Bike Chain Care and Maintenance Tips

Do you hear constant clicking, clacking, or grinding noises when riding a bike? Pedaling becomes more difficult? Or gears keep skipping? Looks like you have a problem with the chain, one of the most important and heavily used parts of a bike. The better it’s maintained, the longer the drivetrain serves, and the more pleasure you get during rides. Fixing the chain and keeping it in good condition is not difficult, and you can do this on your own without any special skills. Check out the best bike chain care tips below to learn how easy it is to maintain your bicycle components properly.

Regular Bike Chain Cleaning

Cleaning is an essential part of proper bike chain care, no matter if you have a commuter, MTB, or cargo cycle. The point is that old lubricant, dirt, and mud build up over time, which causes the chain to wear out faster and reduces riding efficiency. The cleaning process is straightforward, and we will show the easiest and most effective way on how to do it without removing the chain from your bike. However, keep in mind that it’s a dirty job. So, roll up your sleeves, put on some gloves, and follow the steps below: 

1. Grab your bike-specific degreaser, a chain scrubber tool (optional but recommended), stiff brush or old toothbrush, clean cloth, and chain lubricant. Shift to the biggest front gear on your bike’s crankset and to the middle of the cassette at the back.

2. Fill the chain scrubber tool with degreaser, wrap it around your chain, and turn the pedals backward so that the tool can clean all the nooks and crannies. If you do not have such a scrubber, a regular stiff brush or an old toothbrush will also do the trick. All you need is to put some degreaser on the brush, hold it on the chain, and start back-pedalling. Plus, get into all of those little gaps on the cassette and chainring to clean them properly. Once done, give the degreaser a few minutes to work its magic.

3. Wash out the degreaser from all the bike components with clean water. If the chain still looks dirty, repeat the entire cleaning process. 

4. Take a clean cloth and dry the chain and the drivetrain components thoroughly. It’s also a great way to make sure that you have done a good job of cleaning the chain, as there should be no black marks on the cloth if the process is completed properly.

5. Lube the chain, and you are ready to go! 

Lubing Your Chain Regularly

Besides cleaning, taking care of bike chain also involves proper lubrication, which reduces friction between the metal components, prevents wear, and protects the chain from corrosion and rust. Furthermore, it makes your rides feel easier and smoother. Please note that you should first clean the drivetrain before applying the lube. There are many guides and lifehacks on how to take care of bicycle chain, especially when it comes to lubing, but a huge part of them are not very effective. Here’s how to do it right:

1. Take a lube of your choice and carefully apply one drop on top of every chain roller (for the entire way). 

2. Slowly turn the pedals backward and forward.

3. Grab a clean cloth and gently wipe off all the excess lube on the external surfaces.

Only Use Bike Chains from the Same Manufacturer as Your Drivetrain

It’s recommended to match the chain and drivetrain manufacturers for optimal compatibility and the overall riding performance of a 2-wheeled bike. While chains from different brands are often cross-compatible, especially if they match the number of speeds (e.g., a 12-speed chain for a 12-speed system), subtle design differences may lead to poor shifting, increased wear, and even mechanical issues. For example, SRAM 12-speed Flattop chains have a unique flat-top design, so they cannot work well with other brands’ components. Compatibility is particularly critical with high-speed systems (10+ speeds), which use narrower chains to fit tighter sprocket spacing.

Check Chain Wear and Stretch

Another valuable bicycle chain care tip implies regular inspections so that you can detect potential issues before they turn into serious problems. As the rivets and rollers between the plates wear down over time, it causes the chain to elongate, which may damage other bike components (e.g., cassette sprockets). Since it’s far cheaper to replace your chain than the cassette, regular inspections can actually save you a lot of money. Therefore, consider the following methods to assess chain wear without removing it:

• Visual and functional inspection: check for bent plates, rust, and excessive side-to-side movement. In addition, shift to the smallest cassette gear and the biggest one on your bike’s crankset and try lifting the chain from the chainring. If you see a huge gap there, it’s time to replace the chain, or you are getting pretty close to it.

• Using a dedicated chain checker (CC-3.2): this is the most accurate way to find out when your chain reaches a 0.5% and 0.75% stretch. The tool is super-easy to use: place its hook end between the inner plates and try to install the other end into the chain; if it does not go in, your chain has not yet reached 0.5% worn (or 0.75% worn, depending on which side of the tool you use).

There’s also an option to measure the chain stretch with a ruler. However, it’s much less accurate, so we will not recommend it to you. 

Proper Chain Tension and Rear Wheel Alignment

Never ignore the importance of proper tension and rear wheel alignment when considering how to care for a bike chain. Indeed, a loose chain can slip off the sprockets and cause skipping during pedaling, not to mention the safety risks. An overly tight chain does not go well either, as it increases friction, makes pedaling harder, and leads to rapid wear of the drivetrain components. Follow these steps to put your bicycle’s chain in the optimal position for a comfortable and safe ride:

1. Take a wrench and loosen the bolts on the rear wheel of your cycle. Make sure the wheel can move backward and forward.

2. Move the wheel back in the dropouts to tighten the chain, or push it forward if you need to loosen the chain. Check if the tension is right – not too weak or too tight.

3. Place the rear wheel in the center of the chainstays and make sure that it sits straight in the dropout. 

4. Tighten the bolts evenly on both sides of the wheel to secure it in place.

5. Test the tension by turning the pedals backward and observing how the chain moves.

Replace Chain When Necessary

Even if you know how to take care of a bike chain and follow all the recommendations, there still comes a time when it wears out, just like any other bicycle component. Therefore, if your chain is elongated, covered with rust, or damaged, replace it by following the instructions below:

1. Shift to the smallest cog at the back and the smallest chainring in the front.

2. If your chain is held together by a quick link (the one with a unique side plate), use specialized removal pliers to open it. If there’s no quick link, grab a regular chain breaker and push one of the rivets out.

3. Carefully pull the chain off the bike.

4. Check if the length of your new chain matches the old one. If not, remove the excess links with the breaker tool.

5. Thread the chain onto your bike and pay particular attention when feeding it through the rear derailleur, so the chain goes around the cassette.  

6. Bring both ends of the chain together and connect them using a quick link or connecting rivet (it has a special flaring designed to be broken off once the rivet is fully installed).

7. Test the chain and lube it.

Additional Tips for E Bike Chain Care

Electric bikes have higher torque and power output, which may lead to faster chain wear. Thus, you should prioritize more frequent chain maintenance to extend its life, improve riding efficiency, and avoid costly repairs of other bike components. Here’s how to care for bike chains of electric-assisted models:

• Clean the chain more frequently (which is especially important for mountain bike chain care).

• Use e-bike-compatible lubes.

• Inspect the chain for stretch every 500-1,000 miles.

• Store your bicycle in a dry place.

• Consider upgrading to reinforced e-bike specific chains that can withstand the motor's demands better.

Conclusion

Proper chain care is a simple yet essential part of bicycle maintenance. Just a few steps - cleaning, lubrication, and inspection - do a great job of keeping your chain in its top condition so that you can enjoy a smooth, efficient, and safe ride. Follow the tips and instructions mentioned in this guide, and your bicycle will thank you!