Cleaning the chain

[missliz]

I just avoid the whole pain in the neck by using White Lightning; I didn't know anybody still used greasy stuff. It's parrafin in petroleum solvent to make it liquid, comes in a dropper bottle, and sheds the mud and water as you ride. I haven't cleaned a chain in years. Make the shop show you how to put it on.
The wax doesn't grab grit either, so the wear on the drivetrain is pretty miniscule. You'll feel it in the legs. And no nasty chainring tattoos!
Parrafin on the chain is an old trick and used to be pretty advanced stuff- you had to break the chain and dip it in the melted wax in a double boiler. A wild Saturday night for the scrawny and single . The liquid stuff in the bottle is great, but don't leave it in the car in the summer. BOOM! Big white lightning bolts across the upolstery. If you use too much the extra just falls off as you ride.
Oh Nancy- don't hose off the chain. Water will get between the links and rust it up, you'll get nasty stiff links, icky crud, and need new chains a lot. If you want to stay with the greasy lube, you can get a rag and hold it around the chain and turn the cranks to run the chain through and wipe it off after every ride. The park gizmo is really cool but it's a bit much for every ride maintenence. Gets old quick.

missliz