Bicycle Mechanics - Maintenance Lubes, grease etc - How regular to lube up ?

Hi all,

Can you point me towards the lubes I should have in my garage to keep my lovely new Felt Hybrid maintained ?

Chain Lube, Grease etc. UK based products please.

Also how regular to lube up the main things, or is it really just chain ?

Cheers.

The chain is what needs the most routine maintenance since it suns exposed to the weather. How often, depends on what you use and can be as short as before or after every ride, or as infrequent as once in 1,000 miles. It also depends on whether you're strictly a fair weather rider, or ride rain or shine.

There are also a bunch of places that need a drop of oil every few months, again depending on the amount and kind of use the bike gets.

Lastly are the 6 bearings that need to be greased about once every 3-5,000 miles.

I can't help you with product choices, or more specific advice. I suggest you ask the shop that sold you the bike for their advice, then also get advice from your local riding community.

There's no one answer, product or time table. But you'll come up with your own preferences over the next year or so.

You basically need two types of lube: a thin oil and a heavy grease.

The oil is used for the chain and to lubricate cables in housing.

Grease is for bearings (headset, bottom bracket, hubs, rear derailleur pulleys), screw/bolt threads, and most other metal on metal contact where the parts could corrode (like the seatpost in the frame).

If you have a carbon fiber seatpost, you'll want a third substance: carbon assembly paste.

Would WD40 be OK for the chain, or is there something more specific ?

WD-40 doesn't leave much lube after the solvent part has evaporated, so it's not a good chain lube. If you just ask at your local bike shop for chain lube, they'll have a number of choices.

As for grease, you can likely find a tub of good marine trailer wheel bearing grease at your local home improvement store for a much cheaper price than the grease at your LBS.

Thanks Mondoman. Good advice.

I lube every 2 weeks or every 200 miles on my hybrid/commuter. It just depends on whichever comes first.