So i feel like an idiot

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So i was out riding, and i upshifted my chainring and held it down to long, and my chain fell off, it scratched my crank a little bit, but not bad, but i got chaingrease on my hands, which got on my shift levers, i washed it off (the levers), but will it leave anything on it that will deteriorate anything like the finish or paint? a little got on the frame, it washed off w/o scratching it, but the same question goes for it too.

No grease won't eat anything but if your chain was that greasy you need to clean it. You should be able to grab your chain and not get hardly any grime on your hands. Get a brush and some dish soap and clean your chain and your gears. Then apply some oil that is specially made for bike chains, NOT WD-40. What brand is a whole other thread. Wipe the excess off the chain (and gears) until the paper towel doesn't get that dirty anymore.

No grease won't eat anything but if your chain was that greasy you need to clean it. You should be able to grab your chain and not get hardly any grime on your hands.

What exactly makes you think that?

You should be able to grab your chain and not get hardly any grime on your hands. I don't think even brand new chains (i.e. factory lubed) will satisfy your criterion.

I don't think even brand new chains (i.e. factory lubed) will satisfy your criterion.
Well, he's right to an extent, my chain is SUPER dirty, and needs to be cleaned or changed.

Well, he's right to an extent, my chain is SUPER dirty, and needs to be cleaned or changed.I don't see why you need to change a chain just because it is dirty. Use a degreaser, wash out the stuff completely, and regrease the chain.

[QUOTE=Cycler6n]So i was out riding, and i upshifted my chainring and held it down to long, and my chain fell offQUOTE]

Hold on with the chain clean/not clean/how to clean stuff. I think the real issue is derailleur adjustment

I don't see why you need to change a chain just because it is dirty. Use a degreaser, wash out the stuff completely, and regrease the chain.Because dirt is what causes wear. Kind of like an engine. You don't want dirt in your engine. And I didn't say change it. I said CLEAN it. And yes, a new chain would be clean enough for me thank you.

Listen to Mish. The first issue is that your front derailleur needs adjusted a little. No matter how long you hold down on the shift lever, the chain should not fall off the chainring. Adjust your upper and lower limit screws so that the chain will not be pushed to the point where it over-rides the chain rings.

Concerning chain cleaning, you have been riding long enough and know enough about cleaning chains that you probably already have a system and lube that you prefer.

Because dirt is what causes wear. Kind of like an engine. You don't want dirt in your engine. And I didn't say change it. I said CLEAN it. And yes, a new chain would be clean enough for me thank you.I never implied that you asked to change the chain.

Why in the world would any body grease the chain??? What you want is oil, a light oil. LPS 2 will do just great and yes even WD-40, nothing wrong with that. The oil will attract dust/dirt and will get grimy. You just need to stay on top of the cleaning. The dirt that sticks to the lubricant acts like sandpaper if you don't clean it you'll have prematurely worn out parts.

Okay, everyone needs to take a breather from the uncontrollable spasming about lubed chains.

If you touch a chain, and you get black stuff on your finger(s), that doesn't mean you're guilty of chain neglect. If you don't get black stuff on your finger, after riding with the chain like that for a day or three, you're likely guilty of wiping your butt too much and too aggressively. My routine is to put a drop o' ProLink on each roller every 100-150 miles or so, and then to wipe the excess off. I have no accelerated chain wear. In fact, I get great life out of chains, despite the fact that I live in an environment replete with sand and blowing sand/dust.

Chain lubing isn't rocket science, so lubing doesn't have to be as intricate or as painstaking as putting together a Mars probe. Do it and be done with it.

Clean? Fuck, I never clean my chain, except once a year when the bike gets its physical and the ol' how's yer father. The ProLink flushes out the dirt and grit, so why should I bother? Again, I get great life out of chains.

A clean, shiny chain is an indication that the chain's owner doesn't ride enough.

I spend a whopping 10 minutes or so, each week, caring for my chain.

I'd recommend that quite a few people need to see a therapist about their obsessive-compulsive chain cleaning behavior.

Remember: cycling is about the riding.

Okay, everyone needs to take a breather from the uncontrollable spasming about lubed chains.

If you touch a chain, and you get black stuff on your finger(s), that doesn't mean you're guilty of chain neglect. If you don't get black stuff on your finger, after riding with the chain like that for a day or three, you're likely guilty of wiping your butt too much and too aggressively. My routine is to put a drop o' ProLink on each roller every 100-150 miles or so, and then to wipe the excess off. I have no accelerated chain wear. In fact, I get great life out of chains, despite the fact that I live in an environment replete with sand and blowing sand/dust.

Chain lubing isn't rocket science, so lubing doesn't have to be as intricate or as painstaking as putting together a Mars probe. Do it and be done with it.

Clean? Fuck, I never clean my chain, except once a year when the bike gets its physical and the ol' how's yer father. The ProLink flushes out the dirt and grit, so why should I bother? Again, I get great life out of chains.

A clean, shiny chain is an indication that the chain's owner doesn't ride enough.

I spend a whopping 10 minutes or so, each week, caring for my chain.

I'd recommend that quite a few people need to see a therapist about their obsessive-compulsive chain cleaning behavior.

Remember: cycling is about the riding.

I do even less than you! I use break clean on the chain and rings, spray the stuff on and it takes all the crud off and I blow it dry with some compressed air than spray on the lube... once a week. I too live in Arizona.

I do even less than you! I use break clean on the chain and rings, spray the stuff on and it takes all the crud off and I blow it dry with some compressed air than spray on the lube... once a week. I too live in Arizona.

My wife would prolly have a shit-fit if she found me using the air compressor to blow kack out of the chain onto our beige carpet. Her happiness was definitely sub-optimal when she came home about 10 years ago to the smell of burning oil and the sight of the cases off of a motorcycle race engine in the oven. :D

WRT Arizona, I'll be fucked if the wind for the last few weeks hasn't been a cunt whore from hell.

Okay, everyone needs to take a breather from the uncontrollable spasming about lubed chains.

...My routine is to put a drop o' ProLink on each roller every 100-150 miles or so, and then to wipe the excess off.....

Remember: cycling is about the riding.

What he says :)

Why in the world would any body grease the chain??? What you want is oil, a light oil. LPS 2 will do just great and yes even WD-40, nothing wrong with that. The oil will attract dust/dirt and will get grimy. You just need to stay on top of the cleaning. The dirt that sticks to the lubricant acts like sandpaper if you don't clean it you'll have prematurely worn out parts.

Uncle Al from Roadbike rider had this to say about WD40 in his article BS about WD40 on roadbikerider.com (http://www.roadbikerider.com)

Do not use WD-40 as a chain lube. Yeah, your chain will stay lookin' clean, but that's because there's virtually nothing on it. It'll wear out faster than the rear tire on a kid's coaster-brake bike when he learns to skid.

Uncle Al from Roadbike rider had this to say about WD40 in his article BS about WD40 on roadbikerider.com (http://www.roadbikerider.com)

Do not use WD-40 as a chain lube. Yeah, your chain will stay lookin' clean, but that's because there's virtually nothing on it. It'll wear out faster than the rear tire on a kid's coaster-brake bike when he learns to skid.

Uncle Al ought to talk to all those motorcycle road racers at the tracks on weekends who've been racing for years with nothing but WD-40 on their chains. Same for a not so small number of guys and gals riding motorcycles on the roads.

I don't use it as such, but a quick read of the label shows it be havin' some lube in it.

I wonder if Uncle Al knows that orange juice just isn't for breakfast any more?

Uncle Al ought to talk to all those motorcycle road racers at the tracks on weekends who've been racing for years with nothing but WD-40 on their chains. Same for a not so small number of guys and gals riding motorcycles on the roads.

I don't use it as such, but a quick read of the label shows it be havin' some lube in it.

I wonder if Uncle Al knows that orange juice just isn't for breakfast any more?

LOL... in the very next para he mentions "citrus" dereaser ... anyone use OJ to clean their chain?... and ProLink... so he must be awake some of the time.

"Go ahead and clean your bike's drivetrain with WD-40 if you like (although I much prefer citrus-based degreasers), but then be sure to use a real chain lube like my favorite, ProLink, after everything has been wiped and dried. A real chain lube will do everything good that WD-40 won't."

My wife would prolly have a shit-fit if she found me using the air compressor to blow kack out of the chain onto our beige carpet. Her happiness was definitely sub-optimal when she came home about 10 years ago to the smell of burning oil and the sight of the cases off of a motorcycle race engine in the oven. :D

WRT Arizona, I'll be fucked if the wind for the last few weeks hasn't been a cunt whore from hell.

I hear ya, my wife had fit when she came one day and I was overhauling the carburetor on the dinning table.
So now when I clean my bike chain I do it outside. Just to keep the peace. :D

I hear ya, my wife had fit when she came one day and I was overhauling the carburetor on the dinning table.
So now when I clean my bike chain I do it outside. Just to keep the peace. :DFunny how wives do not understand the serious matters... :D