Bike Chain Lubrication
Next to maintaining air pressure in the tubes, lubing the chain is the most important bicycle maintenance procedure. Every cyclist needs to master chain lube basics.
What Lube?
Use a bicycle-specific lubricant. Do not use WD-40--that stuff is a degreaser and penetrate, not a lube, and it will hurt rather than help. Do not use motor oil. The majority of our mechanics prefer Teflon-based wet lubes, like Triflow and Prolink. The minority prefers wax-based dry lubes, which are discussed in a separate section.
Wet Lubes
How Often to Lubricate
Many people over-lubricate, resulting in a residue of greasy stuff that attracts filth to the chain and makes the situation worse. How often to lubricate depends on riding conditions. The wetter, the more often. The more off-road, the more often. The harder the riding, the more often. We lube every 3 to 5 rides in dry weather. But we do not glob on the lube.
How to Apply the Lubricant
The quick way is to spray an aerosol lube on the chain while rotating it with the pedals. Keep the lube away from your brake pads and wheels. Let it soak in a few minutes, so it will seep into all the crevices, then wipe the lube off the exterior parts of the chain.
To reemphasize--WIPE THE LUBE OFF THE EXTERIOR PARTS OF THE CHAIN.
Failure to remove excess lube will leave your chain coated with a wet oil which will attract dust, and the oily dust will harden and accumulate on your chain, jockey wheels, chain rings, and cassette, making a nasty, destructive mess.
Spray Aerosol Lube from behind the Cassette
The best way to apply the lube is to place a drop of lube on each chain pivot. Apply one drop per pivot on the side of the chain which touches the gears. This is easiest done by applying the lube to the top of the chain as it exits the rear derailleur. Rotate the chain a few times. Let the lube soak in. Then wipe off the excess lube.
Apply Squeeze Lube a Drop to Each Pivot
Dry Lubes
Some cyclists prefer dry lubes. Dry lubes are basically wax and alcohol. After application, the alcohol evaporates away, leaving only the wax. As the chain is used, the wax chips off, taking road grime with it, resulting in a cleaner drive train. We prefer Finish Line Krytech and White Lightning.
Dry Lubes
The advantage of dry lubes is a cleaner drive train. There's no buildup of nasty lube and dust. When the wax chips off, it takes grime with it.
But there are several disadvantages. First, wet lubes penetrate better into the crevices (and are therefore preferred by everyone in wet weather). Second, the consequence of using too much dry lube is an awful waxy buildup that interferes with the drive train and is hard to clean off. The second disadvantage is easily remedied by refraining from using too much. Don't apply a dry lube until you need it, don't apply very much, and remove any buildup. But because dry lubes make for a cleaner drive train in dusty conditions, some mechanics prefer them for hot, dry conditions.