One lube to rule them all

[RoubaixCube]

and clearly it's good enough to lubricate cam chains in a car - and because I've a half gallon left of the wrong grade for my car.

Yeah. But unless you grenade the engine, Cam chains arent normally exposed to the elements where as bicycle chains are. Never mind that cam chains being built for higher/stronger tolerances and more or less always fully or partially submerged in oil...

your chain must be bone dry every time you've been out with it after lubing it up with that stuff.

But if its stupid but it works...

 

[G3CWI]

After years of buying special lubes I have swapped to cheap 3 in 1 oil. I have noticed no drop in performance. Indeed the chain seems to stay a bit cleaner. I do wonder if some bike products are “over sold”?

 

[Blue Hills]

A more helpful post than my one above:

I have used various supposedly magical things over the years, including waxes and purple extreme.

I now use this and find it fine:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/weldtite-t...7Sn60i-UoP4MGe8jLBR2zyDMqXK1wFPxoCvoEQAvD_BwE

I like it and there is a theory that more liquid oils like this help to flush bits of debris out of the chain - its fairly liquid nature definitely helps with wiping/cleaning the outside of the chain as part of the application process.

You can also get it in a 1 litre container which used to be available for around £15. I got some for £10.

I have long wondered whether it's actually the same stuff as this:

https://www.wilko.com/wilko-all-wea...JHhY7gkN9SsmJn1OJjhoCiREQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

which I also sometimes also use and also find fine.

If there are any amateur chemists or taste-testers on here, please feel free to offer the results.

 

[DRM]

Dry lube is stupid but apart from that, any old chain lube or oil will do.

Dry lube is perfect in the correct application, usually off tarmac cycling in dry, dusty/gritty/sandy conditions as the dirt doesn’t stick to it and turn into grinding paste, if it’s wet, then wet lube is your friend.

 

[PaulSB]

Sorry paul,not checking that out - i refuse to go near any bike care product with "juice" in the name. Not even if it comes in a gift box with beard grooming oil.

That's where I've been going wrong........cut my chin to ribbons last week!

 

[rogerzilla]

Finish Line wet. 3 in 1 is ok, but not as resistant to rain washing it off.

 

[Nebulous]

I use this stuff:

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/bike-lube/bikehut-spray-lube---250ml-164370.html

and have done for years. It lasts for a long time and has a remarkably well-directed pump action. I use it both indoors and out.

 

[itboffin]

i think i've tried just about everything going and preferred phil woods lube but didnt like the rear wheel contamination, some of the ceramic ones were good but clog up and dont last very long i'm now on Smoove which is amazing but not 100% clean in use as claimed, very very quiet mind you which i'm loving.

 

[G3CWI]

Finish Line wet. 3 in 1 is ok, but not as resistant to rain washing it off.

I think you are probably right. I do relube my chains pretty frequently so perhaps that's not been an issue that I have seen.

 

[weareHKR]

Dry lube is perfect in the correct application, usually off tarmac cycling in dry, dusty/gritty/sandy conditions as the dirt doesn’t stick to it and turn into grinding paste, if it’s wet, then wet lube is your friend.

This...

 

[itboffin]

Smoove'd the wheel off turbo trainer last night without giving it a clean since the last wet muddy outside ride and yep very quiet today, obvs not a quiet as it would have been if i'd totally cleaned it first but hey who wants to spend hours cleaning

 

[Mike Ayling]

Wax might be an answer for your situation I have heard good things about squirt.

Although wet lube should be fine as long as you wipe off any excess after lubing.

I use squirt.

 

[Mike Ayling]

Wet bike lube, or indeed pretty much any other form of mechanical oil, any make, any price, whatever you like. Drip a blob on each link, and wipe off the excess with a cloth. I admit to using use Muc-Off, but not because it's a better lubricant, it's just because (a) it smells delightful, (b) it was on offer at Halfords and was the same price as their oil briefly, and (c) I'm a bit of a fanny like that. (The advertising man's dream).

I used those little tins of 3 in 1 oil when I was a kid and I'm sure it was just about ubiquitous, was there even a choice in about 1980? That worked exactly the same.

I used dry lube once and found that a little unpleasant, it clogged into little caked areas and it was that little bit harder to get rid of when I cleaned the chain.

The 3 in 1 is water soluble so washes off in the rain!

 

[DRM]

Wet bike lube, or indeed pretty much any other form of mechanical oil, any make, any price, whatever you like. Drip a blob on each link, and wipe off the excess with a cloth. I admit to using use Muc-Off, but not because it's a better lubricant, it's just because (a) it smells delightful, (b) it was on offer at Halfords and was the same price as their oil briefly, and (c) I'm a bit of a fanny like that. (The advertising man's dream).

I used those little tins of 3 in 1 oil when I was a kid and I'm sure it was just about ubiquitous, was there even a choice in about 1980? That worked exactly the same.

I used dry lube once and found that a little unpleasant, it clogged into little caked areas and it was that little bit harder to get rid of when I cleaned the chain.

Me too as a kid with the 3 in 1, or a little engine oil, try to pour a little into the lid without tipping it all over the garage floor out of those metal gallon cans of Duckhams Q 20-50, I never worried about dry/wet lube then, it was whatever was to hand.

 

[Dan77]

So as I'd ordered the Rock 'n Roll gold I gave it a try. Have to say I'm very impressed so far. Has worked well indoors and is very clean. Went on the first ride outside today and the bike got pretty mucky but chain was still looking great. Gave it a quick wipe over. Promising.