Longer life chain?

[mrmacmusic]

down side on not using wet lube is that you have to apply it much more frequently - hence me giving a brief mickle when I get home each and every ride - still seems to work better and is easier to clean and re-lube but it is a case of each to their own and I am already imagining the grief I may get from some for suggesting a dry lube in wet weather - but lube & time is cheaper than a new cassette every 1,000 miles not to mention it is much cleaner & easier to clean...

I think if you're giving the chain a brief mickle after each and every ride, then surely there's nothing wrong with using dry lube? I guess it depends on the length of the ride? As mentioned earlier I don't wipe and re-lube after every ride, but I might get into the habit of mickling every day when I get home at night as opposed to every 2 or 3 days – my daily commute is a 28.5 mile round trip, which is about 50-55 minutes each way just now on the winterised Boardman.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I think if you're giving the chain a brief mickle after each and every ride, then surely there's nothing wrong with using dry lube? I guess it depends on the length of the ride? As mentioned earlier I don't wipe and re-lube after every ride, but I might get into the habit of mickling every day when I get home at night as opposed to every 2 or 3 days – my daily commute is a 28.5 mile round trip, which is about 50-55 minutes each way just now on the winterised Boardman.

thank you - it lasts fine for me over a 45 mile ride even in rain, you just have to resist temptation to leave mickling until another day otherwise you may see rust.. FWIW I use Shimano's PTFE lube which has been great - I much prefer it to Finish wet lube which is what I used to use. It's not cheap around £8 for 250ml but lasts and lasts. It is what I used on our 12 month tour getting 14,500km from my chain through all weathers (and some really challeged us - I can not recall having ever had icicles form on my cycle helmet or waterproof whilst cycling before)

 

[mrmacmusic]

FWIW I use Shimano's PTFE lube which has been great - I much prefer it to Finish wet lube...

Thanks – I've been using MucOff lubes and have never tried the Shimano stuff, or indeed Finish Line for that matter. Going to have to buy more soon, so I might give another brand a try.

 

[mickle]

For cleaning fleet bikes in't workshop I generally use MuckOff at 20% solution. If (by using The Method) you're not letting your chain get skanky you don't need it to be very strong. As well as destroying perfectly good lubricant MuckOff will etch the anodizing off aluminum components if left on too long. Diluted it's great for general dirt, esp. rim crap - but much less dangerous.

 

[mrmacmusic]

For cleaning fleet bikes in't workshop I generally use MuckOff at 20% solution. If (by using The Method) you're not letting your chain get skanky you don't need it to be very strong. As well as destroying perfectly good lubricant MuckOff will etch the anodizing off aluminum components if left on too long. Diluted it's great for general dirt, esp. rim crap - but much less dangerous.

Cheers mickle – most useful

 

[mickle]

Cheers mickle – most useful

Makes it last longer too!

 

[Wobblers]

thank you - it lasts fine for me over a 45 mile ride even in rain, you just have to resist temptation to leave mickling until another day otherwise you may see rust.. FWIW I use Shimano's PTFE lube which has been great - I much prefer it to Finish wet lube which is what I used to use. It's not cheap around £8 for 250ml but lasts and lasts. It is what I used on our 12 month tour getting 14,500km from my chain through all weathers (and some really challeged us - I can not recall having ever had icicles form on my cycle helmet or waterproof whilst cycling before)

Interesting. I used to use White Lightning Epic but found it wasn't very good in the wet - most notably when my chain started squeaking 45 miles into a dampish Whitstable FNRttC! I've used Finish Line Wet since, it definitely sticks around even in the torrential year we've just had - but with the black crud. I also suspect that chain wear has been faster with the wet lube. If it can survive a longish wet ride, the PTFE lube you suggest sounds like a good option.

1000 miles for a chain doesn't sound that much to me. I'll get about 3000 miles out of a 10 speed Mavic chain - and that's in all weathers, nor do I treat chains gently. The Shimano 105 and sram chains on my other bikes are both over 1000 miles but less than 0.75% wear, though they tend to come out in nicer weather.

 

[Pale Rider]

Mickling is apparently possible while riding using this device:

http://www.scottoiler.com/uk/products/active-fluid-system.html

I've no idea if it's any good, just happened to come across it.