Chain Lube? Yup, Chain Lube. Pre-Ride Best Practices

Really? Chain Lube? Yup. Because adhering to good practices cleaning and lubing allows your drivetrain perform better and last longer. Skipping these steps? Well you might have issues that drive you, or your riding buddies nuts.

Some quick drivetrain basics.

Your cassette, chain and chain ring wear in as a group.  It’s more than the anodized finish that wears off as you ride. Chain ring and cassette teeth change shape. The chain “stretches” (wears).

You might be able to get a couple chains and chain rings for each cassette. But if the drivetrain is well worn your new chain won’t want to hold power on the older teeth. Shifting is often compromised. It is likely to tick and skip under load. Older chain rings will often hang the chain instead of releasing it at the bottom of the radius creating a tick.

Overall the performance is probably better from the paired cassette, chain, and chain ring rather than mixing and matching new with worn.

Keeping the drivetrain properly lubed will dramatically slow wear and improve performance.

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