Review - SRAM Chains with PowerLink

I just cleaned my road bike and wanted to make a quick post about how great a certain type of chain can be.  SRAM makes a chain with a "PowerLink" - a link that seperates into two pieces and allows you to take the chain completely off the bike in seconds and with no tools.

If you get a chain that quickly comes off, you can get your bike REALLY clean, really quickly.  If you can clean your bike well in a short amount of time, you're much more likely do do it often, improving speed and also saving bucks on worn out parts.

If you haven't discovered this product/feature yet, here's how it works best -

• Squeeze the pins together in a certain fashion, chain pops completely off the bike.
• Put the chain in a small container, spray in some degreaser.  I use an empty Gatorade Powder container.
• Spray your chainrings and cassette with degreaser.
• Shake the heck out of the small container (lid closed) for a few minutes.  The shaking agitates all the grime off your chain.
• Use and old paintbrush and lay it into the cogs while you spin the rear wheel.  This gets all the grime off your cogs.
• Do the same with the front chainrings.
• Pull the chain out of the container.  Rinse it and your cogs/chainrings with water.
• Dry. (I go surf bike porn on the interwebs)
• Stand in stunned amazement at how unbelievably clean your chain just became.
• Pop chain back on.  Lube.  Ride.

It is absolutely AMAZING how fast and how clean you can get your drivetrain in just a matter or minutes by being able to pop the chain off and shake it in a container with degreaser.

COMING SOON!

I just put Specialized Bar Phat gel handlebar pads on my bike.  I've only ridden it a few minutes on the rollers, but I'm already very impressed.  Full review after a few long rides.

Comments

[Susan Tomlinson]

What a coincidence! I just did this in fact. I even have the Sram chain link thingy--have had it for a couple of years since I'm kind of picky about cleaning my chain (it was that dang bike maintenance class I took that made me this way...I do love a clean chain.)