Hey Geek:
What is the best product and process for cleaning your chain? I ride daily, and spend about one hour per week cleaning my chain due to excessive build up. I lube my chain anywhere from 3 to 4 times a week depending on how much and what type of riding I am doing.
Eric D. Hatch
Garland, Texas
1. For starters, you are probably lubing your chain too much. An O-ring chain needs far less attention than lubing three to four times per week, and even a non O-ring chain doesn't need that much oil. A squirt of lube every 300 miles or so is adequate for a road bike under normal conditions. | 
2. Ideally, to clean a chain thoroughly it should be removed from the bike, but the endless nature of most chains makes this impractical. Instead, start by using a stiff-bristled cleaning brush (available at your favorite auto parts store), and remove as much caked-on dirt and grime as possible. | 
3. For this next step, use kerosene or a cleaner recommended by your chain's manufacturer for an O-ring chain, or any petroleum-based solvent (varsol, gasoline) on a non O-ring chain. Soak the chain in the solvent as best you can for 15 minutes to allow the solvent to work in as much as possible. |
4. Using a pan and the brush, clean the chain with solvent. If there are still some stubborn grimy bits, let the chain soak a little longer. Be careful not to force dirt under the O-rings, but rather brush it away. This is as good a time as any to check your chain carefully for kinks or rusty spots. | 
5. Once you have the chain as clean as possible, carefully wipe off any excess solvent. You need to warm it up so that when you lubricate it the oil soaks into all the surfaces. This can be done by taking the bike out for a short ride, or using a hair dryer (er...check with the wife first on that one). | 
6. With the chain warm, lubricate the inside, between the inner and outer rows of link plates only. Any lube you apply to the outside will be thrown clear the first time you ride. Use a rag to carefully wipe off any excess lube, and you are set. |
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