One of the most important maintenance activities concerning a bicycle is cleaning the chain. With the miles I put in, I have to attend to it every week or two. Anything that can make it faster and easier, I’m all over it. I read about a simple hack a while back that makes it so ridiculously quick (and easy) that I had to share it (now that I finally got around to actually putting it together)…
First, because I use Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lube, all I need to clean the outside of the chain is a damp, soapy towel…. Then, to clean in between the plates and rollers, my new tool:
In the photo above, notice that I have the brushes separated a little bit. I did this for ease of cleaning after use. I simply put the brushes over the chain and squeeze. I worked them back an forth a little bit because I’m a little silly that way:
Sure enough, the chain isn’t perfect, but certainly quite clean (except that stupid plate right in the middle of the photo, because that’s just my dumb luck):
Anyway, cleaning the chain took a mere two minutes. I did, for the record, go back and get the offending plate. Sheesh.
Try it out, it’s as easy as it gets.
Fit Recovery 
Wow! Look how silver your chain is!! No cat 5 tat on your leg I bet 😉
Well, I hadn’t lubed it yet… The lube I use turns quite black after one or two rides but it’s super quiet. If I touch my calf to it, the tat is ridiculously black (I always leave my right foot clipped in so I can’t get a tattoo). 😎
I only in lip left too but still get it! I think I lean..
Keep the right foot up (say 2 o’clock) and rest your right thigh on the top tube. It’s physically impossible to touch your chain to any part of your leg. Sadly, yes… I put some thought into this long ago.
You must have black teeth
Only on the chain rings.
LOL — and you didn’t say anything about your choice of jewelry.
My mountain bike’s drivetrain is beginning to skip, so it’s time for a new cassette and chain. I was thinking of a crank and chainring upgrade, so might as well do it all. If any part of the drive is bad, the chain is not going to last long no matter how clean you keep it.
Too true. Look at the bright side though, you can make earrings for Mir out of the chain rings!
Great info, thanks. I got into cleaning my chain regularly a while back as a part of the bike clean and it reduces that greasy build up on the components to make the overall clean quicker. 1 question, what do you clean your brushes with?
Dawn dish soap. Best grease cutter, that won’t peel the skin off of fingers, on the planet.
Great idea – I’ll have to try that
Obsessive Cleaning Disorder: symptoms include incredibly clean bikes and really useful blog posts. No known cure. Which is great really. For the rest of us 😉
Now that really did make me chuckle out loud. Nice… and thank you.
This is so helpful Jim! I am definitely going ot try the toothbrush trick. Thanks!
My pleasure Sue, it works REALLY well. That’s just a spare bottle cap I had laying around between the brushes to keep them spaced.