Original Bicycle Chain Lubrication

I’m a longtime cyclist and have used countless chain lube products and strategies throughout my decades of riding…

My current riding is 90% off-road these days in challenging conditions.
– Late Spring through Early fall is the season of desert dust and Sierra Nevada Dusty Gravel that will coat you and everything you ride in chain-eating dust that makes your chain squeal loudly and adversely affect shifting …
– Winter is snow and cold and sand/salt on the roads

With my other lubes (spray or drop-on drop by drop) I would only get anywhere from “less than one ride” (the “dry lube varieties) before the “chain squeak” would start and shifting would suffer, to a maximum 3-days with Teflon-wet lubes.

Riding in the same conditions I am now at 2-weeks on just the original lube application and my shifting is still excellent, there is no chain noise at all and my bike and clothes have been coated with the chain eating dust I referenced.

So this stuff is working!

My drivetrain is 2×10 Shimano that is 6 months old so it already had a bit of wear but this lube has returned it to “brand new” shifting that is quiet and fast and reliable.

Because my drivetrain was already in hard use, though I did keep the drive train clean and serviced and lubed, I didn’t exactly follow the “directions” on the bottle of given by others who review this )though if the drivetrain were new I would use the recommended approach).

I simply using soap and low-pressure hose water to clean the chain/drivetrain as usual. Dried it and ran it through a used rag I use for drivetrains to give is a light oil coating to prevent any rust. The next morning I came out and ran the pedals backward and was liberal with my application of this lube and wiped off the excess lube. I let it sit overnight and then once again ran the chain and jockey wheels through a fresh clean rag to get the remain extra lube off.

Already I could tell there was less friction in the drive train just from this process.

Loaded up and went for a 5-hour dusty desert ride… and I was amazed at the difference in drive train noise and shifting. After the ride, I did a quick visual on the quiet and perfectly-performing drivetrain and saw the accumulation of dust on the sides of the chain. Then just did a water-only rinse off of the bike, and dried it and used the same rag for getting the excess oil off the chain and jockey wheels.

I the subsequent two weeks with many more dusty rides, I have repeated the water-only-rinse, dry the bike, and rag-wipe of chain and the derailleur jockey wheels and just go ride. I am waiting to see when it will start squeaking. So far I have logged over 200 miles off road in dusty conditions and I am still on the original application of lubricant without any squeaking or degradation of shifting.

I know on the lube container directions (and on their website) they say to “wait until you hear the chain” until you reapply the lube, so I will, but in the meantime I am wonder how long I can get way with just the original application in these tough conditions.

Of course your mileage may vary, but I am one happy camper with this product!

If used as directed it is hands down the best mountain bike chain lubricant I have used. Minimal dust collection, lasts long, good for wet or dry conditions.

Anyone complaining is not using it correctly.

Just don’t apply it in your living space.

Love this lube. I had been going through different types of lube, trying to find one that worked well over a period of time (i.e. that I didn’t have to apply every rider), and didn’t really find one that I liked. This doesn’t mean there aren’t other great lubes around. I certainly haven’t tried them all, and obviously some work better than others in various conditions. But I’ve tried a couple of wax lubes and some teflon ones and some regular old Finish Line, etc.
This lube, for me, works the best and lasts the longest in the greatest variety of conditions. I haven’t had to change lubes in wet conditions vs dry, and I apply one drop/link probably every 5-6 rides, but how often you’ll need to apply really depends on how long your rides are. So individual results will vary.
As others have stated, the way to apply this lube is ONE drop per link, right on the roller. Then run the chain through gears, and let it sit for a while. Then wipe the chain. I do still get some black buildup on the chain, the most after the first ride, but if you make sure you wipe the excess lube off, this will be limited, and is easily wiped off after a ride.
AGAIN, I haven’t used ALL lubes by any means, and I’m sure there are others that perform just as well for others that I either haven’t tried, or simply didn’t work as well for me. Hell, there may be a lube that would even work better for me, but this is currently the best I’ve found, and I don’t really see a reason to keep looking.

Good stuff.

Obviously, this works great on bike chains. Just 2-3 drops are enough. It really spreads well once you ride the bike a bit after oiling it up. I bought a bottle back in 2012 and there’s still quite a bit left.

It’s also great for all kinds of mechanical parts. Bike lock getting sticky and difficult to lock/unlock? Half a drop into the lock and it opens like brand new. Also worked great on my front door lock and mailbox lock when they started getting a bit difficult (a very small drop on the tip on the key and then inserting it into the lock worked quite well). A small drop into a squeaky door hinge also works great.