Northern California - Lubrication of a bicycle chain

I have an trek 5200. I like some advise on what product to use to lubricate my chain or even if I should lubricate it and how to go about doing it.

Well first you need some romantic music. Then put some on your hands and slowly massage it in. I like to use triflow. Murmuring "Do you like that baby?" is of course optional. :D

Rainy season, Triflow. Wipe your chain clean with a paper towel or rag, then drip it onto each joint. Let it sit for a minute. Wipe it down again. Don't use too much or you'll turn your chain into a black gummy mess.

When your chain does inevitably turn into a black gummy mess you can either use a chain cleaner gizmo or just take your chain off, put it in a bottle or a jar with some mild solvent and let it sit/shake it for a few minutes. Then take it out, rinse it, dry it, put it back on and lube it. You may consider doing the same thing for your cassette, or just use a rag/course brush to clean it off.

I've heard dry lube is best for the dry conditions, but I haven't used anything dry yet.

+1 on the romantic music, do it right before your wife comes home so when she walks in you can say "This isn't what it looks like! I can explain!"

I like using Simple Green to clean the chain. I spray it on, let it sit for a bit, then scrub it with a brush and then spray it off.

Then, like above, use a good lube on each link and then wipe the remaining residue off. I use a teflon lube on my chain. Can't recall the name but it comes in a black bottle with a red label or a red spray can. Pacific Bicycles in San Francisco recommended it to me for bay area weather. But to lube each link I like using the bottle as you can control the amount of oil better.

Good luck!

I like using Simple Green to clean the chain. I spray it on, let it sit for a bit, then scrub it with a brush and then spray it off.

Then, like above, use a good lube on each link and then wipe the remaining residue off. I use a teflon lube on my chain. Can't recall the name but it comes in a black bottle with a red label or a red spray can. Pacific Bicycles in San Francisco recommended it to me for bay area weather. But to lube each link I like using the bottle as you can control the amount of oil better.

Good luck!
I think you just described triflow bottle.

I just bought one of those park tool cyclone chain scrubber kits that come with the tool, a bottle of degreaser/cleaner and gear cleaner/brush. I scrubbed and lubed eleven spin bikes in under and hour and was so impressed with the speed, ease, and results that I went home and did the road bikes and the hybrids. The lube I used was Pedro's Road Rage which works well. I have also used Tri Flow with really good results.

I just switched to Finish Line Dry Teflon lube--seems to be keeping the chain way cleaner than White Lightning wax or DuMonde liquid. Anything that minimizes the astounding adhesive properties of Sonoma County adobe dust is a great product in my book!

I use an on the bike chain cleaning tool. Right now I have a Pedro's, but the best I've ever used is a Finish Line. I like TriFlow in the winter, and Pedro's Ice Wax when it's dry out.