|
|
Chain LubeWhat lube is best for you depends not only on the type of riding you do, but also on how often you want to be re-lubing your chain. The two major categories for comparison of lubes are Dry and Wet. Dry LubeDry lube such as Pedro's Ice Wax, White Lightning, and others are classified as dry lubes. They are lubes that dry after application. The advantage of this type of lube is that it does not attract any dirt or grime, and keeps your chain remarkably clean. This keeps shifting clean and snappy throughout the ride. With most dry lubes, you really never need to clean your chain. You simply reapply the lube. Some dry lubes, however, do cause a build up of gunk that you need to occasionally clean. That build up will be more on your cassette, chain rings, and derailleur rather than on the chain. There are some drawbacks to dry lube. It basically only lasts for one ride. You need to re-lube after every ride, and definitely after washing you bike. Some dry lubes do not even last for a whole ride, especially if it is a long or muddy ride. Dry lubes do not work real well in the rain. So if you do a race or ride in the rain, you need to use a wet lube, then degrease your chain before switching back to dry lube. Another drawback of the dry lubes is that they don't provide much, if any, rust protection. For the original application of a Dry lube, you need a clean, dry, and oil free chain. It won't work properly otherwise. Subsequent applications can be done right over existing dry lube. You just need to make sure the chain is dry before application. Wet LubeWet lube is any kind of oil or synthetic lube that does not dry after application. There are several advantages to a wet lube. It lasts much longer than dry lubes. You can get many miles out of one application of a wet lube. It is simple to apply. It provides great rust protection, and works well in the rain. There are several drawbacks of wet lube. It attracts dirt and grime. You will need to clean and degrease you chain from time to time if you ride in any muddy or dusty conditions. If you don't , you chain, cassette, chain rings, and pulleys will wear out prematurely. In muddy or dusty conditions, it will pick up dirt and grime, which will adversely affect you shifting. SummaryIf you don't mind re-lubing often, Dry Lube is probably your best bet. But carry it with you on long or wet rides. You may need to re-lube mid ride. Dry Lube will keep you drive train clean and shifting smoothly. If you don't want to have to re-lube very often, and don't ride in muddy or dusty conditions, use a Wet Lube. It will last a long time. You will have to degrease and clean your chain from time to time. Be careful not to leave a build up of grit on your Wet Lubed chain, it acts as an abrasive and will quickly wear your entire drive train. |
|
