chain lube recommendations and thoughts

ParaHappyman

Hi! New to road cycling but a couple of quick questions. Do the majority of you use wet chain lube for this time of the year? Also looking for recommendations for lube. I was looking at finish line dry.and wet to get me started but also not sure if I should go for the wet 'cross country' or the finish line ceramic wet lube? Thanks in advance. Cheers

Seweryn

ParaHappyman wrote: »

Hi! New to road cycling but a couple of quick questions. Do the majority of you use wet chain lube for this time of the year? Also looking for recommendations for lube. I was looking at finish line dry.and wet to get me started but also not sure if I should go for the wet 'cross country' or the finish line ceramic wet lube? Thanks in advance. Cheers

There will be a lot of various recommendations on this subject.

I stopped using wet lubes about two years ago, as I hate dirty chains and components.

There are two chain lubes I use at the moment:





Both are good, and I am awaiting another product very shortly that I will be testing.

Alek

How often do you have to apply dry lube in Irish winter ?

Darkglasses

I use this one, available in Halfords



It's a bit thicker than most oils, so you can put a lot less on. Lasts absolutely ages, very clean. I give the chain a good wipe down after every ride, and then apply a few drops. Chain's still sparkling after 4k km.

ckeego

I am trying this one at the moment..

It is quite light, so just a few drops after each ride and a quick wipe keeps the chain clean-it also runs very smooth also.

The heavier wet lubes (such as White Lightning so called Clean Ride) are prone to picking up an awful lot of dirt and can leave you with some job cleaning the chain, and indeed chainset and cassette.

If it is a road bike/commuter, I would recommend using mudguards-I have noticed a big difference in how much less dirt the drivetrain picks up.

Seweryn

Alek wrote: »

How often do you have to apply dry lube in Irish winter ?

Usually only once.

Per day.

ckeego wrote: »

If it is a road bike/commuter, I would recommend using mudguards-I have noticed a big difference in how much less dirt the drivetrain picks up.

Yeah, I can't imagine cycling every day without them. And not just because of the drivetrain. Even on a perfectly dry day, the roads are wet.

ford2600

Seweryn wrote: »

Usually only once.

Per day.


Yeah, I can't imagine cycling every day without them. And not just because of the drivetrain. Even on a perfectly dry day, the roads are wet.

Where do you buy the lube you linked?

Did you climb Ticincor and Powers's The Pot (up by hostel and tv mast) the other day. 400m of tough climbing.

I actually recognised area from photos the top, the Steel Bridge photo most would know

Briando

Not a fan of oil lubs either as i tend to get it all over my hands as I take the wheel off a lot.

Using the TF2 Teflon Spray year round and it goes a great job for me. I only cycle on the road so if you are doing cycle cross or MTB maybe something else would be better suited.

Alek

Once per day. Well - what happens after 10 applications? Where does the build up go?

Also, does it keep reasonably well in the rain?

I use Weldtite TF2 wet lube at the moment and apply it once a week, but I've noticed it can wear off within an hour or two of riding in light rain... hence I'm looking for better alternative.

( My bike is a filthy dog and I'm kinda used to it, but wouldn't mind if it wasn't )

Seweryn

ford2600 wrote: »

Where do you buy the lube you linked?

The first one (ProLink) I bought in the UK. The other one (Rock 'N' Roll Gold) I bought once in Australia and then in the US in larger quantities. Not sure if you can get them in Ireland (I couldn't find them). I tested a few lubes, but these are my favourites. The ProLink would be more winter-ish for me, although in this weather it still needs re-application after every longer ride. But it only takes two minutes and your chain stays clean. Interesting thing is these both lubes do not mix with each other.

I am now awaiting this one to give it a try and see if it is any better than the other lubes.

ford2600 wrote: »

Did you climb Ticincor and Powers's The Pot (up by hostel and tv mast) the other day. 400m of tough climbing.

I actually recognised area from photos the top, the Steel Bridge photo most would know

Yeah, I did last Sunday actually (I never new it was going to be as tough though). Do you live nearby by any chance? I cycled from home down to Carrick, then to Clonmel, Tickincor and Powers The Pot, Ballymacarbry, passed near Dungarvan, then back to Carrick and back home.

Seweryn

Alek wrote: »

Once per day. Well - what happens after 10 applications? Where does the build up go?

Before (and after) each application you give the chain a good wipe with a dry cloth or even soft paper and any residue or dirt will be wiped down.

Alek wrote: »

Also, does it keep reasonably well in the rain?

Yes, reasonably well, once you keep going. It doesn't like to stay without maintenance done after a particularly wet ride. But that rule applies to any lube.
I commute to work every day. It takes me about an hour each way, and on a wet day the lube does its job for two hours. However, if the weather is extremely wet, on the return spin home I can hear the chain screaming for lube, but that would only be on a very wet day, or after a very wet morning.

ford2600

Yeah, I did last Sunday actually (I never new it was going to be as tough though). Do you live nearby by any chance? I cycled from home down to Carrick, then to Clonmel, Tickincor and Powers The Pot, Ballymacarbry, passed near Dungarvan, then back to Carrick and back home.

Yeah from Ballymacarbry. Did that climb 9 times last year, don't ask why! Michael Ahern climbed ticincor in 10.30 I think last August. He must weigh 85kgs!

I used to hike for years on those hills before I got bike. My Meindl's are having a lovely time of it now!

I knew you were from kk side and guessed you took photographs on descent.

If I see a Cannondale with mudguards on my spins I'll be sure to say hello.

Seweryn

ford2600 wrote: »

Yeah from Ballymacarbry. Did that climb 9 times last year, don't ask why! Michael Ahern climbed ticincor in 10.30 I think last August. He must weigh 85kgs!

9 times for that torture ? I can only assume you did it in a space of time? It is a hell of a climb that I didn't realised, and I had a moment just before the steepest bit on the PTP when I thought I will fell off the feckin bike (I nearly did, it was that steep). But then I am very poor on climbs and have no performance in the legs, so no surprise really.

ford2600 wrote: »

I knew you were from kk side and guessed you took photographs on descent.

Yes, the first photo was taken around the highest point (pass the Powers The Pot), the next ones further down the descent.

ford2600 wrote: »

If I see a Cannondale with mudguards on my spins I'll be sure to say hello.

Thank you and it will be my pleasure to say hallo as well . I am very rarely in this area, but who knows, I may visit the place more often.
Oh yeah, it's hard to miss my silly bike :pac:.

ford2600

Thank you and it will be my pleasure to say hallo as well . I am very rarely in this area, but who knows, I may visit the place more often.
Oh yeah, it's hard to miss my silly bike

Nothing silly about mudguards, I won't leave home without them now!

There are a couple of lovely climbs in knockmealdowns to, Shanrahan, knockboy, Mellary if you ever venture that way.

Training for Audax at moment so thinking of extending my cycles north occasionally for variety. Mt Leinster and back in a day will be a good test. Will wait a month or so for that. Always liked Nore and Barrow valleys so must have a look into that area too.

Way off topic now!

Seweryn

ford2600 wrote: »

Nothing silly about mudguards, I won't leave home without them now!

Believe or not, I do not take them off for the summer time. Except when I went on holidays to continental Europe twice, and that was the only time I had the mudguards off the bike.

ford2600 wrote: »

There are a couple of lovely climbs in knockmealdowns to, Shanrahan, knockboy, Mellary if you ever venture that way.

Training for Audax at moment so thinking of extending my cycles north occasionally for variety. Mt Leinster and back in a day will be a good test. Will wait a month or so for that. Always liked Nore and Barrow valleys so must have a look into that area too.

Thank you. Because I commute to work, I do not have much energy left to do such long rides. I may change my schedule this year somehow to allow for a couple of long rides per month and I would love to discover more in the area.
Audax sounds like a monumental achievement to me. Good Luck with yours, it must be exciting. Would like to do one in the future, but would need to do a lot of training. And I only commute to work...

ford2600 wrote: »

Way off topic now!

Ups, sorry .

ford2600

Would like to do one in the future, but would need to do a lot of training.

If you got good advise from an experienced audax rider, maybe few rest days would benefit you more than more training.

Cycle three days to work maybe(probably not possible!) and a very long weekend spin and you'd be flying. In my limited experience rest is key if you want to improve, either faster or longer.

Youghal cycling club do the Vee challenge in August, €20 i I think, and it is a lovely route.

Anyway work calls!

Alek

I have shorter commute (10km one way) and my first 200k audax was not a problem at all. Had a handful of 70-100km rides before that only.

I'm sure you'll be grand Seweryn :-) (unless you're thinking about Fleche or the 1200km one!)

Seweryn

ford2600 wrote: »

If you got good advise from an experienced audax rider, maybe few rest days would benefit you more than more training.

Cycle three days to work maybe (probably not possible!) and a very long weekend spin and you'd be flying. In my limited experience rest is key if you want to improve, either faster or longer.

Thank you, that is sound advise. Less bike commuting may be complicated, but not impossible. And I know what you mean with the rest and recovery. I somehow can't get this into my mind, so any time I should take a rest, I am on the bike killing potential improvements.

equivariant

On the topic of chains - what is a typical lifespan for a chain/cassette?

I have had my Trek 1.1 road bike for about 6 months and have put about 3000km up on it (mostly on my daily commute). Had to get the chain and the cassette replaced yesterday - is this normal or does it sound a bit dodgy?

Seweryn

equivariant wrote: »

On the topic of chains - what is a typical lifespan for a chain/cassette?

Chain - my chain normally lasts 8 to, say 11k km before it gets streched to its service life limit. I believe the figures may be a good bit lower, if you do not maintain your chain regularly. A neglected chain can wear off very quickly.

Cassette - should last three chains in general, i.e. 20 - 30k km.

equivariant wrote: »

I have had my Trek 1.1 road bike for about 6 months and have put about 3000km up on it (mostly on my daily commute). Had to get the chain and the cassette replaced yesterday - is this normal or does it sound a bit dodgy?

Unlikely required, if you looked after the bike. If you did not, then you could wear off the chain and the cassette in no time.
However, as the cassette life goes, 3k km would be very low. Best thing if you can post a photo of your old cassette. If you do not have your old cassette, post a photo of your current drivetrain, before you clean it.

Seweryn

Seweryn wrote: »

I am now awaiting this one to give it a try and see if it is any better than the other lubes.

Postman just delivered this stuff:



So, looks like I will test this lube on my next ride. However, I just discovered that I need new jockey wheels or at least one (have spares, thankfully) and I am going to install a new set of BB bearings, to try out a different make. Jezis...

ckeego

Seweryn wrote: »

Postman just delivered this stuff:



So, looks like I will test this lube on my next ride. However, I just discovered that I need new jockey wheels or at least one (have spares, thankfully) and I am going to install a new set of BB bearings, to try out a different make. Jezis...

AHA! Just the man to ask the question to!!

Anything I need to watch out for changing jockey wheels (Campag Chorus 10 speed circa 2007)

Do I need to break the chain or can I just swap out the wheels?

Any idea of torque on the bolt?

Sorry for hijacking!!

Seweryn

ckeego wrote: »

Anything I need to watch out for changing jockey wheels (Campag Chorus 10 speed circa 2007)

Not sure about your particular groupset / derailleur, but just make sure to install both wheels into their positions, i.e. the top wheel is usually marked as "upper".
Secondly, the bottom wheel is usually directional, so watch out for a little arrow showing the direction the wheel should be rotating during pedalling action.

ckeego wrote: »

Do I need to break the chain or can I just swap out the wheels?

It would be slightly easier with the chain off, but no, you do not have to break it. Just undo the bolts holding the wheels and put everything back on with the chain between them.
With the chain off it would be handy if you have another pair of hands just to hold the derailleur cage in position.

ckeego wrote: »

Any idea of torque on the bolt?

You will feel it, but about 4Nm would be max.

ckeego wrote: »

Sorry for hijacking!!

No worries (sorry ParaHappyman) .

ckeego

Thanks for that seweryn!

You should have a daily show!

equivariant

Seweryn wrote: »

Chain - my chain normally lasts 8 to, say 11k km before it gets streched to its service life limit. I believe the figures may be a good bit lower, if you do not maintain your chain regularly. A neglected chain can wear off very quickly.

Cassette - should last three chains in general, i.e. 20 - 30k km.


Unlikely required, if you looked after the bike. If you did not, then you could wear off the chain and the cassette in no time.
However, as the cassette life goes, 3k km would be very low. Best thing if you can post a photo of your old cassette. If you do not have your old cassette, post a photo of your current drivetrain, before you clean it.

Thanks for the info. In terms of maintenance - I put lubricant on the chain every 2 or 3 days, but I didn't clean it in the last 6 months. I guess I will have to do better in future.

Seweryn

equivariant wrote: »

Thanks for the info. In terms of maintenance - I put lubricant on the chain every 2 or 3 days, but I didn't clean it in the last 6 months. I guess I will have to do better in future.

No worries. Cleaning the drivetrain will prolong the life of the components, so it is worth spending these few minutes per week. However, replacing the cassette after 3k km was probably unnecessary.

Seweryn

Seweryn wrote: »

Postman just delivered this stuff:



So, looks like I will test this lube on my next ride...

I have to say, so far I am very happy with this lube. This morning it was tested on an hour ride in heavy rain and yet on the evening return spin the chain still performed perfectly well. Any of my other lubes would not withstand conditions like today.
The chain is kept more less as clean as when using the ProLink lube, so all in all this product keeps proving to be really good.

531

How come 3in1 hasn't had its customary mention yet?