Frequency of service?

Nietzschean

How often do people here re-lube the chain and clean the cassette and that? i know it prob depends on weather, so given our current grand->wet/dirty every 10seconds weather?

I've my cayo now maybe 3.5weeks / 690km and gearing seems like it could use a lube already, is normally a once/twice a month deal?

seamus

In horrible wet weather like this, I would recommend cleaning and re-lubing at least once a week. In drier weather, you'll easily get away with two weeks, perhaps more.

Of course what I recommend and what I practice are quite different...

Chips Lovell

Once a week on average for me.

Caroline_ie

+1 on once a week

Bambaata

after a wet spin ill lube it and if very bad ill clean it otherwise it would be every 4 weeks as long as it has been dry when out but ill add lube if i see it dry. i clean and lube my tri bike after every race/use

tomc

Nietzschean wrote: »

How often do people here re-lube the chain and clean the cassette and that? i know it prob depends on weather, so given our current grand->wet/dirty every 10seconds weather?

I've my cayo now maybe 3.5weeks / 690km and gearing seems like it could use a lube already, is normally a once/twice a month deal?

Hi

Not wanting to hijack your thread but can i ask what mech is on the front of your cayo? I think they changed the spec recently from a 105 to ultegra for that part and I just want to confirm, i have a 105 on mine.

Thanks

Nietzschean

i got the ultegra cayo so not much use i'm afraid, its all ultegra stuff

tomc

Nietzschean wrote: »

i got the ultegra cayo so not much use i'm afraid, its all ultegra stuff

<--- unfortunately theres no smiley for 'Green with envy'

Civilian_Target

Every 2 or 3 weeks I do a checkup. By that I mean, I say every 2, and I do every 3

DirkVoodoo

On my road bike I have been using Finish Line dry lube and it pretty much gets stripped off after one ride in the wet. Towards the end of a rainy day the drive train will normally start to make unpleasant noises. I bought some Finish Line wet lube "for extreme weather" so hopefully it might last a bit longer.

Ryaner

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

On my road bike I have been using Finish Line dry lube and it pretty much gets stripped off after one ride in the wet. Towards the end of a rainy day the drive train will normally start to make unpleasant noises. I bought some Finish Line wet lube "for extreme weather" so hopefully it might last a bit longer.

I use the Finish line wet lube on mine. Once the chain has been cleaned before applying, it can spend hours in the rain without even starting to make noise. The stuff does cause the chain to go very dirty very quickly. Even my 12 minute spin to work is enough to make it look like I've been off road with the bike.

DirkVoodoo

Ryaner wrote: »

I use the Finish line wet lube on mine. Once the chain has been cleaned before applying, it can spend hours in the rain without even starting to make noise. The stuff does cause the chain to go very dirty very quickly. Even my 12 minute spin to work is enough to make it look like I've been off road with the bike.

Yeah it was my first time using wet lube (there is no better way I can phrase that) and I was surprised at the difference in viscosity. It's certainly a lot more durable looking than the dry stuff, nice smell too.

Gavin

Just use wet lube now on all bikes. When they say get the excess off, they mean it, should be able to wipe the chain with a kitchen towel and not have any oil on it.

MTB - clean after use, well if it's dry out I might leave it for a second ride
roadbike - clean after a long cycle/rain
banana - every now and then

DirkVoodoo

Gavin wrote: »

Just use wet lube now on all bikes. When they say get the excess off, they mean it, should be able to wipe the chain with a kitchen towel and not have any oil on it.

MTB - clean after use, well if it's dry out I might leave it for a second ride
roadbike - clean after a long cycle/rain
banana - every now and then

You clean your mountain bike? For shame, mine is somewhat fossilized at this stage.

TinyExplosions

Ryaner wrote: »

I use the Finish line wet lube on mine. Once the chain has been cleaned before applying, it can spend hours in the rain without even starting to make noise. The stuff does cause the chain to go very dirty very quickly. Even my 12 minute spin to work is enough to make it look like I've been off road with the bike.

+1 on that, no matter how much you wipe the excess off, there's still plenty in there. Not complaining though, it keeps it well lubricated!

eggie

I wash the bike after every wet spin, and after every 3 dry spins. I'll clean chain, etc and relube every time I wash it.

With using wet lube it gets very dirty in the wet spins so its necessary to clean asap I think otherwise it just grimes up other parts.

E@gle.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

On my road bike I have been using Finish Line dry lube and it pretty much gets stripped off after one ride in the wet. Towards the end of a rainy day the drive train will normally start to make unpleasant noises. I bought some Finish Line wet lube "for extreme weather" so hopefully it might last a bit longer.

yeah i have the same finish line stuff, but for some strange reason i havent used the dry one yet

Robertd_07

Started cycling to work in March (12k each way). Have been using the Finish Line Wet Lube, but as with the other posters, find my chain gets very clogged up. (don't clean the chain half as often as I should, and will probably end up regretting it).

When the chain is really dirty, do people here take it completely off the bike and clean it that way, or just use the cleaning tool where you just leave the chain on the bike?
I've used the cleaning machine but don't think it really gets the chain properly clean.
Robert

Chips Lovell

Robertd_07 wrote: »

When the chain is really dirty, do people here take it completely off the bike and clean it that way, or just use the cleaning tool where you just leave the chain on the bike?
I've used the cleaning machine but don't think it really gets the chain properly clean.
Robert

Toothbrush + citrus degreaser. Rinse with water. Dry. Relube.

Robertd_07

Last time I used chain cleaning tool, I got degreaser in the rear hub & sprocket.
Had to take it in to be taken apart & re-greased.

Was thinking of getting a chain breaking tool this weekend and going the Sheldon Brown route
"I used to use a parts cleaning tank and a toothbrush to clean chains, but Zaven Ghazarian, an excellent mechanic I used to work with came up with a better system: drop the chain into a plastic Coke bottle with a couple of ounces of un-diluted citrus degreaser, cap it, and shake thoroughly. Fish the chain out with a spoke, rinse in water, and you are all set! (I am told that Pepsi bottles also work, and are easier to remove the chain from, because they have a wider mouth...but I'm a Coke guy, not a Pepsi guy.) "

Easier in the long run maybe?

seamus

I have one of those park tools chain cleaner yokies. Does a great job, but cleaning the cleaner itself is a bit of a bitch.

I'd say the coke bottle trick would work well, but you might want to do it a few times to get all the bits out.

Chips Lovell

If you're taking the chain off for cleaning, then a chain with reusable opening link is probably a good idea.

ryan_sherlock

For both MTB and Road I clean and relube the chain after almost every ride. If the weather is particularly dry, or the rides have been short, I may skip it.

Raam

This thread reminds me, I really must clean my bike. The white Cervelo is almost a black Cervelo.

Chips Lovell

You'll write your race report first. Then you can clean your bike. No slacking off.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

You'll write your race report first. Then you can clean your bike. No slacking off.

It's ready. Wanna see the official results online before I send it in.

alfalad

not often enough as just had to get a new chain and I haven't done 2000km yet!:(

Lumen

Jobst Brandt wrote:

Chain wear is caused almost exclusively by road grit that enters the chain when it is oiled...You couldn't do it better if you tried to destroy a chain, than to oil it when dirty.

From:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/chain-care.html

Ryaner

Robertd_07 wrote: »

When the chain is really dirty, do people here take it completely off the bike and clean it that way, or just use the cleaning tool where you just leave the chain on the bike?
I've used the cleaning machine but don't think it really gets the chain properly clean.
Robert

I've one of the finish line chain cleaners. Very handy and does a fairly good job on cleaning the chain. Takes around 90% of the dirt off in one run once you wipe the gunk from the sprockets and cassette first.

I will be getting a chain with removable links next time however as the cleaners do run through degreaser pretty quickly.