As you ride your bike dirt and grit will inevitably contaminate the chain, causing it to “stretch” damaging other parts of the drive train and causing problems with gear changes.
A simple chain gauge will allow you to check the wear of the chain.
Cleaning the chain periodically and re-oiling it will help extend its lifetime. There are three steps to this simple procedure:
- Clean the chain with a bike degreaser. A chain cleaning machine is a good investment, however, an old toothbrush can also be used. A diluted solution can also be painted onto other dirt to remove it quickly.
- After the solution has been given a few minutes to work its magic, wash it off and then let it dry
- Re-oil the chain, taking care only to get oil on the rollers