That mechanic at the group ride made me question my chain lube choice

I was at the Tuesday night shop ride last month and one of the old-timers saw me using wet lube on a dry day. He said something like 'you're just grinding sand into your chain using that stuff.' Now I'm wondering if I should switch to a dry lube for summer riding or stick with what I know. Anyone here run different lubes based on the season?

2 comments

2 Comments

robin_campbell365d ago

That line about "grinding sand into your chain" really stuck with me too, I heard something similar from a guy at a gravel race last fall. He was watching me lube up before the start and just shook his head, said I might as well be using sandpaper. Funny thing is I actually tried mixing my own lube once back in college, some weird recipe with motor oil and wax I found online. It was a total disaster, gunked up everything so bad I had to replace the whole drivetrain a month later. So I figure the big brands have done their homework for a reason, I just follow the season rule now. Wet stuff for winter and rain, dry stuff for everything else, keeps the shifting crisp and the chain from turning into a black gritty mess.

terryr465d ago

Did you read that article in Bicycling last spring about chain lubes and friction testing? It basically said wet lube is great for rain but attracts way more grit in dry conditions. I switched to dry lube for summer after that mechanic basically told me the same thing. You still gotta reapply more often but your drivetrain stays way cleaner and shifts smoother. I just keep a small bottle of wet lube in my bag for if I get caught in a shower.

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