Ceramic chain lube?... and how to clean a chain?
Discussion
Hi,
The hybrid bike I recently acquired and have been enjoying riding, has the chain and sprockets absolutely caked in thick sticky black grease.
As well as looking a mess and leaving a large oily smear on my leg if I even just brush against it, it is also probably not helping the mechanical efficiency of the bike. Even when you are stationary and wind the pedal backwards by hand you can feel the slight resistance of the gloopy grease as the chain moves.
So I have decided to clean it off and re-lubricate the chain, as I figured things must have moved on these days in the world of chain lube.
What do you use for cleaning oil/gunk off your chains?
I have a large can of Auto Glym 'motorcycle degreaser' at home which I presume will be ok to liberally spray onto the chain and gears to loosen things up? I also heard WD40 was good for cleaning chains? I guess a toothbrush or old nail brush will be ok for the scrubbing.
As for the new lube, I went into a cycle shop and explained that I was just riding recreationally on the road in fair weather and the lady recommended some Finish Line Ceramic wax lube, which I duly purchased for £8.99.
This stuff any good?? Or have I been recognised for the amateur I am and ripped off??
The hybrid bike I recently acquired and have been enjoying riding, has the chain and sprockets absolutely caked in thick sticky black grease.
As well as looking a mess and leaving a large oily smear on my leg if I even just brush against it, it is also probably not helping the mechanical efficiency of the bike. Even when you are stationary and wind the pedal backwards by hand you can feel the slight resistance of the gloopy grease as the chain moves.
So I have decided to clean it off and re-lubricate the chain, as I figured things must have moved on these days in the world of chain lube.
What do you use for cleaning oil/gunk off your chains?
I have a large can of Auto Glym 'motorcycle degreaser' at home which I presume will be ok to liberally spray onto the chain and gears to loosen things up? I also heard WD40 was good for cleaning chains? I guess a toothbrush or old nail brush will be ok for the scrubbing.
As for the new lube, I went into a cycle shop and explained that I was just riding recreationally on the road in fair weather and the lady recommended some Finish Line Ceramic wax lube, which I duly purchased for £8.99.
This stuff any good?? Or have I been recognised for the amateur I am and ripped off??
i use ceramic wet lube and really quite like it.
to clean it i have a wippermann connex link which means i can easily remove the chain, shove it in a bottle of degreaser and then shake it up, remove it, dry, put it back on and then lube.
what you could do is just get some degreaser (i use bilt hamber surfex HD - seriously good, cheap and ability to be diluted....i use around 15% concentration and the chain comes up silver every time) in a spray bottle, spray on the chain as you spin the pedals and then use an old toothbrush on the links, rinse off, dry and then lube. that's what i did before i got a connex link.
to clean it i have a wippermann connex link which means i can easily remove the chain, shove it in a bottle of degreaser and then shake it up, remove it, dry, put it back on and then lube.
what you could do is just get some degreaser (i use bilt hamber surfex HD - seriously good, cheap and ability to be diluted....i use around 15% concentration and the chain comes up silver every time) in a spray bottle, spray on the chain as you spin the pedals and then use an old toothbrush on the links, rinse off, dry and then lube. that's what i did before i got a connex link.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff