Guide
Stories from the bike workshop: the flat tyre
by Patrick Bardelli
How to prep your bike chain for spring
8.4.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Christian Walker
The chain’s one of the most stressed parts of your bicycle. It transfers the pedalling power to the rear wheel via the cranks, thereby driving the bike. And yet, it’s often criminally neglected.
It dawned on me last summer, when a mechanic at Hilite Bikes in Basel looked at me a little surprised and said: «You’ve been riding the chain on your bike for a while, right?». Turns out I should’ve taken care of it. But I didn’t.
Anyway, I’m trying to learn from my mistakes, which is why I’m at Elia Widmer’s workshop again today. Elia’s a trained toolmaker and involved in constructing Hilite Bikes’ customised bicycles. He also works as a bike mechanic, taking care of minor and major ailments on road bikes and the like. I recently watched him deal with a puncture on a tubeless tyre. Here’s the full article on it:
A thing or two on chains
How to care for a chain
The chain should never run without a lubricant. It’s not that important if you’re using oil or wax. All that matters is that it’s not metal on metal. However, a well-greased chain will attract dirt. So make sure to clean it regularly. The same goes for the cassette.
According to Elia Widmer, bikers can also remove the chain completely and clean it in a bucket, for example. «Just bear in mind that the old chain lock needs to be replaced, as it won’t lock nearly as well as before,» he explains. This, of course, results in extra costs.
According to Elia, the advantage of a waxed chain over an oiled one is that it puts less friction on the chainring and the cassette, which makes it practically maintenance-free. In addition, less dirt sticks to it. The downside? A waxed chain is more likely to rust in wet conditions. This means you need to dry it after every ride in the rain. Elia adds that maintaining a waxed chain is a little more expensive, but it reduces wear and tear.
Products you need
Want to establish the condition of your bike chain before setting off for the first time after the winter break? You can do this by looking at the chainring or with a chain wear gauge. The latter’s more precise. If the chain’s worn through, you have no choice but to get a new one. And don’t forget to clean it regularly. I’ve linked a few suggestions for you.
Of course, there are similar products from other suppliers available in our virtual bike workshop. The featured products include chain wax such as the Graphenwax 2.0 by Absolute Black.
More stories from the bike workshop coming up. The topics: new tubeless tyres for gravel bikes and no more squeaky brakes
Header image: Christian Walker
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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