All othe bike lubes are crap

Except that stuff.

Ah heck that ain't true. But if you are using a wet lube. Don't waste ya cash.

Chain lube though brings up something rather interesting.

For eons - decades at least. I've been vehemently opposed to cleaning the chain with a water based degreaser for routine "cleaning."

Why? Why? so simple it is outrageous that people insist on continuing to 'clean' the chain with simple green or some watery orange surfactant. It doesn't clean. It removed the lubricant base and pushes surfactant molecules into the wear surfaces. see the problem is water and stuff bind to metal really well. Unless you are baking your chain afterwards or soaking it in something like WD-40 ya ain't no way no how gonna get all the degreaser off the chain. No way. No How. Bad for chain. Good if you own bike shop and make a few bucks on chains that wear out sooner than later. Good if you are selling the product that has to be over used when applying after degreasing.

Here's my problem with communicating my conundrum with this: I can visualize the whole process. The binding of the water and degreaser to the chain. The displacement of the wonderful slippery goodness of lubricant with the dirt that really is only on the outside of the chain...

It is why I really really like the Slick Willy Dry lube. It gets applied much the same way that you would use Voldoil EVerLube. You never "clean" the chain. You just start with a new chain and go from there. Lenny Zinn's ProLink Gold application recommendation is the same. Start with a new sticky chain. Over apply your lube of choice on a regular basis let it sit (for the dry stuff) for 10 minutes or a day, and then wipe the excess off with the dirt. Clean the der pullies and cassette and chain ring on a somewhat regular basis and you are all set.

That T-9 Stuff from boesheild is too much in the middle. The build up is rather extreme and it is sticky and gunks up the pullies and the cassette more than the Slick Willy stuff or a lightly applied wet lube.

So we've got three 6'6"+ dudes telling you how to care for your chain. All in the same manner. Zinn's method is linked above. ErikV's is over here. And well. Don't have to go far to find mine.

Apply lube. over apply. Wait. Wipe. Repeat as needed. And honestly these last few applications using the PB Blaster penetrant stuff I'm liking it. It smells funny. Always a good sign. That Campy Lube smells funny too and it is good stuff. I LOVE the catch phrase in that intro Flash Bit. "Don't bust your knuckles. BUST YOUR NUTS!" It doesn't leave too thick of a film of oil. And it keeps the darn chain quiet, even after a handful of wet rainy rides.

Go back a ways. Remember those first chain cleaning devices? The selling point for Park's (IIRC) silicone based cleaner was that the solvent was a lubricant and a cleaner unlike degreasers alone. Made sense then. Makes sense now.

When I see someone loading up a chain cleaner with simple green or something like that my spine crawls and i want to begin to get evangelical on them. But. I've given up when it comes to some people. Obviously I haven't given up on everyone.

But. Hey.

Don't use a degreaser on your chain? M'Kay? Just like you don't point the power washer 1 cm away from the bearing races. Don't dump the degreaser on the chain. Common sense. Component longevity. Sure spray the crap out of the frame with the simple green. Clean the dirt off those places with it. Just not the chain.

Clean is good. Well lubed is better.

I mean everyone knows how much better things are well lubed! Right?

Now go get your mineral spirits and Mobil 1, and remember: It is called EVerLube.

Heddwch
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