[Closed] Keeping drivetrain clean as poss

*runs away screaming*

Lols - just use mucoff dry lube rather than wet. Run it through a few household wipes after you’ve washed your bike and reapply. Works for me.

That and a few months of gunky wet lube meant the drivetrain was a right old state.

This is the issue right here. As above, get a decent dry lube and dont use too much of it

See the various putoline threads from recent weeks and/or leave it in the shed till July...

See the various putoline threads from recent weeks and/or leave it in the shed till July…

I mean, if only the forum had a working search function!

what’s the cleanest alternative?

Don't ride the bike.

You can keep the we lube, just use much less of it! Don't just spooge it on.

With the bike upright, wipe a drop across each roller from link to link on the bottom run of the chain, back pedal the chain round till you've done the lot in about 4 lengths. Takes about a minute. You've got plenty of lube where it needs to be and none where it doesn't.

If it goes dry before you need to wash it (unlikely at this time of year) pedal the chain through a rag, then re-apply as above. If you need to wash it, aim your water at the cassette/chain until the water's running out clear, leave till it's mostly dry/run through a rag, reapply as above.

I've been using Finish Line Wet year-round for a couple of years, on and off road. I like a clean drive train, and this ^ works. If it didn't, I'd be using something else.

Use less. Put it on. Let it dry. Wipe off any excess.

I've used Mùc Off Wet Lube and didn't find it particularly bad or dirty.

I find Smoove really easy to work with. After riding the Peak on Saturday, my drive looked pretty much spotless after being hosed off with warm water at the trail side.

How do you find warm water at the trail side?
*Luxury*

Drink enough coffee?

Putoline is the only solution (other hot wax based lubes may be available).

People who go on Cycle Chat a lot are familiar with the Mickle Method, named after a contributor called Mickle who explained it. I used to remove my chain often, clean it in paraffin and replace it then re-lube but I began to suspect this wasn't helping its lifespan to I started Mickling and now I do it every time.

Simply, do as the professional mechanics do - use a hand floor brush to wash bike and chain with very hot water containing car shampoo. Pull the chain through a fluffy microfibre cloth to dry it. Go indoors for a beer. Re-lube just before the next ride.

I've been using that rock n roll wax lube for cross racing and the chain is sparkling - good shifting as well in the worst of conditions. But, and it's a big but, I think you have to apply it frequently. It's not one of those waxes that last 100s of miles. Takes all of 30 seconds mind.

*runs away screaming*

I know right, it's as if we don't ever discuss chain lube 😂

Clean & decrease whole drive train properly, use Squirt.

This is my lube of choice for a clean drivetrain on the road in winter...
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/white-lightning-epic-ride-lubricant-240ml-bottle/

I use cheaper wet lube on the MTB in the wet as it tends to wash off before it gunges up, and dry lube on both in summer.

Clean & de-grease whole drive train properly after every ride

FTFY

*runs away screaming*

I know right, it’s as if we don’t ever discuss chain lube 😂

Yup - and if I give my opinion I get further entrenched in disliking the sound of my preaching and if I do not people are not getting the benefit of my wisdom in finding the best chain lube ever. Fortunately a few of my acolytes have taken over the preaching rule so I merely have to sit in a existential whirl.

All hail TJ - the mighty prophet of the putoline. Gaze upon my works and wonder!

😉

Clean & de-grease whole drive train properly after every ride

FTFY

Absolutely no need to do that whatsoever.

steve_b77's bike earlier today...

[img] [/img]

Not a chance @merak apply a wax based lube like Squirt correctly at the start and then again after post ride washing and you don't have to do the whole drive train every time.

Even my eldest sons bike has 10 speed too 🤣

Or...

Wipe chain after ride (mainly to dry it a bit).

Re-apply lube of choice.

Wipe again to remove excess if necessary.

Or…

Wipe chain after ride (mainly to dry it a bit).

Re-apply lube of choice.

Wipe again to remove excess if necessary.

Point hosepipe at drivechain for a few seconds,

Go indoors for a cup of tea.

#TJisourleader

Belt drive.

Absolutely no need to do that whatsoever.

Depends where you ride.... some places have sand/sticky clay eats the drivechain. When I ride loam I don't bother but some places are like a grinding paste.

I usually use 3-in-1 anywhere I think it will need cleaning or dry. Cheaper and washes off easily..

#TJisourleader

More like the Mr Miyagi of bicycle chain lubrication.

"Wax on... ride 300 miles... more wax on..."

Basically as @nedrapier says. I find that the chain on my road bike gets far muckier than my MTB chains because of all the oily crap on the roads.

Muckoff wet lube is my preferred lube.

Used finishline wet lube as directed at the puffer last weekend.

Threw a bucket of water at my bike/ drive train every lap to get the gloop off. Chain came up sparkling and didn't need lubed at all.

Certainly doesn't need taking off and put in a tin of wax.

How do you find warm water at the trail side?
*Luxury*

25 litre Jerry can filled from my hot outside tap. Amazing just how warm it is 5 or 6 hours later.

Might see if I can find or make an insulated box for it.

I like Progold as it cleans all the black gunk off too, I use two toothbrushes melted together to clean the chain with it, then apply more progold and wipe off the excess, removes all the black and leaves the chain looking shiny and new. The thin metal friction reducer formula gets in everywhere. Regular application keeps everything smooth running.

Rock n roll lube will keep your drivetrain pretty clean but you’ll need to reapply it more frequently than a thicker lube.

Proper application is the most important thing, whatever lube you use! Seems a lot of people put too much on, based on recent threads.

I've been using the bike oil they sell in Decathlon for £4. It mostly gets washed out during the course of any particularly wet long ride, which leaves a chain that needs minimal cleaning. Re-apply before next ride and wipe off excess.

Doesn't get caked up or attract too much dirt this way like sticky nasty wet lube

It mostly gets washed out during the course of any particularly wet long ride, which leaves a chain that needs minimal cleaning.

What an odd idea. If you don't care about lubrication why not just not lube it at all?

didn’t need lubed at all

Judged by what criteria?

Judged by the fact that it was still waxy to touch and continued to do lap after lap of riding without creaking like an old gate.

Or do you subscribe to I Haz washed it so I muuuuuuust lube it .

Onzadog

Member
….
25 litre Jerry can filled from my hot outside tap. Amazing just how warm it is 5 or 6 hours later.
Might see if I can find or make an insulated box for it.

Pop to your local pet shop- our local has stacks of polystyrene hay boxes that frozen food gets delivered in.

@molgrips - I probably didn't explain it very well, it's probably more that it doesn't last for ages like a wet lube might but it also doesn't turn a chain into a black gloopy mess with caked grime all round the jockey wheels.

I'm not sure how people gauge when a chain needs re-lubing, the internal surfaces of the rollers are the main bit that need lube, not the visible surfaces. I assume it's just by hearing a chain that is jangling a bit more than usual.

Mucky chain?

Problem solved...

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8579/16522297509_4e0d5de7b7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8579/16522297509_4e0d5de7b7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

With 1x drive systems popular these days, this would even work on a derailleur bike with a bit of modification.

You don't really need to enclose the back. Most muck on the chain is flung from the tyre at the chainstay/BB area.

squirt or smooth. stick a bit on after each wash else it turns into grinding paste.

This is my drivetrain after several mucky rides. Still ages until it needs to be relubed. Its not been washed at all. Just ridden home along tarmac for a few miles
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49338785312_69400a684f_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49338785312_69400a684f_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iaUaWh ]IMG_1265[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/25846484@N04/ ]TandemJeremy[/url], on Flickr

https://xcp-protection.com/products/xcp-chain-lubricant/

http://flaer.com/