Removing the rear wheel opens up access to tight areas around the drivetrain, chainstays, and rear triangle that are difficult to reach otherwise. The problem is that without the wheel in place, the chain goes slack and drops onto your chainstay, potentially scratching paint or carbon and making it impossible to spin the drivetrain for cleaning or lubing. The Pedro's Chain Keeper slots into the rear dropout in place of your wheel, maintaining chain tension so you can pedal backward through the cassette and derailleur while the bike sits in a stand.

Installation mirrors a standard wheel change. Shift to the highest gear, remove the wheel, position the Chain Keeper beneath the upper chain run, and push it into the dropout while pivoting the derailleur back. The quick-release lever clamps the unit in place just like a skewer would secure your wheel. The body rotates to let you fine-tune chain tension, and a deep groove guides the chain to prevent it from jumping off during cleaning. You get full forward and backward rotation of the drivetrain, which is exactly what you need when running a chain through a cleaning device or applying fresh lube.

Beyond cleaning, the Chain Keeper works well for storage and transport situations where you need to pack the bike with the wheel removed. Keeping tension on the chain prevents it from flopping around, catching on frame tubes, or accumulating damage during travel. Note that this version uses a quick-release skewer and is designed for QR dropout frames. If you're running 12mm thru-axle, Pedro's offers their Pro Chain Keeper or Travel Keeper for thru-axle compatibility.