Originally Posted by
vincentpaul
I'm interested in eliminating non-renewable compounds from my bicycle maintenance routine. I've seen several recommendations in the forums here for the use of paraffin wax as a chain lubricant. Has any body tried soy wax or bees wax? Are there any other non-petroleum-based chain lubricants available? How about grease or light lubricant substitutes?
Here's probably the best non-petroleum-based lube you'll find: Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil (or some other synthetic). Synthetics are usually made from stuff like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane, all of which are bad greenhouse gasses or are poisonous, and they combine them into nice well-behaved hydrocarbon chains.
I am being serious here. A little research may be needed; it's possible that some manufacturers use petrochemicals as a base ingredient.