Keep it Clean. Keep it Fast. Keep it Lasting Longer.
Your bike’s drivetrain is the heart of your ride — and just like any engine, it performs best when it’s properly maintained. A clean, well-lubed drivetrain not only runs smoother and quieter, but it also lasts longer and helps you ride more efficiently.
Here’s how to keep it in top condition, and avoid the mistakes that wreck chains, cassettes, and your wallet.
It Starts with Prevention
Choose the right chain lube for the conditions.
Sounds simple, but this is where most riders go wrong. Dry and dusty trail? Go for LinkLube Dry. Wet and muddy? Switch to LinkLube Wet. If you’re riding a mix of conditions, then LinkLube All Weather (or All Weather Premium) is your best bet.
🔁 Tip: Be ready to change your lube as the conditions change.
Don’t Mix Lubes!
Here’s one of the biggest drivetrain killers we see…
If you’ve been running an All Weather (or Wet) lube, and you slap on a Dry lube without properly cleaning your chain — you’re heading for trouble.
Why? Because Dry lubes need a clean, oil-free surface to work properly. If you apply it over an oily base, the wax can’t bond and ends up mixing with the oil underneath. The result? A sticky residue that grabs trail dust like Velcro, turns black, and eats through your drivetrain in no time.
✅ Always degrease your chain properly before switching lubes.
Use the Right Degreaser
Non-solvent degreasers are your drivetrain’s best mate.
Regular maintenance doesn’t need to involve harsh chemicals. Our Foaming Drivetrain Degreaser is non-solvent, eco-friendly, and safe to use frequently. It cuts through grime and leftover lube without damaging your paintwork, seals, or bearings.
Pair it with some drivetrain-specific brushes and scrub your chain, cassette, and chainrings clean — no stripped bearings or gnarly smells involved.
Beware the Solvent Degreaser Trap
Solvent degreasers (like our XXX Solvent Degreaser) are great for stripping heavy buildup, but they should be used sparingly and only when needed — for example, when dealing with tough, greasy residue or prepping your chain for a full lube switch.
Overusing solvents can strip greases from your hubs, bottom brackets, and freewheels, leading to costly damage.
So unless you’re deep-cleaning or decontaminating, stick to non-solvent solutions for your weekly washes.
Don’t Be Fooled by Marine-Grade Greases in Chain Lubes
Some wet lubes boast about using marine-grade waterproof grease for durability. Sounds great, right? Well… not really.
Sure, it won’t wash off in the rain, but that same stubborn grease is also magnetically attractive to dirt — and when you want to clean your chain, it refuses to budge. You’ll end up with impenetrable black sludge that damages your drivetrain and forces you to reach for stronger solvents.
That’s why our LinkLube Wet skips the gimmicks. It’s built for durability, cleans easily, and keeps your chain running smooth without the long-term mess.
TL;DR — The Golden Rules of Drivetrain Maintenance
✅ Match your lube to the conditions.
🔄 Degrease your chain before switching lube types.
🧼 Use non-solvent degreasers regularly.
🚫 Don’t rely on marine greases for durability.
Give your drivetrain the love it deserves, and it’ll pay you back with smoother shifts, faster rides, and fewer mid-ride mechanicals.
