Summer 25% discount on all last year's bike models
Looking after your chain
A clean, lubed chain is the cheapest insurance you can give your bike. Dirt mixes with old oil into a grinding paste that wears out your chain, cassette and chainrings fast. Wipe the chain down after wet or muddy rides and relube it before it starts sounding dry.
Check for stretch every couple of months with a simple chain checker tool. A stretched chain wears your cassette too, so catching it early saves you replacing both together.
Clean Often
Use a dry brush or old toothbrush to knock off caked mud before you touch any lube. A degreaser works well for a deeper clean, but rinse it off and dry the chain fully before oiling again.
Wet lube suits our rainy coastal rides and washes off fast, so reapply often. Dry lube picks up less dust on dusty inland trails and keeps your drivetrain running quieter for longer.
Check Wear
A worn chain stretches and starts to skip under load, especially up hills. Measure it with a chain checker or a ruler against twelve links. Once it has stretched past the limit, replace it before it chews up your cassette and chainrings too.
Store your bike indoors where you can, away from damp. If it lives outside, a cover and a quick wipe after rain go a long way. A few minutes of chain care each week keeps your gears shifting smoothly and saves you money on parts down the line.
71 Pilgrim Avenue
Chevy Chase,
MD 20815
