Tag: bicycle chains

The bicycle was introduced in the 19th century in Europe by German Inventor Karl von Drais. He is credited with developing the first bicycle. He introduced it to the people in Paris in 1818. It is supposed to originate from the human-powered vehicle called Draisines. Drais invented a walking machine that would help him get around the royal gardens faster. It was known by many names, including the “velocipede,” “dandy horse,” “hobby-horse,” “draisine” and “running machine. It had no pedals and its frame was a wooden beam. It had two same-size in-line wheels with the front one steerable and mounted in a frame which was straddled. In 1839, Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith, allegedly completed construction of a pedal driven…

Grease, oil, and degreaser are essential items for bike cleaning for their mechanical elements operate perfectly. Without them, components may not work well or it may cause a major breakdown or failure. In regard to bike bearings and bushings, some bicycle manufacturers recommend a specific type of grease. Knowing which cleaning products, oils, lubricants and brake fluids to use on your bike can be confusing! In this video you’ll learn everything you should know about bicycle grease, oils and cleaners. Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN) explains the proper procedures for bicycle cleaning.

This is the first part of a two-part video on three different ways to clean a bicycle chain. It uses degreasers, lubricants, and chain cleaning products produced by Finish Line Technologies, Inc., but focuses on the bike and how to clean it more than it does on the products. The beginning of this video also contains general information about chains, how they’re made, how they wear, and what happens when they do, before going into the first of three chain cleaning techniques. A version of this video with a printable guide can be found at www.howcast.com/users/caeasura.

Each link of your bicycle chain has a small gap where metal pieces rub together. This gap needs to be clean and well-lubed. Regular cleaning and lubrication of your chain will help prevent your drivetrain from wearing out. A dirty chain or poorly lubed chain also can be stiff and make your shifting skip. You should clean and lubricate the chain when it is dirty, dry or begins to sound noisy. If you ride every day, you should clean and lube the chain at least once a month. There are several chain cleaning tools available. These are simply a mechanism with brushes that pass your chain through a cleaning solution. You can buy one from your local bike retailer or…