new chain.

1. Remove KMC Master/Missing Link then remove chain from bike

2. Put chain in small container and spray thoroughly with Zep Citrus Cleaner. Zep oil and residue pdf guide here http://www.zep.com/documents/zdl%20e460-57_oil&residue.pdf

3. Let chain sit in Zep for 30 minutes to ensure it loosens all grime

4. Use stiff nylon brush to scrub entire chain

5. Discard Zep, fill container with very warm water and add Dawn dishwashing soap.

6. Repeat step 4

7. Discard liquid and rinse with clean warm water

8. Repeat step 7 minimum of three times to ensure chain rinses all soap & gunk residue off

9. Air dry overnight

10. Reinstall chain and lube

It takes a little longer but my method ensures I have a squeaky clean chain before I add new chain lube. And, zero worries about Zep as it does NOT harm the chain one bit.

I'm changing to a gates belt drive just to avoid the stress and uncertainty of it all

The ONLY way to clean a chain is with filaments of unicorn hair.  

Anything else will inevitably release the horsemen of the apocalypse who will visit you with famine death etc.

Also, remember to wear your helmet while cleaning it.  Aero covering optional.

Meh. Most products seem to be OK. Thousands (millions?) of cyclists use chain cleaners. Few calamities are reported. Strong solvents mixed with a strong brush or  a cleaning machine seem to be too much, according to the manufacturers.

I've found chain care to be a wholly separate hobby within a hobby. To be honest, it's more like a semi-religion, like yoga, meditation or Herbalife. Basically, even an abused MTB chain can last you well over 1,000 miles on semi-frequent WD-40. If you clean it with a little dishwasher / soft degreaser on a rag every once in a while, use a decent lube and wipe off the excess (somewhat like this) it may last a bit longer. If the hassle puts you off from doing it somewhat regurlarly, it probably wont. When in doubt, buy a new chain. You can get an Ultegra-level 10sp chain for £13 online. Or something else. I love KMC chains' removable links. YMMV. Sizing a new chain is somewhat aggravating. Still, way quicker than many cyclists' cleaning rituals. Again, YMMV.

Or you can spend a few hours and a few buckets of diluted biodegradable child-safe super-organic non-transgenic fair-trade extra-virgin anti-allergenicic hyper-cleaner after every ride degreasing it roller by roller, plate by plate and pin by pin with a horse-hair nail brush. And then cook it in unscented wax gently scraped of the groin hairs of kasai river bonobos. Whatever floats your boat. No judgement here. Well, perhaps the tenderest of ribbings.

I got a row for asking this I think: 

http://road.cc/content/forum/169415-chain-wrecking

No one knows but it makes some people cross when you ask