Oiling fixie chains
 

Is there anything different required to oil a fixie chain?

On a regular derailleur bike the chain gets worked nicely in both dorections, which, of course, doesn't happen on a fixie. Was wondering as I was working on mine this evening.

I used a wax-based lube on mine as Phil's Tenacious Oil was grabbing every bit of soot and dirt and applying it my chain!

Not so much asking about specific lubes here, rather the means of applying them.
Round here I find any kind of lube seems to suck up the fine grit and dust that is prevelant due to use of winter tyres in the spring - the dust lingers all summer.

I oil my fixed gear the same as I do the rest of my bikes. I apply one drop of oil (Valvoline 10W30) to each rivet of the chain. I apply it to the bottom run of the chain (the one below the chainstay). When I get all the rivets, I spin the crank several times to work it in. I then wipe off the excess with a rag.

This is a question to people who use wax base lubes like White Lightning. I have friends who clean their chains then apply alot of this stuff. Then, when I ride with them, I swear it sounds like birds chirping. Does this mean they are not using it correctly or is this normal.

When I hear that high pitch sound, it tells me that is metal on metal without lube. Am I missing something??

Has anyone else experienced this???

Regarding the wax-based lubes like White Lightening: You should only clean the chain the first time you put it on, or after a long time w/ a lot of build up. Wax lubes are "self cleaning". Initially, you need to put quite a bit on. In the conditions I run, I relube every ride, but do NOT clean the chain. The wax lubes make your chain run slightly noisier than wet lubes, but you shouldn't hear chirping. That means they didn't initially lube the chain enough or they didn't get all of the degreaser off when the cleaned the chain and it's breaking down the lube they put on.

Maybe this is what I am hearing. I hear that metal on metal sound and it makes me cringe.

I am guessing that the oil I use covers up that sound and the wax base stuff does not.

Does this wear out your drive train faster?

If you can hear the other guy's (or girl's) chain, they probably aren't properly lubed. If it's your own bike you may notice a difference. For me though, it's usually only on the road.

I seem to get equal drivetrain wear from wax lubes as I do wet lubes. I ran wet for about 6 months on my fixed earlier this year, then switched back to wax. I'm currently running wet on my SS MTB (several months now), but normally run wax. Neither one has seen additional wear. Overall I like the wax better and will be switching the MTB back to it shortly. Wet lube seems to last a bit longer in muddy conditions, but I've picked up some White Lightening Race Day because that's supposed to last longer in mud. We'll see.