How to Lubricate Your Bike Chain
For an old bicycle, the difference between a momentous trip from a dull one is having a well-lubricated bike chain. The lubricated chain makes the bike run smoothly, as if it were a newly purchased item.
Why Lubricate?
A bike chain, over time, accumulates dirt, gunk and rust. Once the links are filled with foreign objects, the pedals won’t turn smoothly, making acceleration hard. Proper lubrication removes stuck objects from the chain then restores it to a more “youthful” state. In the end, it prompts the bike to move and turn fluidly.
Materials for Lubrication
When lubricating a bike chain, you need several materials, most of them readily available. Those items make the application of bike lube easy, in spite of the small gaps provided by the chain’s links. You will need an applicator, a dirt scraper, a dirt collector and a bottle of bike lube. If the chain is too rusty, you might as well replace it. Here’s a quick look on the materials that you will need:
bicycle chain lube
rag
old newspaper
screwdriver
Lubricating the bike chain is fairly simple. You just have to remove the dirt stuck in each link, wipe the chain then apply the bike lube. If your screwdriver does not fit between the links, you can substitute it with cotton swabs or barbecue sticks. Upon application, your bike should be as good as new.
Procedure:
Bring your bike outside the house, since lubing can get a little messy.
Cover a portion of your garage with old newspapers to keep the dirt, rust and grease from staining the ground.
Place your bike on the newspapers.
Turn your bike upside down, so the chain is easier to access.
Once done, use your screwdriver to remove dirt and the dark gunky stuff in the chain.
Wipe off dirt from the chain with your rag.
Apply the bike lube on the chain, link-by-link if possible.
After applying, wait for the lube to settle.
Wipe excess lube off with the rag.
Crank the bike’s pedal, so the lube is distributed evenly among the links.
If the pedals turn smoothly, your bike is good to go.
A newly-lubricated chain is less-susceptible to rust and has a fairly long useful life. You can do this process whenever the chain is not performing optimally. Lubrication will almost always restore your bike to a healthier state, unless the links incurred damage. Damaged chains, instead of lubricating, should be replaced.