Recommend a regular lubricant / oil
Discussion
I have been neglecting my chain and cassette again and its a bit grindy so I have just washed the bike down and want to get some sort of cheap spray that I can just spray on once a week or so after a wash to keep things in check.
I have WD40 and have been advised to use it, however I know some say do not use that as it stretches the chain / has a negative affect on the mechanics.
Any recommendations for a lube or spray I can just chuck on fairly frequently and forget about?
I have WD40 and have been advised to use it, however I know some say do not use that as it stretches the chain / has a negative affect on the mechanics.
Any recommendations for a lube or spray I can just chuck on fairly frequently and forget about?
For my commuter and winter road bike after every long ride or weekly commuteS:
Run baby wipes through chain to get mud off
GT85 or teflon spray to clean off oil and muck and clean up mechs and cables
Run the chain through a cloth with the above to clean it
Wet lube dropped on every link (muc off)
In the summer I swap the wet lube for dry lube
I did used to use just GT40 in summer , was good as it attracted minimal dirt, but is too thin, so chain was loud and not as well lubricated
Run baby wipes through chain to get mud off
GT85 or teflon spray to clean off oil and muck and clean up mechs and cables
Run the chain through a cloth with the above to clean it
Wet lube dropped on every link (muc off)
In the summer I swap the wet lube for dry lube
I did used to use just GT40 in summer , was good as it attracted minimal dirt, but is too thin, so chain was loud and not as well lubricated
GT85 and WD40 are not really lubricants, the latter certainly is not - they're water displacers (WD stands for that) not what I'd ever tell someone to use as a lube.
You should get some lubricant, to suit conditions. Finish line dry good for dry weather, and wet is good for more wintery conditions but it does pick up a bit more crap, but can't odds that.
You should get some lubricant, to suit conditions. Finish line dry good for dry weather, and wet is good for more wintery conditions but it does pick up a bit more crap, but can't odds that.
As above, GT85 to 'polish' my frame or stop tight things squeaking, don't use WD40 but it can be used to dry chains or the like.
It's not a lube though.
If you're not fussed about the best brands, forgive me but you don't sound like a die-hard cyclist, take yourself to one of the Super Markets, Tesco usually have a few odd things - buy 'Wet' chain lube - they've usually got Muc-Off Brand. Put bike upside down, dribble a little on the chain as you cycle it, leave it for a bit - 10 mins / over night, it's not that important. Then with a cleanish rag or decent thick kitchen roll (Regina Blitz is the best) cycle the chain whilst rubbing against the rag/roll to take of the excess too much is as damaging as too little – it collects too much crap and becomes a sort of grinding paste.
Unless you're riding through a swamp or fording rivers everyday you'll be good for at least a couple of weeks. You can switch to dry lube in summer if you wish, it collects less detritus, but washes off relatively easily - given it rains fairly often in the UK year round, it's not always ideal for the low-maintenance rider.
It's not a lube though.
If you're not fussed about the best brands, forgive me but you don't sound like a die-hard cyclist, take yourself to one of the Super Markets, Tesco usually have a few odd things - buy 'Wet' chain lube - they've usually got Muc-Off Brand. Put bike upside down, dribble a little on the chain as you cycle it, leave it for a bit - 10 mins / over night, it's not that important. Then with a cleanish rag or decent thick kitchen roll (Regina Blitz is the best) cycle the chain whilst rubbing against the rag/roll to take of the excess too much is as damaging as too little – it collects too much crap and becomes a sort of grinding paste.
Unless you're riding through a swamp or fording rivers everyday you'll be good for at least a couple of weeks. You can switch to dry lube in summer if you wish, it collects less detritus, but washes off relatively easily - given it rains fairly often in the UK year round, it's not always ideal for the low-maintenance rider.
Dispense with all the oil based lubricants, and the degreasing, etc, etc.
Use 'Squirt' dry lube instead. Simple to use, buy a new chain, thoroughly degrease it just the once. Dry it and slather it in 'Squirt'. This'll then dry to a wax, filling any voids between pins and rollers, but because it's dry it won't flick off onto your frame, turn black and sticky, nor attract dirt or grit.
After a ride, just run the chain under the applicator nozzle on the bottle, coating each roller. The lubricant, in it's wet form, will trickle into any new voids, and harden as a wax again. Because the voids are filled, water pretty much can't get in to cause corrosion, and any excess (so long as you let it dry before riding) will just fall off as small lumps of wax.
It keeps chains clean, quiet, and so far as I've been able to tell, even extends their service life. Better still, once you've cleaned and degreased your cassette, it ought to stay clean instead of turning an oily black, as there's no sticky residue for dirt and such to stick to. If you want to clean the chain, use a scrubbing brush, or an old nail brush, etc, to break off the bulk of the wax and then clean it in soapy water, dry and repeat from the start.
I ran out of 'Squirt' and decided to use a proprietry wet lube over the winter on my MTB. This turned out to be a mistake as the chain and cassette were beyond salvation after only 350 miles (sandy heaths hereabouts form a grinding paste with any sort of wet lube) whereas the previous chain and cassette were good for over 1,000 miles with the 'Squirt'. I'm ordering another bottle now, so I can repeat the experiment to prove beyond doubt that it's the lube (and not general weather conditions) that was responsible for the difference in chain life, but even if my wild claim isn't true, the reduction in dirty, messy, time consuming chain maintenance is definitely worth it.
I first found out about the stuff as a sample given out by 'Squirt' as sponsors of a MTB race weekend I attended. I bluffed my way to several extra sample bottles, and then bought a larger bottle myself. I've nothing to do with the company, even if parts of this post might read like advertising copy.
Be careful if/when you buy, though. Apparently the larger size bottle (500ml) doesn't ship with an applicator nozzle, so you'll need either the 120ml bottle (usually £7 to £8) or an old sample size bottle to decant it into. Because it dries to a wax quite quickly, I also keep a topped-up sample size bottle in my saddlebag/rucksack in case I feel the need to re-treat the chain during a long ride.
Wiggle have it, not sure where else you can get it...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/lubrication/?ea=4294...
...£7.19 per 120ml bottle, or £25.95 for the 500ml size.
I'm pretty convinced by the efficacy of it. The 120ml bottle lasted me from March to about October covering about 2,000 miles on my MTB. You'd use less on a road bike, I think, so I'd anticipate a 500ml bottle lasting me the full year (6,000-ish miles) on both road and mountain bikes. Maybe even try hitting Squirt's website up for a sample? After the initial faff of de-greasing the chain completely, it's so much less fuss than anything else I've used.
It claims to be...
100% biodegradeable
Solvent free (although technically I think it uses water as a solvent if we're to be pedantic)
Long lasting wax based lubricant
For road and mountain bike
For wet and dry conditions
The other one I've been considering is Purple Extreme, but it's really quite expensive and although it gets rave reviews I cannot help with any personal experience of using it.
Ultimately...
Use 'Squirt' dry lube instead. Simple to use, buy a new chain, thoroughly degrease it just the once. Dry it and slather it in 'Squirt'. This'll then dry to a wax, filling any voids between pins and rollers, but because it's dry it won't flick off onto your frame, turn black and sticky, nor attract dirt or grit.
After a ride, just run the chain under the applicator nozzle on the bottle, coating each roller. The lubricant, in it's wet form, will trickle into any new voids, and harden as a wax again. Because the voids are filled, water pretty much can't get in to cause corrosion, and any excess (so long as you let it dry before riding) will just fall off as small lumps of wax.
It keeps chains clean, quiet, and so far as I've been able to tell, even extends their service life. Better still, once you've cleaned and degreased your cassette, it ought to stay clean instead of turning an oily black, as there's no sticky residue for dirt and such to stick to. If you want to clean the chain, use a scrubbing brush, or an old nail brush, etc, to break off the bulk of the wax and then clean it in soapy water, dry and repeat from the start.
I ran out of 'Squirt' and decided to use a proprietry wet lube over the winter on my MTB. This turned out to be a mistake as the chain and cassette were beyond salvation after only 350 miles (sandy heaths hereabouts form a grinding paste with any sort of wet lube) whereas the previous chain and cassette were good for over 1,000 miles with the 'Squirt'. I'm ordering another bottle now, so I can repeat the experiment to prove beyond doubt that it's the lube (and not general weather conditions) that was responsible for the difference in chain life, but even if my wild claim isn't true, the reduction in dirty, messy, time consuming chain maintenance is definitely worth it.
I first found out about the stuff as a sample given out by 'Squirt' as sponsors of a MTB race weekend I attended. I bluffed my way to several extra sample bottles, and then bought a larger bottle myself. I've nothing to do with the company, even if parts of this post might read like advertising copy.
Be careful if/when you buy, though. Apparently the larger size bottle (500ml) doesn't ship with an applicator nozzle, so you'll need either the 120ml bottle (usually £7 to £8) or an old sample size bottle to decant it into. Because it dries to a wax quite quickly, I also keep a topped-up sample size bottle in my saddlebag/rucksack in case I feel the need to re-treat the chain during a long ride.
Wiggle have it, not sure where else you can get it...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/lubrication/?ea=4294...
...£7.19 per 120ml bottle, or £25.95 for the 500ml size.
I'm pretty convinced by the efficacy of it. The 120ml bottle lasted me from March to about October covering about 2,000 miles on my MTB. You'd use less on a road bike, I think, so I'd anticipate a 500ml bottle lasting me the full year (6,000-ish miles) on both road and mountain bikes. Maybe even try hitting Squirt's website up for a sample? After the initial faff of de-greasing the chain completely, it's so much less fuss than anything else I've used.
It claims to be...
100% biodegradeable
Solvent free (although technically I think it uses water as a solvent if we're to be pedantic)
Long lasting wax based lubricant
For road and mountain bike
For wet and dry conditions
The other one I've been considering is Purple Extreme, but it's really quite expensive and although it gets rave reviews I cannot help with any personal experience of using it.
Ultimately...
Dizeee said:
...Any recommendations for a lube or spray I can just chuck on fairly frequently and forget about?
...and in my opinion 'Squirt' dry lube ticks that box in a big way. It's not a spry, but is really easy to apply between rides, and doesn't need cleaning off between applications.Edited by yellowjack on Tuesday 17th January 12:45
Dizeee said:
I have been neglecting my chain and cassette again and its a bit grindy so I have just washed the bike down and want to get some sort of cheap spray that I can just spray on once a week or so after a wash to keep things in check.
I have WD40 and have been advised to use it, however I know some say do not use that as it stretches the chain / has a negative affect on the mechanics.
Any recommendations for a lube or spray I can just chuck on fairly frequently and forget about?
Meh. I have WD40 and have been advised to use it, however I know some say do not use that as it stretches the chain / has a negative affect on the mechanics.
Any recommendations for a lube or spray I can just chuck on fairly frequently and forget about?
One of those chain holder/roller things
Some WD40, GT85, brake/carb cleaner
Rags
Lube (f
k all this marketing bks)Remove wheel
Hold chain in place using holder/roller
Spray rag with GT85/whatever
Spin chain through rag til shiny
Wipe jockey wheels and chainrings
Oil roller/sideplate area
Spin chain
Wipe off excess from all side of chain
Replace wheel
Repeat regularly.
Don't need anything fancy and you certainly don't need to degrease the chain every 100km. Just keep the outside clean and the inside wet. Done.
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