After reading this forum got up the nerve to clean the chain, cassette and chain rings for first time on my 12-year-old bike. (Bike probably has less than 2500 miles on it -- except see note below about son, so who knows).

Now, I've discovered that my freewheel really is silver, I can actually see the chain rather than the black gunk, and my chain rings are cleanest they've been since I bought the bike.

Question is I can still take a clean rag and get some grease on it when I wipe down my chain. Not much, but some (I think my son had "lubed" this bike with motor oil at some point.) Anyway, I think it is clean but does the fact that I can still get even the least bit of grease from the chain need to mean I need to keep working?

I have some new bike lube from my LBS and want to put it on tonite before bed if any of you more experienced ladies think its OK to proceed.