White Lightning
 

Does anyone else use White Lightning Clean Ride?
I've been using it for about 3 years and all in all, I'm happy with it. For example, the Hillbrick has 3,500 kms on her and the chain shows no measurable 'stretch' ( it'll be dead in months now that I've said that won't it :rolleyes:).

So what's my problem?
Not so much a problem as a frustration. How the fook do you apply this muck efficiently?
I've always worked on the principle, clean the chain then place one drop on each roller.
Here's the frustration. White Lightning is nearly all thinners ( yes, I shake it well before use) so rather than getting a drop, you get a squirt. I hold a paper towel under the chain and it's soaked before I'm half done. I obviously get efficient lubrication because my chain has lasted so well, but surely there's a less wasteful way of applying it.

So, how do you so it?

No, I'm not going away from my wax lube, that's a whole 'nother can of snakes, I'm just talking to those who share my choice of chain lubes.

Wax lube, no me gusta.

Me no like black chainring tattoos on my work clothes ... and they're annoying on your skin too. Sadly, when you reach my advanced years and levels of clumsiness, such things happen a lot. Besides, with the way my chains are lasting, I can't complain about the stuff.

I put my bike on my work stand (and everyone has a work stand, right? ;)) on the linoleum and squirt it in (gingerly, no need to empty the bottle here) as I turn the cranks. I try to make sure I get the whole chain. It doesn't do anything to lessen the chainring tattoo effect, though. :/

Maybe you're too fastidious in your method of chain lubing. I just turn the cranks a few revolutions while giving a light stream of (Teflon) chain lube and then wipe the chain off with a rag. We've all probably got slight variations in our method, and like Scrod, I'm not a fan of wax lube either. I remember reading an article by a race mechanic who said he would lube chains then give them a very light coating of grease to keep the lube in place and give better shifting performance. I've been meaning to test that claim.

Wait... are you turning your cranks clockwise when you lube your chain? You should try turning them counterclockwise since you are in the southern hemisphere. Coriolis effect, dude.

:lol:

Regarding White Lightning wax lube (and yes, I've used it), I've found that it actually dries out a chain, which means you'll need to reapply constantly. Too much effort.

Wet lube, wipe the excess with a rag, go.

I did not like having to soak the chain with the stuff and then let it dry, only to have to reapply in 100 miles because my chain started to get noisy.

To the OP, I don't think there is a really efficient way to apply. It is mostly thinner so you pretty much need to over apply.

Actually, that's not so silly as I've often s******ed at the "long lasting" claims, just like the "self cleaning" claims ( it falls off and takes the crud with it).

I'm probably doing it right. The way the chain has lasted suggests that even if I'm wrong, it doesn't matter. It just annoys me wasting so much fluid.

On a related note, doncha luvit when something wears so slowly that the cost of replacement is irrelevant? I don't ride fixed because of any presumed savings, the amount I spent on the Hillbrick disproves that, but sometimes, you can feel justifiably smug knowing that you've just saved some inconsequential amount of money ... or saved a few acres of rain forest or something.

Rats, I was hoping I'd missed something screamingly obvious :mad:
Ah well, lubed her tonight, with what I've got on tomorrow, I'll be lubing her tomorrow night ... but I'll have nearly 100km on the clock by then so even with a wet lube, I'd be reaching for the rag and bottle.

Do you think putting. It in a spray bottle and spraying a tiny bit I the rollers would help?

That exists. Boeshield t-9

+1

I've used it before and I would have to clean & reapply after a week of commuting.

+2. WD40Bike lube ftw.

Where do you get your hands on it? I can't find it anywhere around here (irony would have it that WD40 HQ is in SD :rolleyes: ). I really want to try the stuff out.

Disclaimer for you unknowing folks, WD40 does make a bike specific lube. ;)

I know one of the mechanics on the WD40 pro team. I get it from him. I'll see if I can find out where to source it. It's worth shipping.

I can't believe a chain lube thread is so civil, especially here. You guys have restored my faith in humanity.;)

It's because he didn't ask which lube would make him faster or rob him of less wattz. If he had, it would have been a whole different kind of thread. Probably with more .gifs.

I got White Lightning as a free sample and liked it at first. Besides what Scrod said already, it sucks in colder weather. I tried a bunch a few different teflon based aerosol lubes after that, but wasn't impressed.

My new favorite lube is Pedro's Syn lube. I ride 150+ miles a week, since I'm car free and commute 26+ miles a week, in addition to miscellaneous riding, Pedro's seems to work better than anything else I've tried. And yes, it's a wet lube.