The Backwoodsman: The Park Tool Chain Scrubber

I have never been great at keeping my bikes in good order. I tend to ride them until there is a problem, and then give them a major overhaul. I recently resolved to change this and have in recent weeks set up a proper workshop for storing and working on my bikes. Proper maintenance has a number of advantages, a well maintained and adjusted bike is easier to cycle and will cover the distance with less energy used. Components that are kept clean will run better and last longer.

Chain Scrubber

My conversion to this new way of working was prompted by the realisation that like many people who have lived in an oil powered society I have been casual about minding tools and machines. With every thing so cheap I have become used to heedlessly using things up, throwing them away and buying a new one. In the future bikes and bike parts will become more expensive and we will all need to take more care of them.

In particular moving parts benefit from proper maintainance and on a bike the biggest number of moving parts by far are in the chain. I got 8000 km out of the first chain on my Raleigh Oakland and resolved to maintain the new one better (see Raleigh Oakland Reviewed Part 3).

To do this I bought the Park Tool Chain Scrubber. I’ve used it today for the first time to clean the chains on my hybrid and road bike. It took about about a minute to do each bike and there was no need to take the chain off. The chains were scrubbed perfectly clean. An hour in the sunshine and they were dry and ready to be lubed.

Old Chain on top note the stretch

I used Bikehut Extreme Bike Cleaner from Halfords in the chain scrubber which I had in stock, but I read online that warm water and washing up liquid will work just as well.

This is a fantastic little machine and I will never again suffer a dirty chain. It is solid and well made and spare parts are available so I look forward to many years of service. If you have a bike and it does not have a full chainguard buy this machine and use it regularly. You will save chain wear and you will save energy every time you cycle.

Park Tool Chain Scrubber €28.99 from Chain Reaction Cycles