Keeping your drive train clean on a bike used daily helps prolong drive train parts and save you money. Using your bike everyday grinds salt, dirt and oil into your chain, chainrings and cassette - costing you money and severely affecting the performance of your bike.
Guidelines to Drive Train Cleaning
- Initially a big clean of the bike is in order. Have a look at John’s Cleaning Tips to see what to do here.
- Fill the chain cleaner to the recommended level with supplied degreaser and then clamp (as instructed) over the chain. While holding the chain cleaner, spin the pedals of the bike backwards until the full chain has been through the chain cleaner a few times and you are satisfied that it is thoroughly clean. Remove the chain cleaner, dispose of the old degreaser (Bio-Degreaser is environmentally friendly) and clean chain cleaner out.
- Use the GT85 spray to coat the chain lightly (make sure no fluid reaches the brake discs if possible). Leave the GT85 on for a minute then remove with a rag. Lubricate chain thoroughly with Finish Line Wet Lube or the Fenwicks All Conditions Lube.
- Next, after making sure you are happy with how clean the chain is, make sure both gear mechanisms are clean and lubricate their pivots to ensure free movement.
- Lastly use the GT85 as a polish and spray the main tubes of the frame. Leave on for 30 seconds and buff off leaving a thin, clear coat of Teflon which will protect paintwork and aid mud and grit falling off when next cleaning.
As a general rule of thumb this, combined with a general service, will set a bike up for a long period of riding. Cleaning of the chain and drive train on a weekly basis is required to help prolong its life. Ensure to have your bike checked for chain wear and replace chain, when needed, in order to prolong the life of the chainrings and cassette.
