The chain carries all your pedalling power to the wheel, so you feel its condition straight away: a dirty or dry chain squeaks, shifts poorly and wastes effort. Grit sticking to the lube acts like sandpaper, speeding up wear on the chain, cassette and chainrings.
Care comes down to three simple stages: clean, dry, lube. Here is how to do it so your chain lasts longer.
What you will need
Important: Keep lube and degreaser off brake discs, pads and the braking surface of the rim. Cover the brakes with a rag while applying products.
Step 1
Secure the bike and inspect the chain
Put the bike in a stand or lean it securely against a wall so you can back-pedal freely. Turn the chain slowly and look for stiff links, rust or stretch. A wear gauge tells you whether it is time for a new chain: a worn chain quickly ruins a new cassette.
Step 2
Free up stiff links
If the chain spent winter on a balcony or turned orange after rain, apply WD-40 Specialist Penetrant to the stiff links, wait a few minutes and work each link by hand. The penetrant gets between the pin and bushing and loosens the rust.
Step 3
Apply the degreaser
Spray WD-40 Bike Degreaser onto the chain while turning the pedals so it reaches every link. Let it work for a few minutes and scrub stubborn dirt off both sides with a brush.
Step 4
Rinse and dry
Rinse off the remaining dirt and product with a gentle hose. Pat the chain dry with a microfibre cloth while turning the pedals to avoid water marks, then let it dry completely. Lube does not stick well to a wet chain.
Step 5
Lube for the conditions
For autumn, rain and mud choose WD-40 Bike Wet Chain Lube: it resists wash-off and protects against corrosion. For dry summers and dusty gravel, WD-40 Bike Dry Chain Lube attracts less dust. Apply one drop to the inside of each link while back-pedalling.
Step 6
Wipe off the excess
Give the lube 5-10 minutes to soak into the links, then lightly wipe the chain with a rag. Lube is needed inside the links; on the outside it only collects dirt.
Tip: Keep a simple log and measure chain wear every 1000 km. Replacing a chain on time costs far less than a new cassette and chainrings.
What next
Wipe the chain after every wet ride and fully clean and lube it every 150-300 km, or every two weeks of regular riding. When the seasons change, switch from dry to wet lube and back.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».