Cleaning a chain

[Jackmaster]

Chain needs to be clean before you start scrimping on looking after it!

I keep my drivetrain silver because that's the way it came and I ride a lot of varied surfaces so once the bike and drivetrain starts getting covered in crap I know that a wipe over with a rag is only going to embed the grit, sand and dirt that I ride.

I'm sure a wipe here and there is great if you have a £5 chain and supermarket drivetrain. I don't so I prefer spending a bit more time and effort but each to their own

 

[Ajax Bay]

I prefer spending a bit more time and effort [cleaning my chain]

So how do you use that time and effort? Why not give the OP the benefit of your experience and advice?

 

[KnackeredBike]

Don't waste your life cleaning the chain on a temporary bike.

If it becomes a permanent bike a new chain and (if needed) rear cassette are very cheap.

Having a bike that looks like crap deters thieves which, as has already been said, will be useful because people are always more careless with a bike that doesn't belong to them.