Originally Posted by
dscheidt
Well, yes, but NLGI number is not the only specification that matters. The number is merely an indication of its consistancy. It doesn't tell you anything about what the soap is, what the viscosity of the oil is, nor what additive package is in use. all of that matters.
The most important criteria for a bicycle grease is the ability to hold lose BBs in place during packing. Some prefer the super thick green grease. The temperature, rpm, and load are so low on a bicycle, that one shouldn't fret over film strength or additives. I personally look for a little moly in the grease. If the grease is too thick, then there will be excessive drag on the bearing after rebuild.
Contamination is the #1 enemy of grease. It's always a good idea to clean/repack with new grease every 5K miles. Cut the interval by 40% if you ride in the rain.