Clean Chains - Chain Maintenance

jizer ? is that like fizzy jizz ?

It's something I grew up with when working on cars and motorbikes - some people preferred Gunk.

or

I don't actually wax my chain every couple of days. Thats how long it takes to dry out and become noisy again though, which is usually an indication it needs some lubrication and TLC.

it sound like you put too much that the lube collect the grit and dirt that make the chain noisy again.

I just stuck some teflon lube on my chain the other day .... on the bike that doesn't get cleaned, couldn't find any real cycle oil to stick on there.

it sound like you put too much that the lube collect the grit and dirt that make the chain noisy again.

wax lube does not attract grit though[t].

I think everyone should try Green Oil.

wax lube does not attract grit though[t].

I think everyone should try baby oil wrestling.
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How to pronounce メンテルーブ? My LBS stores everything on the back...

+1 to green oil (and all their other products)

it sound like you put too much that the lube collect the grit and dirt that make the chain noisy again.

As Ved said, wax lube doesn't collect much dirt. And I don't anyway, I just ride my bike all day every day so the wax lube wears off a lot faster than you'd expect. Oh and the rain washes the stuff off in no time if the weather turns to shit, which it has been doing lately.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/finish-line/teflon-plus-dry-lube-12oz-aerosol-ec005515?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

Yeah that's what I currently have, an absolute bargain at only £11 a can.

For the last six weeks or so I have been lubing my chain with.... olive oil. Works just fine, don't notice any difference in how it rides or the amount of dirt it collects. And that was couriering in all the snow and rain we've had. I will be moving on to the cheapest available vegetable oil next. I think what you lube your chain with is a lot less important than how much you use and how often you clean it. Use as little as possible and wipe off any excess and clean your chain at least every week and that will profit you more than any expensive so-called cycle specific dry or wet lube.

Olive oil huh? Will give this a go when current oil stocks run out. Cheers!

I cleaned my bike just recently and instead of cleaning, degreasing and re-lubricating the chain, I skipped the first two steps. The chain is still sounding crunchy but at least it's shiny... Argh.

Wet lube is my choice in the winter, one rain shower and dry lube fecks off and you end up with a rusty chain!

This thread encouraged me to clean my bike for the first time in a couple of months today, managed to get my finger caught between the sprocket and chain, fuck me did it hurt!

Seriously I use a bit of tissue for the grease give the chain a run through until all the shit if off of it and stick some halfords bog standard lube ... no noise ... smooth operation.

The Best Bicycle oil is the sturmey archer stuff though that seems to have a 70s designed can ... doesn't seem to attract shit ... not too heavy and lubricates well ... now if I could only find somewhere to get it from.

I have heard of mountain bikers using Chain saw grease/lube on their chains ... If you think about it ... it makes perfect sense. Chainsaws are cutting up mafia ganstas/trees/animals/zombies ... all which have lots of sticky and icky bits, the lube is designed to have the right viscous properties to work when there is lots of foreign objects in it ... similarly with mountain bikes you need to have ur chain running smooth while there is lots of mud and grit in it ... makes sense no?

As Ved said, wax lube doesn't collect much dirt. And I don't anyway, I just ride my bike all day every day so the wax lube wears off a lot faster than you'd expect. Oh and the rain washes the stuff off in no time if the weather turns to shit, which it has been doing lately.

Wax lube is a load of crapola ... chain seems to work shit after putting it on even on the first day ... and for £8 a pop for white lightening ... no thanks.

I have used 3 in 1 oil to halfords cheapo jobby basic lube and they work fine ... makes your trousers dirty if you don't roll them up though ... pretty good oil 3 in 1, cheap and can be found everywhere ...

Anyway Why are people buying £10 bottles of Wax Lube when a new chain cost between £3 and £15 quid? Seems a bit stupid.

Anyway modern chains are soo good that it really doesn't matter as there is some sort of lubrication ... been getting away with spraying teflon greese on the chain as I don't have any cycle oil ... now if anything is going to be non-stick it is going to be teflon.

Replacing a chain is so wasteful, when five minutes of work every couple of weeks can keep them going longer. Like you say, a quick wipe down and lube is all it takes.

Let's not fuck about here;

and for £8 a pop for white lightening ... no thanks.

I get it for £4.

Let's not fuck about here;

I want this.

I want this.

It's good on chips.

No it's not.

Replacing a chain is so wasteful, when five minutes of work every couple of weeks can keep them going longer. Like you say, a quick wipe down and lube is all it takes.

I have to agree usually ...

However I have been running the same chain for a year on my Mountain Bike/Beater with almost zero maintenence ... I have ridden off road ... ridden to work and uni everyday for some time, I think I have lubed the chain 3 or 4 times max in that time and never clean it off... the bike is running alright even though the chain looked fucked. I accept that if it wasn't a single speed it probably be working awful ... but that is why I ride a single speed as a commuter ... buggar all maintenence.

My brake cables need more lubing than the chain does. Modern chains are just soo damn good they don't really need the attention.

I get it for £4.

I get 3 in 1 oil for ... £fuck all.

wax is the way forward but single speed chains dont need too much TLC as others have suggested. Cost of wax should be off set against the cost of replacing a prematurely aging chain and worse, new chainring / cog...

Teflon is nasty stuff. Avoid.

Why?

I guess it depends on your mileage too; commuter v courier mileage. But again I suggest to anyone who hasn't cleaned their chain recently to do so and then if you don't notice a big difference I will refund you the cost of a new chain*

*this is a lie