Originally Posted by
gauvins
Hey! Thanks for the reference. [MENTION=21724]cyccommute[/MENTION] writes that true mineral spirits DO NOT interact with metals, but chloride solutions (substitutes for mineral spirits) do. This is why you read here and there negative advice wrt Simple Green and other mineral spirits substitutes.
[MENTION=21724]cyccommute[/MENTION] has written fairly extensively on the topic of chain maintenance. I'd rather have him explain again if it were useful, but let me try to summarize. He removes factory lubrication with solvents, puts dry-lube. He suggests that his chains last for several thousands of miles and believes that this longevity is due to the fact that dry lube doesn't attract dirt as much as wet lube, so there is no grinding paste on/inside the chain.
This approach makes perfect sense for commuters, maybe slightly less for extended tours where good dry lubes may be difficult to procure.
good, glad you found it. It was interesting to read, and he seems like a very methodical guy so I trust what he did and his results.
Gauv, I can relate to when you do your family trips, I presume its you doing all the bike maintenance, and as I do all that stuff here in our household, I can appreciate the time that gets spent when one person ends up doing chain and drivetrain cleaning on 4 bikes, it can take a while!
I figure Ive become very efficient and fast doing drivetrain cleaning now, and have tried all kinds of lubes over the years. Clearly the fastest and cleanest ones are the thin dry lubes. Its clear that they dont attract dirt as much, and are really fast to put on--place the chain in big ring and little cog at back, a quick rag wipe, turn pedals and mucho drip right onto the chain at the 11 cog area , maybe wipe off some excess but the stuff I used was so thin and would dry out right away that that pretty much was it.
I'd maybe do a quick rag wipe after a ride just to keep the chain super clean, but both the chain and chainrings and cassettes clearly stay cleaner with these lubes---but of course, you pretty much have to do this every ride or three, especially with any rain, every ride.
After riding in rain, I'd always do the rag wipe and reapply right away these thin dry lubes, but it was so fast and clean it was over in a minute or two.
so yes, you go through lube faster, especially with many bikes, and yes, if yoiu cant find replacement lube in stores its a problem---AND then we get into teh whole "chain life" issue--I dont have have enough data to know if with these dry lubes do chains last less or more than with other lubes, but for sure they are cleaner.
Like I always come back to with these discussions, for me using a "middle of the road" lube like triflow, less sticky than thicker ones has advantages for generally less gunk build up and easy rag cleaning, but thicker than the really thin ones so better for rain and stuff and lasts for many, many days riding in good weather.
the other thing that I do with rag cleaning is that once in a while when chain looks a bit more dirty, I spend the time and "kink or bend up" each link into a V shape so I can very quickly wipe off the stuff that accumulates on the rollers that doesnt get wiped by a regular rag wiping over the straight chain.
It takes maybe 5-10 mins to do the whole chain, and I channel my inner Catholicness and its like doing prayer beads ;-) but then the chain really is very clean and I dont have to mess around with cleaners and removing the chain. But I certainly wouldnt have the patience to do this on four bikes!
I guess in the end it really depends on where you are travelling, and what sort of bike stores are around and what chain lubes can be found. If with the family, sticking a spare bottle or two into someones pannier shouldnt be a problem also if you are worried about running out and not being able to find some.