Chain Lubes – A One Stop Guide For You 

Let me ask you a question - How often do you check your bike chain? I'm guessing the answer is only a few times. 

Here is another: Do you systematically clean and oil your chain after each ride? Or do you only notice it when it squeaks when it's dried out?

Don't worry; you are not the only one in the same situation, but as an expert, I would say a well-cared-for chain makes for a happy bike and a comfortable ride. 

Everyone should understand how the chain works and the process of cleaning and lubricating them properly. Thus, we have created this article to know what you need to know. Let's get started.

Anatomy of a Bike Chain

A bicycle chain is made up of four fundamental parts:

There are two link plates on each chain link. Rollers are placed between these link plates where the inner and outer links connect. All of this is kept together by a pin. The rollers are the significant component of the chain that contacts the chain ring's teeth or cassette.

They allow the chain to articulate as you pedal, together with the pins. When you properly lubricate your chain, the oil penetrates the rollers, allowing them to move quickly.

Cheap chains vs. expensive chains

• A high-end chain brand like Shimano provides you with SIL-TEC and Chromizing surface treatments that create a durable surface and reduce friction for your bike. 
• Shimano Dura-Ace/XTR and SRAM Red/XX1, some of the Top-of-the-line chains, use hollow pins, which reduces weight. These hollow pins can also increase strength due to extra peening.
• KMC’s range-topping chains come with a gold “Ti-Nitride” coating, stating that the more advanced the layer the chain is equipped with, the more expensive it is.

From the above points, we can conclude that you can acquire a manufactured and coated chain to run faster, quieter, and last longer, which will also be worth every penny you spend on it. Or, you can still go for a cheap/ affordable chain and properly maintain it to receive outstanding performance.

Why should you lubricate your chain?

One of the most general questions that we come across is, why are we doing whatsoever?  If we talk in a common language, lubrication is used to ride your bike smoothly.  Well, that’s true, but there are more advantages that lubrication provides to your bike chain. Let’s take a look at them:

1. Extended chain life from wear
   As the chain is made of metal, due to friction, dry change wears much faster. Lubrication helps prevent the rubbing of roller plates between each other, reduces the friction between the chain and cassette, crack rings and Jockey wheel.
2. Added protection from environmental conditions
   The riding environment works against your chain. Sand, mud and dirt will increase the friction and wear.  Also, Rain, Snow, road or climate salt can cause your bike chain to rust out.  Applying lubrication to the chain can reduce the influence of environmental factors and keep the chain like new.
3. Reduces chain noise
   This occurs when the lubricant dries out completely. You can check your bike chain by using a finger if dry. To prevent it, clean and lubricate your chain properly to make it sound quiet.
4. Better gear shifting
   Gear shifting is one of the key factors of bike performance. Bad gear shifting can make you slower and reduce your efficiency; hence it is essential to lubricate your chain and check how much is required.
5. Watts saving
   When chain lubrication becomes dry, it consumes about 20 Watts at a speed of 35 km per hour. In contrast, an adequately lubricated chain consumes about 5 to 10 Watts (depending on the brand). Thus,  by properly lubricating your bike chain, you can save a lot of energy and increase your pedaling efficiency.

So the question arises - Can you use any kind of lube on your chain?

The answer to the question varies from person to person. Why? Because we heard/learned or saw at some point in our lives, most people use just any lubricant available in the garage to lube their chain as the purpose is full-filled and very few use the appropriate one.

“What…? Was I using the wrong lubricant this whole time? Oh man, please tell me, how can I know which one to use?”

To answer this question, let’s look at the types of lubricants and their properties.

Lubes – Types and Properties

Several lubes are available for varied reasons and need to fulfill different scenarios. But before we can go through the types of lubes, let's look at the properties of chain oil.

A chain oil must,

• Protect your chain from corrosion or rust.
• Stick to your chain in extreme weather conditions.
• Penetrate the spaces between your chain links and minimize friction.
• Maximize the drive train's durability and usability. 
• Prevent the dirt from sticking.

What are the different types of lubes?

Though chain lubricants are broadly divided into Dry and Wet, we have further classified them depending on their use in particular weather or trail conditions. Take a look at them: 

Chain oil for extremely dry conditions: Dry lube

Looking at its assembly, we can say that you are spending your money mostly on carrier fluid which is supposed to and designed to disappear into thin air.

The only downside here is that dry lubes are often easily washed off by rain or puddles.

Chain oil for extremely wet conditions: Wet lube

However, you should wipe off any excess lube before riding to use it efficiently. Consider cleaning the drive train after every ride if you want to maximize your chain's performance, the lube's benefit and optimize the drive train's life. 

It's the irony that the only downside to this lube comes from its strength. Its properties make it a magnet for dirt and grime, and the higher viscosity results in lower outright efficiency when compared to thinner lubes.

Chain oil for extreme weather conditions: Rainy day lube

This type of lube is best for extreme wet conditions. While the high performance makes it last longer during rainy days, its unique, attractive, and excellent water repellent formula keeps the ride smooth on wet and muddy trails. 

The lube makes its way through each chain link to offer good lubrication and protection, providing the ultimate protection against corrosion.

Chain oil for every cause: All round lube

Chain oils for e-bikes

Wax lube

It's beyond imagination that lubricants can be based on paraffin wax - the stuff used to make candles. But, it's true. 

They have become quite popular among bike enthusiasts due to their efficiency, longevity and resistance to contaminants.

Ceramic lube

While they have been popping up over the last few years, they claim a smoother, quieter ride while increasing the chain's performance. 

But, with excellent attributes comes higher prices. They are somewhat pricey, making it challenging for a few riders.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bicycle Lubricant

The type of ride

You need to consider the time of the year you ride your bike the most. You might not like to go out bike riding during wet weather conditions. Or, you are one of those fitness freaks who rides their bike irrespective of the extreme weather conditions. 

This way, you can be sure which type of bicycle lubricant will suit your lifestyle - be it the dry lube for dry conditions or a lube that can be used all year round. 

The type of bike 

The deciding factor can also depend on the kind of bike you ride. For example, if it is a road bike, you would need a wet lube even if you are riding on clean terrains and the environment is dry.

As for the mountain bikes, or if you wish to go mountain biking in dry weather, you can opt for a dry or wax lube to withstand the dirt, grime, and a lot of debris from sticking.

What’s the best chain lube - Dry Vs. Wet?

• While dry lube is ideal for dry conditions, they also feature not holding the dirt. But, at the same time, wet lubes are not attracting any dirt, but they do hold the dirt.
• The dry lube falls out with the dirt, which means your bike would lose the lube, but it successfully keeps the grit from entering the drive train. On the other hand, wet lubes always hold the dirt and suspend the grit particles, but the dirt does not contact the drive train.
• Even though wet lubes can be used in all weather conditions, lasts longer, and offer better pedal efficiency, dry lubricants can outweigh all the combined benefits since they don’t pick up as much trail debris as the wet lube.

How to clean and lube your chain?

Now, it's time to put on the gloves and get started with the job.

1. The first step is the pre-clean.

Get a degreaser and fill a squeeze bottle with it. Dribble the degreaser on the chain as you spin the pedals backward. You can now soak a rug in a degreaser to firmly hold the chain and continue spinning the pedals. 

After cleaning the chain, you can rinse off all the remaining de-greaser on the chain using clean water. You can let it sit in the sun for 10 minutes to dry and use a dry rug to wipe the rest. 

But, degreasing is essential, when,

• You are changing your lube brand.
• You are switching from wet lube to dry lube or vice versa.
• You got a new chain.

2. The second step takes us to oil the chain

After getting your chain cleaned, you are supposed to lubricate those chains. At this step, you must be careful not to let the oil get anywhere other than the inside of the chain where it is needed. 

3. The last step

Finish up your work by wiping the excess oil. You may think that more oil can give you more efficiency. But, any lube, especially an oil-based lube, can attract more grime and can stick to your bike, making more mess. So, it's better to wait for five minutes and then wipe off the extra.

The question still remains to know the proper methods to clean the chain, right? Let's take a look at our next question to answer your query.

How do I properly clean my chain?

The most efficient and best way to thoroughly clean your chain is to,

• Remove the chain and soak it in the degreaser or white spirits.
• You can leave it in the liquid for an hour or choose to leave it overnight. 
• After soaking it well, take the chain out, spray it with a fresh degreaser, and scrub it using a toothbrush.
• You can also consider using soap and water at this point for extensive cleaning. 
• After you have rinsed it well with clear water, let it dry in direct sunlight.

Even though this process takes a lot of your time, it's worth your effort and time if you prepare for a big event or an important race. 

Two issues that you must look out for during the process of cleaning are:

1. Tight Links 

Tight links that no longer bend smoothly are known as tight ones. These are caused mainly by dirt or corrosion between link plates. However, they can still be fixed by cleaning, lubricating, and flexing back and forth. 

And if not dirt or corrosion, these close links result from improper pin installation or severe chain damage. In case of damaged chains, it is highly recommended to replace them. Moreover, when it comes to poorly installed link pins, you can consider working the pins back into position while using either a chain tool or your hands. 

2. Chain Stretch

With extensive use, the chains become longer. This is known as Stretch. The chain stretches with every use and as they wear between the rollers and the link pins. This can further cause extra wear and tear on your rear cog teeth and chain rings.

So it is your responsibility to replace the chain during the right time since replacing a chain is much cheaper than buying a whole new cog set.

The best method to apply - Spray or Drip?

The spray might be an easy choice for any individual since it dries in a few minutes and easily applies. However, the only downside to this method is that it can get to other parts of the bicycle, which will result in collecting dirt and grime. 

On the other hand, using the drip method, you can apply the lube directly to the necessary parts of the bicycle chain.

How Often?

You need to get your bike chain cleaned and lubricated at least once every month. This is required to enhance your bike’s performance and the chain’s longevity. However, if you are a frequent rider or are riding through dirty terrain and challenging conditions, cleaning and lubricating them after every ride would be more beneficial. 

How to tell if your chain is worn

The easiest way is to pull in the chain at the front of the ring and observe if it is starting to lift off the top and/or the bottom from where it sits on the chain ring's teeth. If that is the case, then it means that your bike chain has started to wear or is already worn out.

People Also Ask

Final Thoughts

A bike lube is as essential as any other bike gear or biking component. Reading about chain lubes and purchasing one can be different experiences. But isn't that what we live for - Exploring and experiencing!

At BikesReviewed, you can find the latest reviews, brand guides, and more about bikes and their essential gears. It aims to bring you closer to the best products so that you can shop seamlessly without much hassle.