A bubble bath, a glass of wine, a spritz of...
 

After a light bath, to restore the removed oils, is WD-40 an allright spray to use on the chain, derailer, and brake pivots? Or do I really need to go for bike specific oils? (of course the rims will be free of the oil, I understand the danger in that.)

no. WD-40 is not a lube. It will last you approximately 400 feet before your bike starts squealing like a stuck pig. Use oil (I like sewing machine oil) or bike-specific wax products on your chain. Your derailleur and brake pivots should get oil, I usually use Phil's Tenacious for those parts, but a lightweight motor oil would accomplish the same task. As always, make sure and wipe off the excess to keep it from attracting dirt.


WD-40 is for cleaning.

Thanks for the VERY fast reply, so what do I need to look for in a bike specific oil, what specific ingredients or WD-X (I'm a bicycling and general maintenance newbie). Do I need different oils for the various parts, or can some share the same oils? (and if so, which of course)

People love all sorts of things for chain lube. White Lightning and Rock 'n Roll lubes have worked for me in the past, but they wear off pretty quickly. I'll let other people argue about the best bike-specific chain lube

I have a pile of lubes for different things. In terms of liquid lubrication:

derailleurs, pivots, and anything that moves relatively slowly: Phil's Tenacious Oil (a little pricey, but the bottle I have was like $14 and has lasted me 3 years so far - get it at a bike store)

Fast moving things, like chains: Singer Sewing Machine Oil (find it at wal-mart or any hobby store). I believe people also use gun oil to much the same effect. If you're adventurous, you can dilute motor oil with mineral spirits and try to come up with a good ratio for your chain, but the sewing machine oil is plenty cheap and works well. Mine even came with a lid with a perfect little squirter for oiling the chain.

Cleaning products NOT to be used as lubrication, no matter the slippery surface they seem to leave behind:
WD-40
Simple Green
Anything else with grease cleaning properties.

Yep you definitely want to use oil on derailleur pivots and most likely the chain. I use Tri-flow from the bike shop since it is reasonably cheap, but in a pinch motor oil or other light machine oils would work. There are all sorts of homebrews out there, but I would stick with something good to go directly from the can.

Make sure all the degreaser is removed/dry before lubing. Also things like chains and derailleurs should be cleaned and relubed after riding in heavy rains or conditions where the drivetrain gets muddy.

The WD in WD-40 stands for water dispersant. Use it (or actually just use an eco safe degreaser if possible) to clean the chain, then use one of the many products mentioned on BF to lube it.

The only problem with using WD-40 as a cleaner is the film it leaves behind. In the past, i've WD-40'd, followed by a wash with the power nozzle on my garden hose. Then lube.