Cleaning chain/cassette

[OakLeaf]

Park Tool has a cassette brush that's narrow enough to get between the cogs.

Some people remove their cassettes for cleaning. I think that's nuts, personally. But when I swap cassettes, the one I'm putting into storage does get a thorough cleaning while it's apart.

Don't neglect your rear derailleur. Jockey wheels collect a LOT of crud.

There are differences of opinion on solvents. It's a quick and easy way to clean. But they do strip the lubrication between the chain plates and pins, so it's a balancing act. If you know you're not going to take the time to clean your drivetrain often enough with soap and water, then it's probably best to get the external crud off with a solvent. If you're the kind of person who never puts your bike away dirty, use soap and water.

If you use Simple Green or any other acidic cleaner, make sure you rinse well. Whether you use a solvent or water, be sure to dry your chain THOROUGHLY before re-lubricating (air compressor is helpful here).

It does take some time and attention to get that middle chainring clean. Other time-consuming places to clean are between the arms of the brake calipers, and around the insides of the pivot points of the derailleurs. Needs to happen at least once in a while.