newcastlecycling

Hill Billy,

Kero then a teflon enhanced light oil.  I do use wax lubricants, like White Lightening, on my MTB but hate using it on my road bike.  Besides, the oil smeels nice.

I am a fan of quick links but only because I do not like the Shimano snap off pin (the margin for error is high, esp with 10 speed, and consequences of error are also high).  I do not use the quick link so I can remove the chain for cleaning, just to provide a dumb proof and reliable method of joining the chain.  Some of the 10 speed "quick links" (I know that is a brand, but you know what I mean) are a one closure system.

I use one of those chain cleaning tools (with the 3 brush wheels) - I do 2 or 3 washes with kero, give the chainrings and cassete a scrib with a brush dipped in kero, then a quick rinse off with the hose.  I then give the whole bike a quick wash, then return to the drivetrain with an old rag to polish up the shiny bits.  

I usually get well over 3000 km out of a chain, and I ride in all weather and put out more power more of the time than most (not a gloat, but if I travel the same speed as Key and he weighs about half of what I weigh then I am necessarily putting out more power to do so).

Remember - chains are cheap but cassettes and chainrings are not.  

Also remember - time spent cleaning your bike could be spent in the coffee shop talking about how good you were or would like people to think you were - do not waste lots of time cleaning your chain but yanking your chain.

MC