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Maintain That Ride, by Stephan Petrella

 

Lube your Chain: Get maximum penetration into each chain link by lubing the chain at the smallest rear cog. Back-pedal the chain, use the frame to steady your hand, and lube the chain with a fine stream of lubricant as it travels along and arcs open over the smallest rear gear.


Lube your Derailleurs: With the derailleur in the lowest position (with the chain running over the smallest rear cog), use your hand to push the derailleur through its full range of motion while dripping lube onto the pivot points and internal springs/mechanisms. This maximizes lube distribution and penetration.


Lube your Brake Arms: Use the cable quick release or remove the wheels to allow the brake arms to be moved through their full range of motion while applying lube to the pivots. This maximizes lube penetration at the pivots and frees up the most amount of cable travel to allow proper lubing of that portion of the cable as well.


Lube your Levers: Pull levers covers back and move the levers through their range of motion to distribute and maximize penetration of lube into pivots, springs and mechanisms. If possible, release the cables from the levers and lube the cable wire where it slides into the cable housing.


Lube your Cables: Shift the rear derailleur onto the smallest rear sprocket, and the front derailleur onto the largest front sprocket. The, without pedaling the bike, shift both derailleurs back down using the shift levers. This will slacken the cables to allow removal of the cable housings from their stops at each derailleur and lever. Slide the housing back and forth to expose the inner cable wire surface. Lube cable wire and slide the housings to distribute lube into the full length of the housing. Reposition housings into stops before shifting levers back to their proper position.