Hybrid Bicycles - "No such thing as a silent drivetrain."

My drivetrain has always been loud. I asked a local bike shop mechanic about it and he said "there is no such thing as a silent drivetrain." Fast forward to today. I just got back from a different LBS with a bottle of some sort of wet lube. I cleaned the chain with WD-40 and a rag. I applied this wet lube to the chain and wiped off the excess. I took it for a short (less than .125mi) ride. It was DEAD SILENT. No sound out of the drivetrain whatsoever (except when shifting). I guess I have to reapply this wet lube every month or two to keep it lubricated? I guess I also have to clean the chain (how often?) in these dusty summer months?

WD-40!? Wet lube!? :eek:

WD-40!? Wet lube!? :eek:

WD-40 is a degreaser. I gave it time to dry before using the wet lube. What's wrong with wet lube? (except for the fact that it attracts more dust and dirt)

I put the WD-40 on a rag and wiped the chain down. I didn't put it directly on the chain..

WD-40 is a degreaser. I gave it time to dry before using the wet lube. What's wrong with wet lube? (except for the fact that it attracts more dust and dirt)

Only that. If it's important to you to have a quiet, low friction chain, it might be the best choice. I'm willing to put up with a little noise and friction in exchange for convenience, but it seems I'm a bit of a diletante with regards to maintenance compared to the others who post here.

Only that. If it's important to you to have a quiet, low friction chain, it might be the best choice. I'm willing to put up with a little noise and friction in exchange for convenience, but it seems I'm a bit of a diletante with regards to maintenance compared to the others who post here.

Whew! I got worried there for a second. So the only problem is that I will have to spend more time maintaining it? What's 30min every 6 weeks?

Also, what's wrong with WD-40? As long as I don't apply it directly to the chain/other bike components, I think it is fine. Maybe I'm wrong?

In response to your questions, clean the chain when it gets dirty, re-lube after cleaning or when the chain starts making noise again. Probably the former as it will probably get dirty before it starts making noise if you're riding in dusty conditions.

Whew! I got worried there for a second. So the only problem is that I will have to spend more time maintaining it? What's 30min every 6 weeks?

Also, what's wrong with WD-40? As long as I don't apply it directly to the chain/other bike components, I think it is fine. Maybe I'm wrong?

It's generally frowned on for use as a lubricant, because it's more of a cleaner/water dispersant than a lube, but used as a degreaser maybe fine. Giantcfr1 uses it and he's a clever fellow.

Giantcfr1 uses it and he's a clever fellow.

I believe I got the idea from him. :thumb:

WD-40 is generally discouraged because it tends to leave oil behind that attracts dirt that can gunk up the chain.

I just cleaned my entire drive train with Simple Green diluted to about 1:10 and then put lots of Rock and Roll Gold. It seems pretty quiet to me; I cannot hear it over wind noise at least.

Don't forget to lube cables, brake levers, shifters, derailleur pivots etc while you're at it. Usually I just put a single drop of Triflow. A small $5 bottle lasts a long time. Can't say the same about my Rock and Roll Gold.

Apparently that LBS mechanic has never ridden a belt drive bike. My "Stealth Machine" is eerily silent. Oh yes... and I never have to clean or lube the belt... ever! :D

... Giantcfr1 uses it and he's a clever fellow.

Cough cough cough, You're a top bloke. I'll send the money through. Do you take Visa?

...Also, what's wrong with WD-40? As long as I don't apply it directly to the chain/other bike components, I think it is fine. Maybe I'm wrong?

I believe you are doing it right. On the rag, and wipe over. Then to make sure, I get another rag in one hand wrapped around the chain, and pedal in the other, and run the chain around for about a minute to get as much oily residue off.

Long ago I used a thingy that was basically a plastic contraption which you put degreaser in and the chain ran through it. Problem was, it clipped through the chain near the cassette, and ended up flicking degreaser into my hub and rooting up the insides.

I'd check with Sixty Fiver, he may have an easier safe solution. It was he, I once got the idea of using an oily rag to clean my steel framed bikes.

I heard the same thing about no silent drive-trains, but it turns out my LBS was either too rushed or too incompetent to set the front derailleur height properly even after I specifically brought it back in a week after purchase. Fine by me, they "empowered" me to learn how to obviate needing them for pretty much any and all service, which I either do myself or take to a clinic to learn about. The factory grease on a new chain is ample - if you hear a squeaking or a rasping it might be just enough out of tune that more lube will mask the problem for a couple hours before it rears its noisy head again.