vol

How much lube should be applied on the chain? Is it enough just to make sure you have touched every link with some oil (wet lube)? Obviously too much is not only unnecessary but not good (as when it drips on the rim causing squeaky brake).

caloso

I used to put precisely one drop on each roller. Then, after my doc put me on Paxil, I just started squirting it liberally on the chain while turning the cranks backwards. Wipe the excess and ride.

Looigi

I used to just drench my chain but using Adderall, I put single drop on each roller.

LarryMelman

Yeah, except that I bet the one-drop-per-roller method uses much less lube than the squirt-it-liberally method, and it takes no longer to do. You know when you're done.

skilsaw

Depends whether I've had my clozapine for the day or not.
Before taking my clozapine, I squirt it liberally everywhere until the voices tell me to stop.

matimeo

Working in the mental health field, this post has me cracking up. I would say whatever you do you don't want excess as it will attract dirt.

vol

If you squirt it liberally, is there a way to prevent the lube from dripping on the rims? Or do you always have to wipe the rims afterwards?

matimeo

Don't squirt liberally. You need AT MOST a single drop per link. You could probably put a drop every third and let it work in. That's what I have finally learned to avoid as much dirt accumulating on the chain and cassette.

VertigoFlyer

I put one drop per roller across the whole chain. Run the chain across the full cassette and both chainrings. Then wipe down the chain with a clean/dry rag to pick up any excess.

Do this once a week, more if riding in wet conditions. If really wet conditions do this after every ride - clean the chain and the cogs/chainrings, wipe dry then do the above.

I am the polar opposite of the squirt oil everywhere club. I am obsessively anal to the extreme that it drives my wife fully nutso!! And I rather enjoy that!! DOH!!

FBinNY 

There's no need to over apply since only what wicks into the chain does you any good. Liberal application only means more to wipe off. I don't have the patience for link by link application, so I lay a thin continuous bead down the chain while back pedaling, wait a few minutes then wipe off.

As far as working neater and not getting oil on the rims or tires, fold a sheet of cardboard, or a stiff section of newspaper and bring it up between the wheel and chainstay and draping to the floor below the chain to make a chain oil bib.

LesterOfPuppets

I'm almost afraid to divulge my method, but what the hell. I do this at work cuz that's where the pressure washer I use to clean the chain is.

1. Pressure Wash when I get to work. Allow to dry thoroughly. I put the bike next to the 350° 4x8' oven for 4 hours.
2. At lunch apply 1 drop per roller to top and bottom exposed run. Let sit 2 hours.
3. At afternoon break, quickly wipe exposed runs. Rotate cranks so that chain that was on big ring and rear cog/pulleys is exposed, apply lube as outlined in step 2
4. Wipe chain thoroughly by pedaling while grasping chain in the top run with a fist full of rag. Ride home with a happy chain.

Sometimes rain rides that end at home are followed by rides that require a pre-ride quick lube a la caloso.

I only lube while clean and sober. This includes prescription meds.

FBinNY 

Since we're talking of the various post rain rituals.

Here's mine for the trust (not) rusty commuter.

Bring bike indoors, or leave outdoors for a free overnight rinse if it's muddy.
Change out of wet clothes
hot cup of tea, or straight to the showers depending on how cold I am
dinner and a drink, or the opposite order
enjoy the rest of the evening
ride to work the next morning.

When rained on going to work, it's similar except no hot shower, drink or dinner, so not nearly as nice.

The chain is good with this routine for many days of light rain, but only 3-4 of downpours because of the intense spray off the front wheel.

BTW- my 9s chains typically last about 4-5,000 miles.

Ira B

I add a drop per link in between major cleaning and relube to freshen it up, then wipe off as much as I can with a rag.
For serious cleaning and lube I remove it, solvent clean the heck out of it, dry it, slather the heck out of it in 80-90 gear oil, then rag off as much as possible leaving only a slight residue on the outside of the chain. After riding a mile or so I rewipe it once and it is good to go for a long time.

caloso

This is why you wipe off the excess.

davidad

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/
I use 4 parts mineral spirite to 1 part chain saw bar oil. I place a folded piece of cardboard under the chain and between the tire and frame. I saturate the chain and wipe off the excess.

shawmutt

I spray it with teflon spray.

LesterOfPuppets

Mine's pretty much the same except I NEVER leave my ride outside and the deciding factor for whether to lube or not on the ride after a rain ride is the first couple of crank revolutions. If there's squeak or grind then I've got to turn around and give it a quick wipe/drip/wipe.

FBinNY 

After riding my road bike through multiple consecutive days of rain, I've come to realize that a night out is nothing compared to what's it's proven it can take in stride. As far as the chain goes, the road spray off the front wheel dwarfs what simply falls from the sky.

bkaapcke

I soak a spot on a high nap washcloth a little larger than a quarter. Then, I hold it against the chain and rotate it with a pedal. Do this until the chain has taken up most or all of the lube. I repeat only because I have a recumbent that uses two full chains. Capillary action quickly takes the lube into the chain rollers. After about 15 minutes drying time, I use a paper towel to wipe any excess off the side plates only. Quick, easy, and no excess lube to speak of. bk

LesterOfPuppets

More of a theft concern in my case. My babies stay inside with me.

zonatandem

Have been using the hot wax (paraffin) method since the mid-1970s.
More effective/cleaner/cheaper/re-usable wax.

MudPie

I dab one drop per roller. I'm guess it takes 30 seconds to do the entire chain. I'll pedal thru all gears, both chainrings, then wipe off excess with a rag. The whole process probably takes four minutes.

vol

Is only back pedaling enough to distribute the lube?

Toadster

I soak my chain overnight in Simple Green, then soak it in gear oil for an hour or so - in the oven a 350 degrees, boils off the crud...



















LOL - I'm KIDDING!

dahut

I use a hypodermic syringe filled with lube, with an extension tube. I place the tube across the chain top and slowly roll the chain backwards as I squeeze out a small amount of lube. After a few turns around, the chain has lube on it.
Then I run it around 5-10 times and then let it sit for about an hour.
Give it a couple more spins and finally run it through a rag to remove excess lube. Thats it.

Its kind of a precise, wholesale application, somewhere between lubing each link and slobbing the good on. YMMV.