[Closed] Chain lubes

Juice Lubes wet

I've just bitten the bullet and gone down the Putoline route.

Bit more hassle initially, but so far I've not had to relube after 3 wet and muddy rides. So I'm hoping it's going to be worthwhile.

Just giving it a wipe with an oily rag after washing the bike to stop surface rust.

Been using squirt lube for nearly a year now. Great stuff, you don't get all the crap stuck to your chain

At this time of year what ever is the cheapest

My bike gets so dirty it has to be washed after every ride which means re lubing the chain so no point in putting expensive wet lube on

Come summer time the bike will get washed once every couple of months if needed, re lube the chain and its good for a couple of months (weather dependant)

*sings the putoline song*

Its the best, its the cheapest, I have used nothing else for a decade or more.

I'll "second" anything made by Juice Lubes but I'm a wee bit biased - (Wife used to work for Velo Brands.)

Our lube of choice is Juice Lubes - Viking Juice.

Mind you, still haven't found anything that comes near to beating "Morgan Blue" as a chain degreaser. (Sorry, Mr Miles!!)

I'd highly recommend Muc-Off Wet Lube. I've found it to be the least 'claggy' of all the ones I've tried. I've a new bike coming soon so may try the Putoline route tho.

Been using squirt lube for nearly a year now. Great stuff, you don’t get all the crap stuck to your chain

Squirt lube for me too, I’m about to run out and will be getting some more. Needs to be applied to a thoroughly degreased chain but after that keeps the chainset nice and clean

*Joins in with the Putoline song*

I liked Fenwick's Stealth, although it required application in advance to 'cure'.

Have moved to Putoline though. It took some time to learn to have faith in it, but it lasts over multiple filthy muddy CX rides and hosings, and the chain stays cleaner on the outside than with a wet lube. Post-ride/wash, I just run the chain through a rag soaked in GT85.

Not a massive fan of repeatedly breaking quicklinks to relube though, this could actually be reason enough for me to switch back to drip lubes once the current chain is done.

Squirt in the summer. For the endless wet now I am using Fenwicks Pro. Works well enough in the wet and doesn't need applying every ride. Stinks like cow poo.

Weldtite has been a game changer for me lately. Very cheap, very clean and really handles the worst conditions. I've just bought a litre bulk bottle for £17.

Just cracked open a bottle of Muc Off wet ceramic. Too early to tell if it's amazeballs as yet but for the money it wants to be

la la loo lala... Putoline!

(or as my son said as we watched Back to Future as a family when Doc gets shot by the Iranian's over the nuclear fuel: "Daddy, is that what you put on our chains?")

To be honest I don't fancy the hassle that comes with needing a fryer and a sparkly gleaming chain to start with. Something that simply works will do. Will give the juice stuff a go as I know the LBS stocks and rates it. Maybe try wax when new chain time comes round.

Thanks for the input guys 🙂

Squirt year round. Works ok for wet 2h rides this time of year.

Squirt all year round, I don’t use anything else these days and havent done for a few years.

Putoline
Works
Cheap as chips
Easier than cleaning grinding paste off the drive chain, waiting for it to dry, then re-lube after every ride.

*Also singing the Putoline song*

Tried Rock and Roll extend after years of just throwing Finish Line on. S'alright in the summer, crap in the wet.

Squirt all year round for me too, being using it for years with no issues

To be honest I don’t fancy the hassle that comes with needing a fryer and a sparkly gleaming chain to start with. Something that simply works will do.

You don't need a fryer, You only need to clean the chain the first time and only then if its filthy. It does simply work. I did one the other day. tin on hob ( forme - your other half may disagree) or a camp stove. chain off the bike and chuck in tin. Check every few mins until its nice and runny, take hot tin into workshop, fish chain out and hang over tin, refit to bike, run thru a rag. 5 mins work, 5 mins on the hob. I'll do it again in a few hundred miles and enjoy the well lubed chain for that time. more than a decades I have been using it. cost less than £3 a year for 5 - 7 bikes used by two of us

Weldtite TF2 for wet conditions for me.

White lightning epic ride if it's mixed conditions.

Mucoff dry lube for proper dry conditions.

The weldtite and mucoff were about £12 a litre each, the epic ride a bit more but it is my favourite.

I would just like to say I think Putoline is overrated for MTB in winter (so nerr to the lot of you). When you have to properly hose the bike down, which is most rides, you still end up with a rusty chain - oily rag or not. Also did a four day Lakes trip last year, was almost completely dry, no cleaning and chain was squeaking by the last day. Might go back to squirt.

Quite good on the road bike though

I tried the Putoline method but now gone belt drive 😇

Here's the Weldtite stuff, I'd be quite happy if this was the only lube I could use...

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-oil/

When using the Putoline with a brand new chain do you have to clean off the coating that the chains covered in initially or do you just chuck it in the tin?

Pedro's wax. I was a Squirt convert & delighted with its all year performance, less so with the the price. As wax emulsions go I can't tell the difference between the two but the Pedro's is about 60% of the price. Transmission is always clean & there's no claggy build up or jocky clogging black goo.

When using the Putoline with a brand new chain do you have to clean off the coating that the chains covered in initially or do you just chuck it in the tin?

Straight in. On used chains, I've given them a good soak in white spirit first.

Straight in. On used chains, I’ve given them a good soak in white spirit first.

Cheers. Think I’m going to give this a go when my new bike arrives.

I use Squirt. I just apply it more frequently after wet rides. Does the job and no oily transmission.

Muc-off wet lube. It's great, even smells nice. One application did me round the Cairngorm Loop last year. Bike sounded a bit tougher towards the end but worked fine for the other 250+ km's.

I've tried lots of different ones over the years and think the Muc-off is the best.

I've become a bit of a fanboy of theirs recently. Their tyre sealant is also great. Plus I'm loving their condensed bike cleaner with reduced packaging. You can even get a refill at some bike shops. 👌

Just cracked open a bottle of Muc Off wet ceramic. Too early to tell if it’s amazeballs as yet but for the money it wants to be

I bought a lifetime 1l c3 ceramic wet bottle for ~£7 a few years back, it lubes the chain and doesn't rapidly vanish in the rain making it suitable for the modern typical UK climate, but it doesn't take long to turn into a black sludge.

I've got a small bottle of Muc Off dry to try, just in case by some miracle we get another "summer" that starts in March like last year.

Muc off wet - although drivetrain stays quiet, everything and it’s brother will stick to it and jockey wheels caked up with tar.

Juice lubes Viking - too wet and runny for winter rides so didn’t find it gave it a good coating. Pretty average and didn’t float my boat at all

Currently using a Pedros syn lube because it was cheap and for winter rides it seems ok and works.

Once things dry up I use rock n roll blue for mtb and their red absolute for road bike.

Might give squirt a try one of these days. Won’t be trying putoline as I don’t want a black chain all the time and will be bound to get it on trousers etc. I also won’t be removing quick link constantly as I think the tolerances get weaker until eventually can remove and snap in place with hands.

Intrigued by the folks using Squirt, I like it on the summer road bike but considered it a non-starter for any sort of wet use. Will it last a whole wet ride?

Won’t be trying putoline as I don’t want a black chain all the time and will be bound to get it on trousers etc.

I was afraid of this, but any surface wax seems to wear off quite quickly (hence giving it a wipe down with GT85-y rag after rides). My Putoline chain is obviously still lubed internally as it's silent and runs smooth, but it's bare metal silver on the surface. Barely any dirtier to touch than my Squirt lubed summer bike that barely leaves the turbo trainer.

Still on the old RnR extreme, but haven't tried the new recipe yet. It's great, tried squirt, it didn't last a ride.

Will it last a whole wet ride?

I would say no, depending on how well you've applied it (ie how clean your chain actually was when it went on). I've never managed to get through a properly wet ride with a silent chain with it.

Smoove is a bit better in terms of a wax-based lube, IME.

Intrigued by the folks using Squirt, I like it on the summer road bike but considered it a non-starter for any sort of wet use. Will it last a whole wet ride?

Depends on your wet ride. Bit of rain and damp trails - yes it will.
River crossing, torrents of water everywhere - not a chance.

Been using squirt for a while now, but finding there is corrosion on the chain, even with drying after wet rides/washing. Going to try the juice lubes wet after reading some good reviews of it.

If it's -

Dry - Squirt
Wet - Squirt
Cold - Squirt
Hot - Squirt
Sunny - Squirt
Freezing - Squirt
Foggy - Squirt
Snowing - Squirt
Muddy - Squirt
Dusty - Squirt

Another Putoline singer here. It's been wet, gritty and wet again. Chain no more rusty than if it was covered in other wet-lube but it is still lubed up after 10 days with no attention. I expect while it's this grim weather-wise every other week in the fryer may be a good idea.

Just nabbed the last bottle of Weldtite performance for £4 off CRC to try. Of course I had to buy some cable cutters as well to get over the £20 free delivery threshold....

Just started recording distance on my new bike, and lubings. I deep-fried my chain in Putoline a second time on Saturday morning, which makes it 499km on one application, and I think ten bike cleanings in 12 rides. In wet and shitty conditions, mostly country lanes.

Normally I'd clean and lube after a wash. However, if I were relying on normal wet lube I wouldn't clean it every time because it'd be taking longer - I would have been leaving it with dirt and salt on it. So I'm probably prolonging the life of other components as well as the chain. I hadn't thought of that before!

Right... I'm going all in on the Putolene.
I've ordered the tin from Amazon, and also picked up a 1.2 litre fryer from Asda for £15. I've been using Squirt for some time, but it doesn't last more than an hour or so in the current conditions. Loads of bikes to maintain so should work out cheaper, and less faff, in the longer term.

I used to use similar "hob-top" potions on the motorbikes back in the 1980s, before O-ring chains moved the game on. Looking forward to trying this!

*Also singing the Putoline song*
Oh the sound of a silent drive train. I also like not having to lube the chain pre every ride.

I just use the tin on the stove - with the extractor fan on it's doesn't stink the kitchen out.

@allanoleary

Just cracked open a bottle of Muc Off wet ceramic. Too early to tell if it’s amazeballs as yet but for the money it wants to be

Let me know how it works!

Weldtite TF2 - great allrounder and very cheap (you're not saving any money on putoline nor time, much better suited than it for roadbikes), doesn't get gunky, but perhaps washes off a bit too easy in winter conditions - saw rust spots this season.

Weldtite Endurance Ceramic - Currently testing, seems smoother than TF2 and is dead silent, will see if it offers a better protection in the wet. They key I hear (as is instructed) is to clean off all excess so it doesn't gunk up.

Here's a test where they figured Synthetic gear oil did better than all bicycle chain lubes

Whilst not wanting to turn this into a Putoline thread (I know there is one of them out there already), I have one issue that stops me going for it. Taking the chain off every time you need to lube it is a ball ache however passionate you are about the stuff. Especially in the current conditions when it will need doing more often.

Secondly and my main reason for not going down the putoline route is the quick links. Most 11 or 12 speed mtb chains come with quick links that are designed to be single use or a handful of times at most. And yes I know the "it'll be fine, sram and Shimano would say that wouldn't they" line, but I have seen snapped quick links more than once from being used multiple times, which means I'm not risking it for the purpose of waxing the chain regularly.

Keeping my chain clean post ride and lubed ready for the next ride is not hard or time consuming at all (5 mins total before putting the bike away post ride, and I'm very fastidious about it), and I really can't see a Putoline chain lasting that much longer. I'm not saying that waxing isn't technically the best option for chains (sounds like it is in theory), but that the benefits are not worth the hassle (for me, obvs).

FWIW, I think the cleaning / lubing regime is as important if not more so than the actual lube itself, as long as it's actual chain lube and decent stuff. Have used a variety myself and don't have a 'must have' lube myself, just keep it clean.

No love for this stuff any more?

sings the chorus to the Putoline song.

No love for this stuff any more?

Smells like fairy liquid, but has precisely the reverse properties, attracting every piece of muck, shite, and grit within a five mile radius, then holding it tight until has coalesced into an indestructible blob ready to munch your chain.

Smells like fairy liquid, but has precisely the reverse properties, attracting every piece of muck, shite, and grit within a five mile radius, then holding it tight until has coalesced into an indestructible blob ready to munch your chain.

Haha, yes they are very cheeky showing a pristine clean chain on the label. Should be a vaguely chain-shaped, oversized, black-grey stringy blob.

Anyone else tried it? Trying to figure out if better than the Teflon Performance version.

Finish line wetlube is super grimy.

Should be a vaguely chain-shaped, oversized, black-grey stringy blob.

Or you can wipe a blob across each roller, from link to link on the inside of the bottom run of chain, back pedal it round a few times afterwards, then through a fist full of rag. All the lube where you want it, and a vague smear on the links to keep the rust at bay. Takes 2 mins.

Might be too faffy for some, but that's the way to apply wet lube. Spooging it liberally all over the chain, riding through crap, then spooging more on is going to leave you with

a vaguely chain-shaped, oversized, black-grey stringy blob

Or you can wipe a blob across each roller, from link to link on the inside of the bottom run of chain, back pedal it round a few times afterwards, then through a fist full of rag. All the lube where you want it, and a vague smear on the links to keep the rust at bay. Takes 2 mins.

Yep, my exact routine. Works a treat.

Taking the chain off every time you need to lube it is a ball ache however passionate you are about the stuff. Especially in the current conditions when it will need doing more often.

Yeah, quicklinks are the solution, but I share your concern about repeatedly breaking and joining. The right tool helps (e.g. quicklink pliers) and I've also stocked up on spares in the assumption that I'll replace the link after 3 or 4 breaks.

Adding these things to the costs column of Putoline means I suspect there is no real financial argument to it, also having learned the hard way I'll never trust it to last the duration of a multi-day trip, but then nothing seems to last the duration of multi-day trips!

I do still like it though, the drivetrains on my winter road/CX bikes run clean, smooth and silent with little care or attention.

I have seen snapped quick links more than once from being used multiple times

Really? I've always re-used them from when they came out. I never even knew about the single use thing. Where do they snap?

I would absolutely use Putoline on a multi-day trip, in fact since it lasts 10x longer than anything else I'd think it ideal.

In fact, the big advantage for me isn't even the longevity, it's the fact that my chain isn't a graunchy mess after the first couple of miles of trail like it is with every other lube I've tried. I can plug through endless mud and the chain is still freakishly quiet and smooth. That, along with some Showers Pass trousers and new Shimano winter boots a few weeks back resulted in the Holy Grail ride that I've been seeking ever since I started MTBing in the 90s - perfectly mud proof! I didn't care or even notice (at first) how thoroughly shitty it was because none of it affected me.

If you clean your bike after every ride there is no point in putoline as it just creates extra faff. I have to keep mine in the house so basically after every ride in the winter it needs washed anyway and then 2 secs to lube ontop rather than taking chain off and frying actually quite frequantly.

I found in the summer though it was great as didnt need to wash the bike and could just chuck it inside and lasted ages

I have seen snapped quick links more than once from being used multiple times

Whipperman connex quick links are reusable, need no tools to remove or install (golden coating makes it easier to spot too), you have 10,11 and 12 speed versions. Never broken one works perfect with shimano chains, basically my favorite bike part.

Juice lubes Viking all year round, not found anything that gives as good coverage for maximum convenience

No love for Rock N Roll Extreme? may have just ordered a 16oz bottle of it :/ Been using Squirt but finding it fairly useless in the British Winter with eternally wet roads.

If you clean your bike after every ride there is no point in putoline as it just creates extra faff.

Eh? both to cleaning after every ride and the "Extra Faff", it's certainly no more accumulated faff than dobbing some product on every link, after every ride...

I have to keep mine in the house so basically after every ride in the winter it needs washed anyway and then 2 secs to lube ontop rather than taking chain off and frying actually quite frequantly.

I have a spouse in my house so there's no way my bikes get to live in there too. I think you have a rare use case TBH...

The Chain comes off for a putoline dunking every 250~400 miles-ish (season and bike dependant)... Do you actually think people re-apply putoline after every single ride? The whole point is that you don't need to.

It is basically an ideal product for lazy, non-OCD sufferers...

I'm well over splodging expensive, PTFE loaded Jizz on my chain for it to either wash away in under five miles or combine with every particle it encouters to form a drivetrain knackering grinding paste.

If you clean your bike after every ride there is no point in putoline as it just creates extra faff.

No, this is the best part - bike cleaning just becomes a 2 min hose down. This is the main reason I went for it, to reduce faff. My old routine was already good - I'd use a thinner wet lube and coat the chain with cleaner then blast the hosepipe into it until twisting it made no noise. Then relube when dry. But with Putoline, the chain rarely makes a noise when I do the twist test, so I just hose the muck off the bike and done. Maybe a blast of water to the chain.

Putoline is:

Less work overall
Less faff at cleaning time
Much better lubricating through the course of a ride
Needs applying far less often
Makes your chain last longer

Only downside is the £25 upfront on the lube and £15 on the fryer.

it needs washed anyway and then 2 secs to lube ontop

Do you do the twist test? Take a link in your fingers and twist it, can you hear that grit in there? That's wearing away your chain. If I just hose and lube, with wet lube, that grit stays there. To get rid of it I need cleaner and a hose. Or a good chain wax so it doesn't end up in there in the first place. Don't ask me how it doesn't, btw, I don't know, but that's my experience.

Whipperman connex quick links are reusable, need no tools to remove or install

Oof, £16 though!

Used squirt for over a year now it’s fine in summer but waste of time in wet/mud. You have to lash it on it disappears within minutes in wet/muddy conditions:(

Rust spots all over chain. It’s quite expensive and you have to use lots. I’m switching back to wet lube in winter with one drop per link method!

No love for Rock N Roll Extreme? may have just ordered a 16oz bottle of it :/ Been using Squirt but finding it fairly useless in the British Winter with eternally wet roads.

I use this for CX racing, including some one-bike races, and it is unbelievably good. As in there's no way my drivetrain should still be working with 5kg of mud and grass on it, but it is.

But that's like a one-off application. I'm not sure it's durable enough to put on a road bike or a winter commuter and have it last - think you'd be re-applying it a lot [although the bottles are quite generous].

Someone mentioned rock 'n' roll racing and Viking lube. Never really worked for me. Still find my way works just fine, is quick to do, lasts a good while whilst not needing a fryer.

- Hose down the chain
- Scrub with a brush and a bit of Muc-off
- Scrape off the gunk from the hockey wheels and chain ring
- Hose down the chain
- Apply wd40 to the chain (careful to not go mad and get some on your brakes)
- Dry the chain with a rag whilst removing any left over crud
- Apply a liberal amount of Muc-off wet lube
- Wipe off excess lube with a rag

That's way too much faff for me.

I agree with Molgrips..... especially if you arw working to a tight deadline.... Ya know.... LiKE 5PM ON FRIDAY 22ND.

I've gone Putoline. Don't really find it a faff.

Only lasts 2-3 rides though - and thats with a waxy top up.

Its just so wet at the mo!! 😀

I am persevering though to give it a fair crack.

The less viscous lubes like viking just seem uber messy for application....CBA....putoline better than these option imho.

All my routine above takes 5 mins (unless I've not cleaned the chain in a while I'm which point it could take approx 10 mins. It helps having everything setup in the garage and the hose pipe just outside the garage.

requantly.

I have a spouse in my house so there’s no way my bikes get to live in there too. I think you have a rare use case TBH

I also have a spouse who lives in the house. She also keeps her bike inside because we live in an upstairs flat? Pretty sure that's not a rare use case haha. There's probably more of us than home owners with garages...

Only lasts 2-3 rides though

Interesting - that could depend on local soil or it could be a case of expectations. When I do it, the chain is super quiet for say two rides, then it starts making a little more noise but it stays like that for ages and only starts to get actually noisy later - but still takes ages before it gets to the same level as normal wet lube after about 30 mins. So if you go for a re-fry at the first sign of noise I can imagine you'd be doing it more regularly. Of the 500km on my road bike it was making some noise for about half of that distance. But it was still well lubed enough.

delet

Only lasts 2-3 rides though – and thats with a waxy top up.

I'm not sure top-ups are such a good idea, I was topping up (albeit with a wet lube) and I think it maybe causes the wax to flow out again, or something. Either way, chain ended up claggier for it.

Just wiping down with GT85 prevents corrosion between rides and it seems to run smoothly so makes me think the wax is staying inside the rollers where it should be.

No love for Rock N Roll Extreme? may have just ordered a 16oz bottle of it :/ Been using Squirt but finding it fairly useless in the British Winter with eternally wet roads.

I've got love for Rock'n'Roll. Great stuff!

Goes on easy, stays on, cleans off with the dirt when you wash it. Lasts well.

I do use a slightly stickier Progold Xtreme on the road bike, but that picks up less filth and so doesn't need such a high performance lube.

This the putoline stuff? :
Stuff

AB stuff has to be worth a try on the road bike surely?

https://absoluteblack.cc/graphenlube-worlds-best-chain-lubricant-coating/

Don't even have to go through the charade of heating it, which will be a disappointment to some - 1800 Km and 3-10 W savings, these are big claims (endorsed by Pog no less).

If there is a Wilko nearby then it's worth trying their All Weather Lube. Pretty sure it is rebranded Weldtite TF2 Performance.

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-all-weather-lube-with-teflon-surface-protect-protector-100ml/p/0344046