To Lube or not

[kunalraiker]

That seams excessive to me and I would be very disappointed if I found my chain needed attention that often. On a road bike I don't see why 500km shouldn't be a reasonable goal.

I do my chains after every ride, not that they need it but it's called maintenance.


Maybe someone's chain might not need the attention, but over lubing the chain is better than under lubing.


(Not aimed at sblack)

I find it strange that people will spend anywhere from $300-$30K on a bicycle then they'll try to skimp on doing the most basic of maintenance, a litre bottle of Pro Gold cost around $40, why would you not do your chain often, considering the replacement cost of the chain, cassette, derailleur freewheels, etc.

Use whatever brand works best for you, do it often, what cost maybe 50cents now will save you bigger dollars in the long run.

Commuting the whole week with the squeaking sound has made it worse to an extend that the gears were extremely rough while shifting.I feel I should've lubricated it better.

[Shpox]

On the same page as Wal here. I like ensuring my drivetrain is clean. I like ensuring my bike is also clean.

For those with expensive bikes and a bigger wallet, sure, cleaning a chain whenever you like probably wont have any ill effects. A brand new Ultegra chainis $26.00 from Wiggle regardless.

This practice is entirely subjective. Lube when you want. I'll stick to my 100km's.

[RonK]

I do my chains after every ride, not that they need it but it's called maintenance.

C'mon Wal - that's not maintenance. That's OCD!

[il padrone]

For those with expensive bikes and a bigger wallet, sure, cleaning a chain whenever you like probably wont have any ill effects. A brand new Ultegra chainis $26.00 from Wiggle regardless.

When I built up my Thorn Nomad I bought three KMC X8 chains from Wiggle for $11 each. I have rotated them on the bike, currently the first chain is pretty well done, the other two have done 3000kms each and will do another 3000 easily. The bike is currently 2 years old/13,000kms and I'd expect I'll get another year/7000kms out of the chains. Then I'll need to change the chain-ring and sprocket as well - when I'm going to use a Surly SS ring and run a Chainglider for clean chains

$33 for 3 years/20,000kms is not what I would call expensive

[il padrone]

I do my chains after every ride, not that they need it but it's called maintenance.

C'mon Wal - that's not maintenance. That's OCD!

[kunalraiker]

Where can I find Rock and Roll Gold at the lowest price currently.

[Mulger bill]

http://byke.com.au/
http://frugalrouleur.com/

[mitzikatzi]

Where can I find Rock and Roll Gold at the lowest price currently.

Google

Cell bikes sell 480ml bottles for $30 and $25 when on sale.
Goldgross $40 pick up only.
$36 free post from LeTour maybe cheaper to pick up?

[singlespeedscott]

Apply heaps, consider it a cleaner, not a lube.

The best advice I've seen on here. I thoroughly agree.

I clean all the external crap of the chain, chainring and cassette with baby wipes. Next I lube the bee jeezus out of the chain using 4 stroke motorcycle engine oil. Spin the cranks over for 30 secs and wipe over everything again and it's good to go.

I've tried everything else and this works the best for me. I also never remove my chain to clean it. Once it's on the bike it stays there till it dies.

[kunalraiker]

Where can I find Rock and Roll Gold at the lowest price currently.

Google

Cell bikes sell 480ml bottles for $30 and $25 when on sale.
Goldgross $40 pick up only.
$36 free post from LeTour maybe cheaper to pick up?

Cell Bikes is the cheapest but has shipping cost grrrr.

[human909]

I lube when needed which is probably every 3 months or so. Lubing after every ride is just OCD but each to their own. It is totally unnecessary though.

[eeksll]

I lube mine when I notice the chain noise is louder. Sometimes if I am bored I might go clean the chain and give it some lube.

I am not entirely convinced that lube makes the shifting any better or worse.

[human909]

I lube mine when I notice the chain noise is louder. Sometimes if I am bored I might go clean the chain and give it some lube.

I am not entirely convinced that lube makes the shifting any better or worse.

Agreed. Chain lube mostly there to ensure that the rollers roll smoothly and the links rotate smoothly about the pins.

[Rex]

In my routine I do this about every 500-600kms. The chain looks like this (before cleaning, after about 1300kms IIRC):

That is very clean after 500km.
When I use PE the chain is very black after a few hundred km's

What is your application method? 1 drop per roller?

[il padrone]

Hi

I don't get much black gunge at all. I lube the chain - a small drop on each link - then I spin the chain and wipe it afterwards with a rag. In between re-lubing I might wipe it if it gets gungy at all, but really it doesn't do this for me. I ride mainly on tarmac for my commute, but do plenty of dirt road riding on weekend tours.

[mitzikatzi]

Some comments on using Squirt at Crazy guy on a bike

THE PERFECT LONG LASTING WAX BASED DRY LUBE

We pedaled 3500km on different road conditions, and have never cleaned our chains and cassette.
The chain runs smoothly, the shifting is perfect and the lube last longer.
We apply a coating of Squirt three times a week on the inside of the chain.

[il padrone]

Yes, pretty much the same experience on our tour from Melbourne to Mt Sarah (beyond Oodnadatta) using Purple Extreme. 3500kms. Never cleaned down the chain or cassette. We rode main roads and highways to Adelaide, the Mawson Trail north of there (farmer's roads and gravel tracks with some main road sections) to the northern Flinders Ranges, then outback gravel roads to Arkaroola and along the Oodnadatta Track.

In fact I only re-lubed the chain about every 1-2 weeks for the first 6 weeks; then more often, about once every two days on the dry dusty conditions of the outback.


Check out the chain condition amongst all this mud !!

[eeksll]

Some comments on using Squirt at Crazy guy on a bike

We pedaled 3500km on different road conditions, and have never cleaned our chains and cassette.
The chain runs smoothly, the shifting is perfect and the lube last longer.
We apply a coating of Squirt three times a week on the inside of the chain.

that is ALOT of lubing.

I use this on my commuter, it is quite decent, seems to last a bit even in the rain. And runs real quiet. Got to try the PE some time, I have a bottle of it, although the runny-ness of it doesn't inspire real confidence in me. Seems to last longer than pro-link gold stuff, but I never got real good mileage with that like other forumites ...

[il padrone]

Yes, PE is quite liquid, runs like water. Just put a drop on across the chain at each pin. It does work, and very well. Does not get badly gunged up.

This is the chain when I took it off after 3500kms of riding into the outback.

[Mulger bill]

Pete put me on to PE a few years back now and I'm still thanking him for it.