DealExtreme chain washer - how to hold it.

When riding our bikes, especially mountain bikes, sand, dust and mud tend to stick to our chain, drive train, cassette, chain rings (front cogs) and basically everything that has oil on it. The sticky chain oil keeps the dirt stuck to those parts and it will not go away until we will get rid of it. I chose the chain washer from DealExtreme to help me with cleaning my chain.

Why bother cleaning your chain and drive mechanisms?

Dust and sand are made out of tiny particles. These tiny particles are very abrasive because they are small and tough and round. They get into the tiniest cracks and holes, stick to the chain oil and move around with all the other moving parts. As they rub against chain parts, cogs or bearings they grind away metal and other materials bike components are made off. The effect sand and other dirt particles have on moving parts is not to underestimate – consider how often a chain joint is bending during a typical bicycle ride – such movement with a bit of sand in your chain can be compared to a session of sand blasting the chains inner parts.

What can sand and dust in your chain cause?

• 

  DealExtreme chain washer side view

  Erosion of moving parts – A dirty chain will definitely have a shorter life span as dirt particles grind metal away.

• Malfunctioning of your chain, derailleur and drive-train – it is not only that the life span of bicycle parts will get shorter due to riding with dirty parts, the quality of their function might be reduced as well.

Life span and functioning quality is reduced due to dirty chain and other parts related to the drive system on a bicycle.

What do you need in order to clean a bicycle chain?

• Brush - dirt that stuck to chain oil can be really tough to get rid of. A good scrub using a brush with stiff bristles can help you with getting rid of dirt hiding in hard to get places.
• Detergent or degreaser - you need something to break off the oil molecules. The structure of oil molecules is the secret to its stickiness. Detergents or degreasers that are especially dedicated to getting rid of oil are designed to break oil molecules, making the oil washable.
• Water – water has some unique cleaning qualities you find in no other substance. After all there is a reason why we use water for washing practically EVERYTHING. A thorough rinse with water, after scrubbing oily parts with a brush and soap, will get oil rests and dirt off your chain and cogs.

Why use the chain washer from DealExtreme?

• 

  DealExtreme chain washer's brushes. The long bristles clean the chain from all sides.

  Good price – I got the chain cleaner for $14.70 from DealExtreme (shipment is free). A similar apparatus from Park Tool, the Park Tool CM-5 Cyclone Chain Cleaner has a price tag of $20.68.

• 6 cleaning brushes – the chain cleaner has 6 cleaning brushes that scrub a bicycle chain from all 4 directions. The long upper and bottom brush bristles get into the chain inner parts to clean them as well.
• Comfortable handle – the chain cleaner has a handle to help you hold the chain cleaner while the chain moves inside it.
• Chain wiper – the rear part of the chain cleaner has a rubber chain wiper. Special rubber gills wipe away dirt and liquid so they are kept inside the chain cleaner’s liquid tank.
• Good value for money – the chain cleaner does the job! It got tons of sand and dust, stuck together by chain oil, off my chain when using it. Together with its lower price compared to its bigger brother, the Park Tool CM-5 Cyclone Chain Cleaner, it is worth your investment.