Wet season drivetrain care in ten minutes a week

A chain worn past 0.75% stretch will chew through a cassette in weeks. In a climate where you can ride through three downpours in a week, that happens faster than most riders expect.

The routine is simple. After any wet ride, wipe the chain down with a dry rag while backpedalling. You are not trying to clean it, only to lift the grit off before it grinds into the rollers.

Once a week, degrease properly, dry the chain, then apply wet lube one drop per roller. Backpedal for thirty seconds, then wipe every trace off the outside. Lube belongs inside the rollers. Anything on the outside is just glue for road dust.

Check chain wear monthly with a wear gauge. They cost about the price of two coffees and will tell you when to swap the chain before it damages anything else.

Bring the bike in if shifting still hesitates after all that. Nine times out of ten it is a stretched cable or a bent hanger, and both are quick fixes.