nuclear_biker

Okay guys, I know this is heavily trodden ground but I can't seem to get it right. I oil my chain ever ride/every other ride (depending on length), and I just assumed that it would turn black, and your cogs turn black. Had my bike in the shop and in the course of events, they cleaned the drivetrain. Went for a 30 mile ride (usually enough to make it turn black) and when I got home, to my surprise it was clean! Suddenly, I realized I've been doing the most basic piece of bike maintenance wrong.

I asked the bike shop what oil they used, and it was the same that I currently use (ProLink ProGold), and they said to "apply it and then wipe it clean with a rag" which is EXACTLY what I do. I googled around and couldn't find how to achieve this allusive level of lubrication. Please, what am I doing wrong?!

Eggman84

I don't use Progold but could it be you are over lubing the chain. Every ride seems excessive; I would think your are just attracting a lot of road dirt as evidenced by the black gunk. I generally lube when the drive train is dry, as determined by hearing it get louder.

Oh, and the "Hey Guys" is essentially telling women that their opinion/help is not welcome. Cycling has enough of an image problem without the added sexism. I'm sure you don't mean it but we have cyclists need to be more inclusive, otherwise we will remain marginalized.

Karl

DrIsotope

Yeah, ProLink ProGold is good for 400-500 miles between applications (in my experience.) Unless ridden in the wet, a person would typically only be oiling the chain around once a month.

sweeks

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think we live in more enlightened times and women don't always necessarily feel excluded by the use of "guys". I work with a bunch of very capable professional women (my colleagues and my graduate students) who refer to themselves and others as "guys", and no one seems to mind.
Steve

Bike Gremlin

How to clean and lubricate a bicycle chain:
Best bicycle chain lube

(Long) explanation of chain lube types:
Bicycle chain lubricants - explained - Cycle Gremlin

Rough comparison:
Comparative overview of bicycle chain lubricants - Cycle Gremlin

oscarach

I use the Rock N' Roll ABSOLUTE DRY or Gold. Apply, leave for a hour or so then wipe off the excess. Only need to reapply every few rides. Drive train stays clean and quiet.

nuclear_biker

Indeed, I think guys is now commonly used as a gender neutral pronoun, and it is in common use among college aged females (I'm a student).

DrIsotope

I live in Southern California. I have, on too many occasions to count, heard a woman refer to another woman as "dude."

evan326

Is this forum for bicycle mechanics or teaching what is PC???
I use the same lube on my bike. I realised that I have to get the chain super clean before applying it. Then I just wipe it with a rag after each ride till it starts to squeal again.

pdlamb

I think the key part is to leave it for an hour and then wipe the chain down.


Don't worry about lubing the chain until it squeaks. After that ride, lube it, go take your shower or have a snack, come back and wipe it off.

gsa103

I used ProLink and found that I needed to re-apply every ~4 weeks, regardless of mileage (I'm not a high mileage rider and have multiple bikes). My chain lasted forever though (~7k miles before 0.75%).

The trick is fairly simple. Apply one drop to each roller, wait about 15 minutes for things to soak it. The wipe the chain off and run it through the gears, the wipe it off one last time. You're probably getting a lot of oil on the cogs which gets transferred back to the chain.

WizardOfBoz

Having lived there myself, people talk funny.

When I lived there, the word dudette was used. As in, "Hey, Dudes and Dudettes.".

dsbrantjr

I think that the key point is that they cleaned the drivetrain thoroughly rather than just applying clean lube over a dirty chain. Much of what turns chain lube black is not road dirt but wear particles from the chain itself. If you just apply oil it will quickly pick up that black stuff from the crevices in the chain and from the gears and turn black right away. If all of those wear particles are removed/rinsed out the lube will stay clean-looking a lot longer.

Cyclist0108

I just switched over to molten paraffin. I'm only about 60 miles into it, but so far the drive train is absolutely pristine, despite a lot of sandy off-road riding.

If true, then it appears paraffin does a better job of protecting from wear. (But I doubt that is the case.)

nuclear_biker

It could be the paraffin doesn't flush it out like oil.

sweeks

Also from the cogs and (maybe especially) the aluminum chainrings.
Steve

fietsbob

Simply wipe off the outside once you finish.. the parts needing oil are inside the rollers.. not the outside.

ThermionicScott 

+1 to the above -- wipe off that chain thoroughly after letting the lube soak in, and it will attract much less dirt. Think dry to the touch. And then wipe it off after the first couple rides.

kingston 

I tried to claim that "guys" was gender neutral at work a few months ago and was told by 5 or 6 women ranging from their early 20's to mid 40's that "guys" is in fact not gender neutral, and the only reason I thought that was because I was a man.

I'm also a fan of paraffin wax on my bike chains to keep them clean.

TimothyH

+1

The entire drivetrain needs to be cleaned. Not just the chain.




To each his own and it isn't my bike but if you wait until it squeals then you are running your chain dry.

The chain is supposed to be lubed before it starts making noises.


-Tim-

evan326

I was simplifying my statement, when I say squeal I mean the slightest noise. How else would you explain it to someone who is already doing it too much? It ends up being just about after each wash, which is after about 4 or 5 rides.

pdlamb

It used to drive me nuts that my daughters' (girl's and women's) sports teams would give each other pep talks using "you guys" to refer to each other rather than the perfectly appropriate "y'all." I'm mostly over it. Now it's more amusing to watch the political correctness police look for something to get outraged over. They found something!

pdlamb

How about, "ride until the chain starts to make noise and re-lube. Next time ride it 50 miles less before re-lube."

nuclear_biker

I've noticed that if I ride less for say a month (say running more for an upcoming event) it gets less miles than if I ride every day (or so).

ColonelSanders

You have some terrible colleagues.