If you’re really time-crunched, the Finish Line Speed Bicycle Chain Degreaser works so well it’s scary. It literally blasts grease and dirt off your chain, leaving nothing but bare metal. The downsides are it’s not biodegradable (but is at least ozone-friendly), and that all that grease and grime ends up getting blasted onto whatever’s behind the chain…which can be your bike, garage floor, etc…make sure it doesn’t spray onto your disc brakes! Safety should always come first. You should never skimp when buying bicycle gear because it could one day save your life. You (hopefully) would never cut corners on your helmet, so you shouldn’t act any differently to the rest of your gear. Once a warranty claim has been placed we will review the claim and advise on an appropriate course of action, please do not return your item until you have spoken to an advisor. We’ve been using this wax in all riding conditions for since it launched and found that it’s long-lasting, quiet, and smooth. As in, REALLY long-lasting, REALLY quiet, and REALLY smooth. It’s like the chain disappears.

Chain Lube | Fenwicks Bike Wet Weather Chain Lube | Fenwicks Bike

Plus, we’ve included our favorite Pro Tips on how to choose the right chain lube for you, tips for application, how to clean your chain, and other frequently asked questions! Scroll down for all the details. BEST OVERALL CHAIN LUBE: Squirt Lube Bikerumor editors love Muc Off’s C3 Ceramic Dry Chain Lube for general purpose riding. It’s optimized for dusty, dry conditions, which means it’s perfect for normal road, gravel, and mountain bike conditions. The biodegradable petroleum-free formula uses nano-particles of ceramic and synthetic polymers to lightly coat your chain. Expect smooth and quiet riding for long distances. The best part about cycling is that you need very little to get going. There are a number of must-have pieces of equipment such as a helmet, high visibility clothing and lights, but apart from this small group, you don’t need anything extra.Unlike greasier options, this lube goes on thin and dry and stays that way. It sheds gunk even on wet or muddy rides, and keeps your chain clean and quiet. It’s also biodegradable, so you don’t need to feel guilty washing your bike in the driveway. Improperly installed or repaired products (always follow the instruction guides for any product set-up or installation) As we say above, price is the most common top consideration for people buying cycling gear…the same goes for buying Lube.

lube review | Cycling Weekly Smoove lube review | Cycling Weekly

Hearing how quiet some lubes are, or seeing how clean (or not) they remain over miles of grit, grime, and gravel, is very different than what you “see” in a lab. Blasting your bike with a pressure washer between CX races? You probably don’t need to be slathering ultra-expensive, long lasting lube on that bike because you’re just gonna drip more on between laps. But if you’re dialing in your bike for that one big fondo or gravel grinder of the year, then it’s definitely worth splurging for something that’s more likely to last through it. The right kind of chain lube won’t work well if you’re applying it incorrectly. Thankfully, it’s a pretty simple task, though it can be messy if you’re not careful. (Stay off white carpets while applying it.) In reality, the very best chain lubes might reduce chain friction by maaaaaybe 1-2% more than the other really good ones we recommend here. But keep in mind, those other really good chain lubes are already reducing a lot of chain friction. So, 1-2% better than something that’s already really good is truly a marginal gain. Many riders over-lube their chains. Generally, if there’s anything more than a light coating of chain lube on the outside of the chain, you’re just wasting lubricant, and risking it getting into other parts of the bike including the brake surfaces or rotors.Unfortunately, the answer here is “it depends.” If your chain is looking or feeling gritty, or you’re starting to hear it squeak, that’s a good indicator that it’s time to clean and re-lube your chain. This may come after a few muddy, wet rides, or it could come after several hundred miles of dry riding. If the chain is dry and rusted, coated with a layer of dirt and dust, it reluctantly creaks and grinds through each pedal strok until finally, mid-ride, it gives up and snaps. ALL CONDITION / ALL WEATHER: Made for dry or wet riding, which puts it somewhere between dry and wet lube. Alternatively, chain cleaners like the Park Tool Chain Gang kit often get it “clean enough” without having to remove it. The kit comes with a cassette cleaning tool and degreaser, too. So, the perceived performance gains are subtle, but there are other benefits: Longevity and silence.

Chain Lube | Lubricants | Maintenance | SJS Cycles Chain Lube | Lubricants | Maintenance | SJS Cycles

Our advice is to take your time studying factors like the reputation of the brand, the materials used to manufacture the product and also comparing it to other products of a similar price in the Lube category. Thankfully, now technology has allowed for the development of wax lubricants in liquid form, making them as easy to apply as their oil-based counterparts. So, with wax-based lubes like Squirt, you get the best of both worlds. CeramicSpeed’s UFO Drip is clean on the chain, but can make the floor under it a little dirty. Whatever you might be buying for your cycling trips, it’s important to do your research. Afterall, cycling can be dangerous if improperly or inadequately equipped, so it’s vital that your gear is safe and high quality.Depends. Like most things in life, as you reach the upper echelons of performance, the price increases exponentially faster than the benefits. There are hundreds upon hundreds of brands in bicycling. From budget to billionaire worthy, the range in prices can vary significantly.

Fenwicks Stealth Road Bike Chain Lube - Black, 100 ml

It’s only in recent years that lube companies have shifted to looking for eco-friendly options. According to The Ecologist, many lubricants were made with environmentally unfriendly Teflon and petroleum distillates.

Chain Lube Buyer’s Guide

If you’re making the switch to a wax-based lubricant, the same rules as above apply: Clean and degrease your chain first. But it’s even more important when making this switch, since the oil lube and wax lube won’t mix well together, so you want your chain to be completely oil-free before making the transition. (Even if you’re starting with a new chain, clean and degrease it, since new chains come coated in heavy grease.)