Bicycle Mechanics - What oil/lubricant?

I am a fixed gear rider so really the only maintenance i have to do is lubrication (chain) and other basic stuff. Along the lines of this is truing my own wheels, i know how to and have a truing stand and spoke wrench. I have just seen "how to" articles that say to drop lubricant in each hole where the nipple is, what type of lubricant are they saying? I saw one say a "light multi purpose oil", but what classifies as that? If anyone has any reccomendations taht'd be great, links also welcome. Thanks

I use teflon penetrating spray for nipples already installed on a wheel. When building a new wheel, I will put a bit of grease where the nipple sits on the rim as well as on the threads of the spokes.

I am a fixed gear rider so really the only maintenance i have to do is lubrication (chain) and other basic stuff. Along the lines of this is truing my own wheels, i know how to and have a truing stand and spoke wrench. I have just seen "how to" articles that say to drop lubricant in each hole where the nipple is, what type of lubricant are they saying? I saw one say a "light multi purpose oil", but what classifies as that? If anyone has any reccomendations taht'd be great, links also welcome. Thanks

Triflow works fine.

Do you guys have any online links so i can read descriptions and such? Thanks for such a quick reply. I appreciate it. Also do you put the oil in the hole of the wheel where the nipple is? or where the spoke goes into the nipple? when truing the wheel?

I like to use some of my motorcycle chain lube. It is PJ1 and it comes out watery and blue but soon dries to a sticky permanent grease. While it's in the liquid state it soaks into the threads of the nipples and around the outsides so the nipple turns easier in the grommet of the rim as well as lubing the theads.

I put them into a small diameter container and shoot some in from the spray can and stir them up so the lube gets into all of the nipples.

If you don't want to get the same lube I have also used regular bearing grease mixed with some laquer thinner or brake cleaner to thin to a watery mixture. Again the lacquer thinner or brake cleaner soon dries but while it's liquid it helps the grease to coat the entire spoke. For this style put a kidney bean sized dollop of grese into a small container and then add about a teaspoon of thinner or brake cleaner. Stir to mix and then dump the nipples in and stir some more to coat the nipples.

I've found that over the years using the grease seems to stay in the threads longer despite rain and washings.

So other than when i true my wheels, is there any need to lube the spokes/nipples?

So other than when i true my wheels, is there any need to lube the spokes/nipples?

You need to lube the spoke/nipple interface and the nipple/rim interface. If your wheel was adequately built you shouldn't really need any lubing on the wheels too often. Maybe if you're running through some extreme winter weather/slush/salt.

You need to lube the spoke/nipple interface and the nipple/rim interface. If your wheel was adequately built you shouldn't really need any lubing on the wheels too often. Maybe if you're running through some extreme winter weather/slush/salt.

so really no? from what i gather, when i true my wheels lube the spke/nipple interface and the nipple/rim interface. Correct? thanks again for the help.

For this purpose, I imagine DuPont Multi-use Dry Wax lubricant (Google it) would be effective. It's wax dissolved in a carrier, so you could simply coat the nipples and spray wherever you need it to work into. It lasts a long time, waterproof, prevents corrosion, and doesn't pick up dirt. It's my bicycle lubricant of choice; I only use grease for bearings now. My stem bolt gets coated in the stuff, the inside of my steel frame is coated in the stuff, seatpost, threads, CHAIN. I even spray some on a rag and wipe my frame down to clean it (the carrier solvent cleans well and leaves a thin wax sheen behind).

Wonder product!!!