Bike gear lubrication?

Question

Dumb question here, but are there any pointers out there for/by cyclists on chain gear lubrication. Back in the day we just used WD-40 but are there some back alley secrets or specialized products for chain gears?

Answer 1

I bike in a crazy environment (can be muddy and super-dry) so I like to use a wax based lube like white lightning. Don't really have to think about it and I don't want to.

Clean your chain super well, apply it, let it soak in and wipe it back off.

I hear you can use a very light weight motor oil, apparently it works wonders and is super cheap... No personal experience on that though.

Answer 2

i use silicone spray, unlike WD it thickens into gel, instead of staying liquid.

careful around sparying the brakes, dont make my mistake =)

Answer 3

KY jelly.

Answer 4

Lately I've been using White Lightning "Clean" Lube, which is applied wet. It says that when any bits of dirt gets on the chain, the lube sort of goes solid and means the bits of dirt fall off.

Answer 5

WD 40 is a very poor lube, it's not designed to be a lube at all. There are no secrets the market is loaded with chain lubes or different types. Like someone stated, I use White Lightening too. It's a wax based chain lube that doesn't attract dirt. There are many other brands of different types as well. While a small bottle of chain lube may cost around $10 it lasts for years. Check out nashbar.com to see a selection of them for yourself.

Answer 6

I've tried White Lightning and was OK with it, but you have to apply it every ride. I switched to White Lightning Epic and found it too messy. I then switched again to Boeshield T9 and have been happy, so far.

There are lots of lubes out there and every one I've tried worked OK. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

There was a rumor going around one time that some of the fancier and more expensive lubes were just Mobil 1 synthetic oil died red and put into small bottles. Anyone heard anything about that?

HTH