[Closed] Moon on a stick ? Dry lube that will last for 50 miles

Squirt wax based lube. Lasts all day and doesn't make a mess.

Use to use Muc Off dry lube but it didn't last very long at all. And got messy.

Been using rock n roll blue extreme for years, lasts pretty well, 96 miles of WHW in a day last august no worries.

Squirt will last that in the dry. If a bit damp then Smoove is a bit more tenacious.

*sings the putoline song*

Squirt...been riding the Surrey Hills for years using Squirt

RevoLube - runs clean, is silent and so smooth. I have had 300km with a simple wipe between rides

Squirt as long as you don't have any of that mud that causes Squirt to just pretty much instantly stop working.

Great, I was thinking something similar, 3 words in the confirmation dawned, but I still have quarter of a liter of it, does it have any other uses? other than spontaneous combustion.

Youtube is so full of shiz.

Yep I always come back to squirt.

Used to love RnR but that doesn't seem as good these days.

Best application is definitely on a super clean chain.

I believe RnR has changed formulation, no nasty VOCs now, i'm still on the old stuff, have bought viking lube stuff for when it runs out.

You'd be as well pissing on your chain as using squirt!.

I use Squirt on the 'good' road bike, i.e. the one that rarely gets wet 😎

It will definitely last 50 miles in the dry, and will see you home in the wet usually.

Trick is to build up the applications. Surgically ckean chain, apply Squirt, leave overnight ideally somewhere dry, repeat. Then don't be surprised if the first application is a bit shortlived. I think basically it takes a few goes to get it right into the rollers where it needs to be.

Otherwise Fenwick's Stealth/Pro? Is my go-to dry-ish lube that will still last and can shrug off a fair amount of wet conditions.

Squirt all year round, gets very muddy and gritty around here and it copes very well. No build up of crud either. Just make sure your chain is spotlessly clean before you start to apply then just top up.

I had been thinking about posting the same thread about muc off dry lube since I got some as a present

Been using it on the road bike and the chain gets filthy very quickly and as op says doesn’t last long at all

Smells kind of nice though

FinishLine dry is still my go to lube. It’ll easily do 50 dry miles, it’s done 150 wet miles on my road bike.

The key is prep if you want it to last a long time, super clean chain, apply, let it dry, apply a second coat, let it dry.

For what it’s worth, I thought Squirt was terrible, barely lasted dry miles let alone wet ones.

I mean the obvious answers are:

Lazy: Smoove
Nerd: Putoline or similar solid wax - graphen or pricey ones if you're big nerd.

Agree with TJ.
I did 180km (3 MTB rides) on a Putolined chain last week, still squeak free at the end.

My road bike is due a refresh, but that's done approx 400km since I last did it.

*sings the putoline song*

*Joins in for the chorus*

+1 for squirt.

Had it on the MTB for around a year with no issues. Started using on the road bike a month or two ago, again no issues. First application is a bit of a pain - fully degrease chain and then apply several times (allowing to dry between). But I've mates who straight apply to a new oily chain who have reported no issues as well.

I went the whole of last summer with one Putoline application on my MTB, the chain was clean the whole time. I think I topped up maybe twice with Shimano wet.

Pretty happy with Muc Off C3 Dry. In the winter you probably need to re-apply it every ride but in the summer I get half a dozen rides between applications. 50 dry miles would be no problem.

Putoline's only downfall is it's durability! For disorganised types like me it always (finally) gives up the ghost mid-ride, I've returned home with squeaky horrible chains more often with Putoline than any other lube, but only because with every other lube I apply more or less weekly.

Sounds like a daft thing to complain about but it's why I stopped using Putoline, could never tell when it was going to 'go'.

Not that keen on Putoline, might sell mine with deep fat fryer if anyone interested.

Merlin have the MucOff Sky lube for £7 reduced from £17 at the moment, less if you buy a few. Seems very well reviewed other than price so ordered a couple of bottles to try. Has anyone tried it on MTB?

I like the teflon ones, TF2 dry or I'm using interflon at the moment but not sure it's any better for the extra cost.

Lasts a few rides in the dry and very low effort.

Juice Lubes Viking all year round here. Easy application, no mess, builds up over application, lasts well enough, no dry squeaky chain, no oxidation, no DFF needed, zero faff.

Muc Off ceramic for me. Used it since it was first launched and use both wet and dry versions. Not changing unless I can't get more

Not that keen on Putoline, might sell mine with deep fat fryer if anyone interested.

’ve returned home with squeaky horrible chains more often with Putoline than any other lube,

BURN THE INFIDELS!!!

@zinger where did you buy the muck off from?

Apparently according to the sales rep. The stuff in aldi, lidl, wilko etc is not the same stuff that they sell to the bike shops at twice the price. Apparently its sub standard.

So if you bought it from supermarket then that might be why it wasn't very good. If you bought it from a LBS then it must just be crap.

It does however smell really nice.

Apparently according to the sales rep. The stuff in aldi, lidl, wilko etc is not the same stuff that they sell to the bike shops at twice the price. Apparently its sub standard.

How very noble of them!

This bloke takes testing lube very seriously

Apparently according to the sales rep. The stuff in aldi, lidl, wilko etc is not the same stuff that they sell to the bike shops at twice the price. Apparently its sub standard.

FWIW I've got a bottle of Muc Off Dry (not ceramic) that I picked up in either Lidl or Aldi and I didn't rate it - it managed to attract dirt in the dry and wash off easily in the wet. So maybe there is some truth in this as it performs very well in that video

Smoove user here. Squirt before that. On the road bike some hundreds of miles (but chain does seem to end up dirty and it does accumulate around the jockey wheels). Off road it gets enough mud to keep it cleaner with less build up.

I used to apply too often and it did build up - now I leave it a few rides unless it's been wet or washed down. Did over 100km this weekend and was still running quietly (and there was some mud and puddles about)

Most important thing is to apply it to a properly degreased chain - I soak new chains in a jar of white spirit and then wash them off before fitting them now. (works better than citrus degreaser)

He takes it sort of seriously but he's not measuring the most important thing, the lubes effect on preventing drivetrain wear. My go to sultan of lubes is Mr Zero Friction Cycling...knock yourself out here.
ZFC

After years of using Rock'n'roll Gold, mainly because I like the name...and after extensive nerding on that site am currently testing 'Tru-Tension Tungsten All Weather' for mtb which he rates as similar but better performing than Smoove/Squirt. For the road bike I've gone full ridiculous with Ceramicspeed UFO drip V2, both appear to perform close to a full immersive wax but in convenient drip form. UFO 2 is now half the price than when it was first introduced so a bit more approachable than the similar Silca Super Secret drip which appears the best but too spendy.

Will report back in a few months...

I use both types of Aldi bought Muck off lubes, dry in the summer and wet in the winter. I always lube the chain when i get back from a ride so its got time to dry before the next one (and i lube after every ride). No squeaks etc after 35 miles rides.

He takes it sort of seriously but he’s not measuring the most important thing, the lubes effect on preventing drivetrain wear.

Isn't that the first test he does?

Been using using Squirt 12 months of the year without any issues.

Isn’t that the first test he does?

...Sort of, but he's not actually testing it on a chain to see how long term it affects elongation. The construction of a bicycle chains arrangement of plates and pins place specific demands on a lubricants ability to get right in there and achieve that key initial penetration. Often the downfall of these waxes is that its just not getting to where it needs to be, that is the big advantage of the Putoline/ Hot Wax method where the heated lower viscosity gets right in.

The other big factor affecting drivetrain wear is the lubes ability to shed contamination when it inevitably gets in there. Smoove/Squirt are not so good with this and require full cleaning to reset. It's why I persevered with Rock'nRoll for so long, as although it's not so good in the wet - the application method (being dispersed in a solvent) is very good and its easy to practically keep on top of. If most of the riding is done in the dry then I still rate Rock'nRoll for wear and cleanliness.

Putoline, and add an extra zero to the mileage.

Another one for Squirt here

Use it on my work bike which does 400 miles a month, one application of Squirt will last a month in the summer

In winter i tend to use a wet lube, whatever is on offer normally and that normally needs doing once a week

Tend to stick to wet lubes on the MTB, may give squirt a go next time i degrease the chain

@endoverend
that site is quite something. This line was a highlight -

"It is exciting times in Lubricant testing land at the moment, with not only the release and test of Tru-Tensions promising range of products, but at the time of writing this detail review, we have also seen the launch of Silca’s new Super Secret Lube, and absoluteBlack’s Graphene lube – all making some impressive claims, so ZFC is busy indeed. As David Rome said on a recent cycling tips Nerd Alert podcast – it appears we truly are entering into the golden age of chain lubes"

The ‘Tru-Tension Tungsten All Weather’ looks promising but I'm wondering what the e-bike version is (just marketing spin and actually the same stuff? it's the same price...)

Another top tip from that site which is easy to do and works wonders for any wax drip lubes is to heat up the lube and/or chain before applying. After cleaning I drape a new chain to dry out over the oil fired radiator in mancave so its proper hot to touch...then heat up the lube in front of the fan heater for just a few minutes. Pop the chain on the bike as quickly a possible, then apply heated lube (after a vigorous shake obviously) - Its all about ensuring the quality of the initial penetration. For re-application just warm the lube a bit...if lacking a heater just put it in yr pocket or something and jump around a bit...

it appears we truly are entering into the golden age of chain lubes”

What a time to be alive!

The new formula of Rock n Roll Extreme is terrible.
Been using it for years but the new stuff doesn't even last an hour's ride!

Switched to Squirt a month or so back and wish I'd switched years ago.
Bit of a faff 1st time applying it what with degreasing the driveline but well worth it.

muck off dry lube

There's your problem... least durable dry lube I've used so far, by some margin. Have used WL, FL, R+R etc.

Most durable by far is the Fenwicks Professional. It's thick and needs to be warm when applied, takes a bit of flexing the chain to work it in. I've regularly ridden 400 dry kms on it w/o any dry chain noise and can carry on a fair bit further before getting any noise. Use it on road tours. It does ok in wet conditions, just wears off sooner as expected.

The new formula of Rock n Roll Extreme is terrible.

Weird thing that. Had heard that rumour. Have had multiple big 16oz bottles over the years of the original. Just went to check my current bottle and it says 'LV' on it, so I've been using the new one for ages and honestly hadn't noticed it.

Most durable by far is the Fenwicks Professional. It’s thick and needs to be warm when applied, takes a bit of flexing the chain to work it in. I’ve regularly ridden 400 dry kms on it w/o any dry chain noise and can carry on a fair bit further before getting any noise. Use it on road tours. It does ok in wet conditions, just wears off sooner as expected.

Just make sure you don't part melt the bottle 'warming it up' in a mug of boiling water! 🙄

I like the tip above about warming the chain but not sure what the easiest on-bike method would be, feels like a hairdrier would be massively wasteful of energy and probably not hot enough to really achieve much, and hanging any sort of hot electric element off it would probably just melt jockey wheels! 😂

Just make sure you don’t part melt the bottle ‘warming it up’ in a mug of boiling water!

Or a hairdryer .. Ahem. Plutoline in a bottle, sort of. I use it in summer and generally that's warm enough. I have rotated the chain under the workshop hair drier before and after applying, sounds faffy but the result is worth it, really gets it into the links and lasts well. Hot days in France on a bike tour also work well and are more pleasant.

If you think Squirt is good, I can sell you my organic own recipe stuff that lasts longer for £10. Comes in a 100ml bottle, easily applied, has a slight odour that might, or might not, smell of asparagus occasionally.

Finish Line Ceramic WET all the time, road and MTB. Far easier to clean than dry.

Ignored this thread initially (yet another "what lube" jobby) and assumed someone would have shouted Weldtite All Weather by now, but no. Amazing.

Hopefully this is not too OT and somebody can offer thoughts.

I used Finish Line wet lube pretty much all year every year for the previous 20 years. It worked very well but did leave things black and gunky after a few winter rides, so needed a clean and re-apply relatively often.

Last couple of years I've been using squirt which although doesn't get anywhere near as dirty, recently the drivetrain feels a bit dry and draggy. No squeaks or groans from it, just doesn't feel lubricated. The bikes haven't done many miles in those two years and barely any wet rides, maybe 300 miles tops and 10 or so in the wet.

Is this the time to degrease and start again, or am I just imagining the lack of efficiency?