Tips Archive:

Hot Tip of the Month- August 2004: "Which chain lube is best?"
You gotta lube the chains on your bikes, the big question is; which lube is best for the job? I’ve seen everything in the cycling rooms. WD-40, marine lube (for boats),3-1 oil. Generally people will use whatever they can find. If you want to avoid that “chainsaw feeling” you get when you ignore the drive train, I recommend Tri-flow. It’s a Teflon based lube that doesn’t leave the room smelling like an auto garage. It is Teflon based, which seems to last longer than a petroleum based lube. The key to proper lubrication is to do it regularly (every 2 months usually does the trick) and not to over-lubricate the chain. What you don’t want is lube dripping out of the bottom of the bike. This can be dangerous, in combination with a cleat on the bottom of a cycling shoe and a hardwood or cement floor. If you lube at the front of the bike, the drive train should be engaged backwards, so the oil stays on the chain. If you lubricate at the back end of the bike, engage the drive train forward, BUT watch out for moving crank arms! Tri-flow can be found at better bike shops. And a quick note, we are not getting paid by Tri-flow. This is what we find to work best. Happy Trails!