How do you properly lube a hardtail mountain bike?

Question

I just got a Giant hardtail mountain bike and I just wanted to know how to and how often should I lube the various components of the bike. I’m using the bike mostly for short-range travel every few days if that helps.

Answer 1

This should help:

http://amlingscycle.com/page.cfm?pageID=...

Rule of thumb is to lube all moving parts. The most critical part to maintain is the chain. After every ride clean the chain and lube again if necessary. Since you do short-range riding, I would recommend lubing the chain every 2-4 rides (depending on the condition of the ride). If you ride in an area with little to no dirt, then you can clean/lube your bike once a week. If you ride dirt trails, you may have to clean after every ride.

Answer 2

You can buy lube products from Blue Sky Cycling, Price Point.com.  Lube them when you had been riding in the rain ( apply it when the moisture has all dried up to avoid the worst enemy of drivetrains--RUST!!!) and when extreme heat is around.