Missoula Bicycle Works - Missoula, Montana
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Cleaning Your Drive Train

Part A
Keeping your chain clean is a relatively simple task if it is done regularly.  If your chain is very dirty skip this section and go to Part B below. 

We have found that one of the best chain cleaners on the market is White Lightning.  It is actually a chain lubricant (which works fairly well in the right conditions) but really shines as a chain cleaner.  Using White Lightning follow the same directions described above for lubing your chain.  The White Lightning will break down the grime on your chain and should leave your chain looking clean and new.  You can then repeat the process with the lube that best suits the riding conditions.

Part B
If your chain and drive-train are particularly dirty you will have to use a more involved approach to get your drive train looking like new again.  You will need a few items:  A bucket filled with warm soapy water (I like to use dishwashing liquid for soap), a stiff nylon bristled brush like ones found in the Pedro's brush set or at your local grocery store,  good bio degreaser like Rock & Roll's Miracle Red Biodegreaser or Simple Green, and finally White Lightning.  Liberally spray the biodegreaser onto the cassette, chain, front chain rings and front and rear derailleurs.  Remove the rear wheel. With your brush scrub down the cassette.  Hopefully this will remove all the grime.  Next replace the rear wheel on the bike and scrub the front chain ring.  As you cycle through the chainring you will also be scrubbing the chain and hopefully removing grime from the chain.  Don't forget to scrub the inside of the chainrings as well as the outside.  Finally scrub the front and rear derailleurs and the pulley wheels on the rear derailleurs.  Rinse off your drive train with a light stream of water.  Do not use a high pressure hose to wash you bike off.  Water shooting out of a hose at high pressure can penetrate your bearing seals and significantly decrease the life of your bearings.  Dry off your drive train and follow the directions described above in Part A of cleaning your drive train.
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