Chain Lube

[Simon]

I think theres been a posting on this before but I couldn't find it,Just curious as to what chain lubes you use and why I like to use a dry lube that doesn't collect dirt/grit etc,up until now I've been using Pedro's ice wax which has been fine except in wet conditions, as its water based its washed off and my chain was getting noisier as the ride progressed,now using Finish line Krytech wax lube (recommended by sprucey) chain stays quiet & clean and it doesn't wash off,any others out there anyone would like to recommend.Simon [smiley=nod.gif]

[Phillip]

I've been using White Lightning (original formula) for 3 years with good results. However, 99% of my riding is in dry conditions. I'm not sure if White Lightning is any better than the lubes you have been using, try it out to see.

I've also experimented with Pedro's Extra Dry. It seems to lube a little better, but it's not as clean as the WL.

[Old Proflexer]

i've tried them all and keep coming back (this time to stay) to Pro Link

very happy with it, not sure why i try other stuff when it just plain works.  

i've got it all on my rides, dust, sand, water, and it's hard to find something that will last for the next 16 miles after two water crossings in the first mile - Pro Link is the only one that makes it thru clean and still working.

OP

[Sprucey]

As Simon has mentioned I favour Finishline Krytech in wet, muddy, sticky horrible UK winter condition- as we have at the moment!In the summer when it's dry I favour the Finishline teflon dry.

The best, in my opinion is Finishline XC wet lube but it leaves the chain very black and oily which I don't like as the bike has to be lifted in and out of cars a lot. It just means you have to be so careful when handling the bike. Also, I live in small cottage with no garage so the bikes live in doors - no room for black oily chains!

The only reaon I like these Finishline  lubes are that I sell them so maybe I'm biased. I did use the White-lightening for many years - its another durable wax, self cleaning system like the Krytech.

The Pedros stuff does not hack it in UK winter conditions.

As OP says, there are others out there - for me it's acase of what is readilyb available - through mine or other shops.

[jimbo]

I ride under all conditions.  Powdery dry, wet, and muck.  The only thing we don't have here is snow and ice.  

I've tried on kinds of lubes and they all have their pluses and minus.  Dry lubes are clean but wash off when wet.  Oil based lubes are great in the wet but get sucked dry in powdery and very muddy conditions.  

I've come across a couple lubes that are a cross of the oil and dry lubes.  One is the Maxima Chain Wax. This is actually a motocycle chain lube.  It is the longest lasting lube I've used bar none.  The bad is that it leaves a black waxy residue on the chainring, cassette and pulley which is a lot of work to clean.  The other is the White Lighting Extreme.  This is not the same as the regular White Lighting.  It appears to be similar to the Maxima Chain wax except a lot cleaner.  It does not leave any residue and does not last as long as the the Maxima.  

For my mountain bike, I use the White Lighting Extreme.  

For my road bike, I use Prolink.

For kids and cycling ingnorant friends, I use the Maxmia Chain Wax.  These folks have no concept of maintence so it works great for them.  I also like to spray the Maxima  Chain Wax on any parts that are prone to rust.  It leaves a cosmoline like film to keep parts from rusting.  Great for kids bikes and friends with cheap bikes.

http://www.maximausa.com/products/chainlubes/chainwax.asp

[Carbon_Angus]

i've tried them all and keep coming back (this time to stay) to Pro Link

very happy with it, not sure why i try other stuff when it just plain works.  

i've got it all on my rides, dust, sand, water, and it's hard to find something that will last for the next 16 miles after two water crossings in the first mile - Pro Link is the only one that makes it thru clean and still working.

OP

Yeah that great stuff in a cheap looking bottle is the BEST there is. Road, Mtn, SS, rain, mud, sand and shine

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[kiwi]

OP your regular ride has several creek crossing doesnt it?How does the pro link(I wonder why you REALLY like it..is it cos it reminds you of crusty ).Was talking to a guy from LA the other day says your neck of the woods is a nce area to live..how are things ...didnt you have fires recently?

[Gordo]

I live in NW Washington State where we get a lot of wet weather. I find the Finishline XC wet lube to work very well. I recently experimented with Pedro's wet lube and found that it does not work well in the wet. I have used pro-link and I found it is a very good summer lube but it is too thin for the winter conditions.
As far as Dry lubes go they don't work when the conditions are wet.    

[Old Proflexer]

OP your regular ride has several creek crossing doesnt it?How does the pro link(I wonder why you REALLY like it..is it cos it reminds you of crusty )...didnt you have fires recently?

big time fires my south pacific friend - many acres of prime land up in smoke along with many houses.  in a year or two, it'll be hard to tell that it ever happened with the way the open areas regenerate and how fast they rebuild neighborhoods.

as for my regular ride - yes, usually two creek crossings either at the beginning or end of the ride and usually 16 - 20 miles (whatever that is in kilometers)

it's hard to find the all around lube - as the thin dryer stuff fails with applied moisture in time and the oils for wet riding gather so much garbage on the chain and gears that one easily gets 'chain sucked'.  when i run a wetter style lube, cross the streams and hit the banks on the other side, the sand and dirt clogs my chains and gears to the point that the chain won't let go on the small chain ring.  on occasion i've had to take the bike back down to the water and spin the gears and chain to clear the mess and walk the bike out of the ravine area.  don't have that problem with pro link but if i run down the valley trail (8-10 water crossings)- i squeek and chirp all the way home.

no easy solution for me - never really got into the waxes but one of my friends is going thru them now as it's winter here.  "BOB" (and we all remember "BOB" now don't we), has switched to pro link as well.  I'd be interested in trying a good wax lube as i usually do the chain b4 each ride - i'm open to suggestions on a good one that doesn't cake up or gather garbage on the rings, gears and pulleys.

Krusty?  you're just trying to make me cry now aren't you?

OP

(oh gosh, hear it comes - - - - sniff, sniff)

[d1sc0ver]

I use Tri-Flow for everything.  I never get any excessive build up, although it's pretty much just dry and dusty here in so. AZ.

I started using it for the shafts on my shock and fork because of the Teflon benefit, but now I use it on the drivetrain as well.

[kiwi]

sorry OP my bad..I was certain that the dig in effect was called pro link on the wc frames but it is GLS  ground linking system....whew market speak......

[zulu]

  I have been using the Pro link lube for 8 months now and it seems to be working very well for me in a XC use with a few stream crossings and mostly dry to moist conditions. I was a die hard Tri-flow fan untill I was givin a bottle of Pro Link to try. It works great and dosent leave a big mess.
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