If you really can't clean your chain first, still lubricate it. It's still better to run it dirty with lube than dirty and dry. Just don't use that as an excuse not to clean it.
Blake, great stuff. Thanks! Question: I have recently transitioned my mountain bike, fat bike and road bike all to waxed chains. What an outstanding modification! Yeah, it takes a little more time to set it up. But cleaning my drive train takes minutes instead of an hour. So, regarding your second point, what would you think about doing a video regarding wax vs lube? It might not be great for the Muck off sponsorship, but it would be really interesting hearing what y’all think!
@@elrictdb sort of. It stands up while it's muddy and wet. But if you leave it like that the chain will rust. It usually requires more cleaning drying directly after to take care of it. However, my experience is that while you are in the muddy and wet it actually performs better.
Always check your bolts. Loose bolts will affect your gears greatly. I've had the back wheel and rear susp. linkage come loose on a single big day out, twice, and I don't ride that much.
I experienced this with my rear thru-axle, bike started shifting like crap and at one point even dropped the chain off the cassette completely. Stopped to take a look and the rear wheel was wobbling!
Loose derailleur hanger screws are a tricky one to diagnose unless the rear wheel has been removed. This will cause skipping and ghost shifting. I've found that using blue loctite on them can help reduce the possibility of this issue.
@@specializedadventuresafari277 ive had the same problem. first thought its my rear mech playing up, but when removed my rear wheel i noticed loose bolt. tightened bolt and it was back to normal.
Would also like to add, when your bikes not being used, keep it stored in the lowest gear. Less chain tension will prolong the life of it and your mech springs
Maybe there is some benefit for the derailleur springs and gear cables in storing it in the smallest cassette sprocket... but I don't think I would worry about it too much... though having said that i generally do avoid putting the bike away and the largest couple of cassette sprockets. I'm pretty sure the chain itself wouldn't be affected though. Chains stretch from the rollers, pins, and inner links wearing through use... not through tension in a static situation.
@@andyarchitect no it does. Affect both mech and chain. Especially those that store in more outdoor conditions with temperature changes. Ie. Garden sheds or balconies. It gives your drivetrain opportunities to cease and stretch quicker
@Mitch BO9 the lowest gear would be 1st which is the biggest sprocket... I think you must've meant the highest gear or smallest cassette sprocket to take the tension off the derailleur springs.
@@mitchb0986 As i said, it possibly benifits the derailleur springs, but its not going the affect the chain itself. If the chain doesn't physically stretch with a heavy riders weight and possibility another 90nm from a mid drive motor then the light tension of a derailleur spring is not going to make any effect. Protection against corrosion is a good idea regardless of tension though :)
Not saying that I disagree with the vid, on the other hand, I can't resist: You can do everything Blake mentioned, or just try to use a gearbox - solves pretty much each of those (except for lubed dirt on chain, that's still just dumb idea)
Hello, very intresting video. Do you know some "scientific" study about how much will the chain "stretch" of wear in each condition? cleaned vs oily dirty vs dirty dry would be very intresting and popular projectfarm style video
"drive side down" - disagree. Brake rotors are more easily bent/damaged than a mech hanger if you chuck your bike down on a rock. Whichever side you lay your bike down just don't chuck it on a rock!!! (Note: in both Blake's examples his rear mech barely/never touches the ground)
Blake, I caught you. On your Pre Ride Mistakes video, when you forgot your front wheel, you loaded your bike in the back of your car drive side down...oops!🤣
I am so guilty of not replacing my chain early enough. And... probably insufficient drivetrain cleaning. I'm still old school on the lube one drop per roller
Oh Blake you out done self really good tips love the one about replacing the chain n doing it frequently to save monies in long run I love the chain tool best thing I've bought. Wicked Blake...
Ohhh man i still remember my friend who don't know on how to take good care of his drivetrain,i mean he really mess all around with muc and dirt and sand and he really put grease on it and not oil...😂😂😂
So... if your gears wear to the chain, then it seems like you should simply never change your chain, and then it will always mesh perfectly with your gears! I'm a genius.
You can make your cassette last a lot longer with better quality shifting if you replace the chain when needed. The meshing only happens to a point. Eventually your chain wont fit into the teeth like they should and will result in horrible shifting.
There’s a very large emphasis on making chains as thin as possible to accommodate large # of rear gears. Otherwise, I would kill for a sealed mtb chain
My nephew drives me nuts when he Puts his bike down on the drive train I'm forever telling him not to do it...and not cleaning his chain, think he does it on purpose as his knows I'll end up doing it.
as long as its not "dropped" on the driveside its fine... No damage will be done sitting against it. - in fact its better on the driveside because if you have big rotors so you dont bend a rotor.
Another mistake: don't buy a bike with a cheap Shimano derailleur. On my bike there is one (Alivio mtb), and even my local bike shop can't get it to shift properly. If I have to replace it by a better one (whenever it is available) it will cost a lot of money.
Did they adjust the cables? If you change the orientation of the shifter with respect to the handlebar grips either going left or right, this could cause too much slack or tension and sometimes the cable would get stuck in the housing. Check your hanger if it is bent too. The spring in your derailleur could be a factor too.
I cook in paraffin with wax and everything is clean with me)
The part when shifting gears going uphill had my teeth going like this 😬😬😬
Same here! 😅
If you really can't clean your chain first, still lubricate it. It's still better to run it dirty with lube than dirty and dry. Just don't use that as an excuse not to clean it.
*looks at my dry lube in confusion*
@@i-_-am-_-g1467 Sorry, when I said dry I mean not lubed whether you use a wet or dry lube.
And for goodness sake, do not use DW40 to lube, put that on after cleaning, let it dry, then lube that bad boy up!
Blake, great stuff. Thanks!
Question: I have recently transitioned my mountain bike, fat bike and road bike all to waxed chains. What an outstanding modification! Yeah, it takes a little more time to set it up. But cleaning my drive train takes minutes instead of an hour.
So, regarding your second point, what would you think about doing a video regarding wax vs lube? It might not be great for the Muck off sponsorship, but it would be really interesting hearing what y’all think!
How often does the waxing get muddy and wet? Does the wax stand up to these conditions?
@@elrictdb sort of. It stands up while it's muddy and wet. But if you leave it like that the chain will rust. It usually requires more cleaning drying directly after to take care of it.
However, my experience is that while you are in the muddy and wet it actually performs better.
Always check your bolts. Loose bolts will affect your gears greatly. I've had the back wheel and rear susp. linkage come loose on a single big day out, twice, and I don't ride that much.
I experienced this with my rear thru-axle, bike started shifting like crap and at one point even dropped the chain off the cassette completely. Stopped to take a look and the rear wheel was wobbling!
Before every ride, I grab each wheel with my hand and give it a good shake to make sure it's properly secured.
Loose derailleur hanger screws are a tricky one to diagnose unless the rear wheel has been removed. This will cause skipping and ghost shifting. I've found that using blue loctite on them can help reduce the possibility of this issue.
That's a great shout! Also, check your derailleur/derailleur hanger is torqued correctly!
@@specializedadventuresafari277 ive had the same problem. first thought its my rear mech playing up, but when removed my rear wheel i noticed loose bolt. tightened bolt and it was back to normal.
Would also like to add, when your bikes not being used, keep it stored in the lowest gear. Less chain tension will prolong the life of it and your mech springs
Maybe there is some benefit for the derailleur springs and gear cables in storing it in the smallest cassette sprocket... but I don't think I would worry about it too much... though having said that i generally do avoid putting the bike away and the largest couple of cassette sprockets. I'm pretty sure the chain itself wouldn't be affected though. Chains stretch from the rollers, pins, and inner links wearing through use... not through tension in a static situation.
@@andyarchitect no it does. Affect both mech and chain. Especially those that store in more outdoor conditions with temperature changes. Ie. Garden sheds or balconies.
It gives your drivetrain opportunities to cease and stretch quicker
@Mitch BO9 the lowest gear would be 1st which is the biggest sprocket... I think you must've meant the highest gear or smallest cassette sprocket to take the tension off the derailleur springs.
@@specializedadventuresafari277 clearly you understood what I meant.
@@mitchb0986 As i said, it possibly benifits the derailleur springs, but its not going the affect the chain itself. If the chain doesn't physically stretch with a heavy riders weight and possibility another 90nm from a mid drive motor then the light tension of a derailleur spring is not going to make any effect. Protection against corrosion is a good idea regardless of tension though :)
Well. My drivetrain looks way cleaner than yours so I guess I’m good lol
On my last retro mtb, it had this derailleur protection thingy..I always wanted that on my bike when I was young. Now you never see it
I have only seen those on rental bikes in the last bunch of years.
The cassette or the derailleur? Which matters more for good shifts?
Not saying that I disagree with the vid, on the other hand, I can't resist:
You can do everything Blake mentioned, or just try to use a gearbox - solves pretty much each of those (except for lubed dirt on chain, that's still just dumb idea)
I'm freakin' out seeing a dirty chain being lubed! Damn, that's torture, eh mate!
Hello, very intresting video.
Do you know some "scientific" study about how much will the chain "stretch" of wear in each condition? cleaned vs oily dirty vs dirty dry would be very intresting and popular projectfarm style video
Come on Blake ,when will we see the van build again, 🤘🤩
my giant phantom 2plus pro has an stand by it
using muc-off wet lube is another mistake - independently tested by zero-friction cycling to be be the worst lube....
check the thumbnail! the the cassette and the chain can been seen twice
If GMBN tells me to clean my bike one more time!!...... I might just clean it
"drive side down" - disagree. Brake rotors are more easily bent/damaged than a mech hanger if you chuck your bike down on a rock. Whichever side you lay your bike down just don't chuck it on a rock!!! (Note: in both Blake's examples his rear mech barely/never touches the ground)
Blake, I caught you. On your Pre Ride Mistakes video, when you forgot your front wheel, you loaded your bike in the back of your car drive side down...oops!🤣
You left out carrying your mobile in your pocket.................😩
I am so guilty of not replacing my chain early enough. And... probably insufficient drivetrain cleaning.
I'm still old school on the lube one drop per roller
I've been giving this advise to a new mtb'r...but some people just dont listen,Eveytime i see his bike,its filthy....Ha !!
Oh Blake you out done self really good tips love the one about replacing the chain n doing it frequently to save monies in long run I love the chain tool best thing I've bought. Wicked Blake...
Please call us ugly, beautiful is overrated and booooooring
Wax your chain. Wax your chain. Wax your fn chain!
They really need to lose the Pepto-Bismol helmets.
Totally guilty of eating the life out of gears with old chains.
Go single speed less maintenance
Ohhh man i still remember my friend who don't know on how to take good care of his drivetrain,i mean he really mess all around with muc and dirt and sand and he really put grease on it and not oil...😂😂😂
Always check the chain oenght checker......
What kind of savage puts lube on a dirty chain?!
Sorry bike…good man!
So... if your gears wear to the chain, then it seems like you should simply never change your chain, and then it will always mesh perfectly with your gears! I'm a genius.
You can make your cassette last a lot longer with better quality shifting if you replace the chain when needed. The meshing only happens to a point. Eventually your chain wont fit into the teeth like they should and will result in horrible shifting.
@@bf5938 I know. My comment was meant as a joke.
Got it. Hard to tell sometimes
Single speed CREW.
Where do have you been riding in this video? These trails look so good!
Great vid! I hope that's a wax based dry chain lube
Excellent tips!
Dropping your bike on that xx1 was brutal!
What happened with the thumbnail?
Спасибо за ваши видео и такой хороший канал!!! Интересно смотреть!
Ride fixed and all this gets less important!
f no i take care of my stuff!
Great video 😃 Crunching gears 😬😬 I do that sometimes in the climb , once my chain snapped 🫤🫤
Thanks so much! Crunching gears feels so horrible! 🥴
I still don't understand why there isn't a x-ring motorcycle type chain made for the mucky conditions you people ride in.
There’s a very large emphasis on making chains as thin as possible to accommodate large # of rear gears. Otherwise, I would kill for a sealed mtb chain
Whattaya mean, "you people"!
@@mr2_mike probably cyclists / mtbers rather than MX'ers
@@mr2_mike tt, lol..❤it
My nephew drives me nuts when he Puts his bike down on the drive train I'm forever telling him not to do it...and not cleaning his chain, think he does it on purpose as his knows I'll end up doing it.
don't do it then, and have him pay for new chain when it's needed, will teach the brat the lesson
as long as its not "dropped" on the driveside its fine... No damage will be done sitting against it. - in fact its better on the driveside because if you have big rotors so you dont bend a rotor.
Damn factssss
Hot take: it’s not worth it to clean a chain. Just lube it until stretch, then replace.
Good tips!
Glad it was helpful! Cheers for the support! 🤘
First ta ulom
Another mistake: don't buy a bike with a cheap Shimano derailleur. On my bike there is one (Alivio mtb), and even my local bike shop can't get it to shift properly. If I have to replace it by a better one (whenever it is available) it will cost a lot of money.
Alivio can shift really well, change lbs mate!
Did they adjust the cables? If you change the orientation of the shifter with respect to the handlebar grips either going left or right, this could cause too much slack or tension and sometimes the cable would get stuck in the housing. Check your hanger if it is bent too. The spring in your derailleur could be a factor too.
Thanks for the advice guys. Will take a look at it. And hopefully get rid of the frustration.
Alivio is good enough drivetrain i think as long as you keep maintain like clean and lube
What derailleur is that???
Sram eagle xo1 axs
First
🥇🙌
First
🥈💨
Third
🥉👍
Dear-raily-yeah