Cleaning and Lubricating the Chain

A clean, lightly oiled chain shifts better, runs quieter and wears far more slowly, and this is the job that repays doing most often. Scrub off the grit with a brush or a chain-cleaning box and degreaser, rinse, and let the chain dry completely before any oil goes on. Then the step most people overdo: put one small drop of lube on each link while backpedaling, let it work in, and wipe the outside of the chain with a clean, dry rag. Excess oil left on the surface collects dirt and turns into the grinding paste you were trying to remove. Use a wet lube when the roads are wet or muddy and a dry lube when they are dry, and give the chain attention after every wet ride rather than waiting for it to squeak.