None of us wants to end up like Andromeda, chained to a rock. But don\’t we sometimes feel chained to our bicycles by the need to maintain that chain?

There are a variety of products available for chain care. I ended up using Rock N Roll lube, because I wanted a self-cleaning lube. Keeping the chain clean (or at least reasonably so) helps it to last a bit longer, I would say.

I tried a chain scrubber gadget; but the trouble with such a method is that I\’m left with jars of oily, detergent-y water. You\’re not supposed to put such things in the regular trash, or down the drain; and the only toxic-waste drop-off facility that I could find in the area is at an inconvenient location.

I might need to lube my bicycles\’ chains a bit more often than I do. Every 300 miles might not be quite enough. A lube job is rather tedious, because I need to hook the bike into the trainer. That lets me turn the pedals freely without having to work to keep the bicycle upright; but for the road bike, it means swapping skewers in the rear wheel. It\’s not difficult; but it\’s a nuisance.

It\’s also important to keep an eye on the chain and replace it as needed. A worn chain wears down gear teeth, and replacing a cassette costs considerably more than replacing a chain.

All this chain stuff makes me feel like Andromeda; but could we say that chains are another thing that link us cyclists together?