garysol1 

We have been using the Rock and Roll Gold all purpose chain lube. Keeps chains clean and quiet. Its about all I can ask for. With that said I just put a new chain on the bike and when its time to lube it I am going to "experiment" with the Dumonde Tech lube.

woodcraft

There appears to be a real & measurable difference in friction,

which translates to watts expended or saved,

so you could ask for that.

formula bike

This is true, but every test I have seen puts Rock n Roll Gold near the top in terms of efficiency, beat out by only Rock n Roll Extreme and some wax based lubes like Squirt (drip, which I haven't tried yet but would like to) and Molten Speed Wax. I use Rock n Roll because it is easy, fast, and works well for me. That said, I will likely try other lubes as well.

Erzulis Boat 

My recipe. I ride 90+ miles a week, and I maintain my bikes extremely well.

1- A quality chain

2- Regular oiling, perhaps every 2nd to 4th ride

3- Chain is maintained with a solvent soak, and a complete dry (very important)

4- Sprocket/cassette is cleaned, usually a wipe down. Total clean maybe 10 times a year?

5- Wet lube, from Triflow, Breakfree CLP, Get Some 1000 (current)

Wet lube isn't so critical if you oil often and keep things clean IMO. Dry lubes are a totally different story however, so I do a wet/dry tactic.

I lubricate my "dry" setups with an oil that leaves base residue (PTFE etc). Break Free CLP for instance (with regular use) will leave a base layer after you wipe it "dry". My backcountry rig for dusty conditions gets this treatment. I never did find a purpose built "dry" lubricant that was satisfactory.

ETA- I put a drop on every link when maintenance oiling.

redlude97

My procedure for 100+ miles/week rain or shine: Apply Chain-L to the chain every ~1000 miles and keep riding. Get 3000+ miles out of a chain and a silent drivetrain.

Fitness Rider

The wife and I ride 100 to 120 miles per week and I have been using Boeshield T-9 for a long time as our chain lube and doubt that I would ever switch to anything else. Over the years I have tried several chain lubes but was never satisfied with the results that we obtained until I finally tried the T-9.

We do not ride off road, all of our riding is done on paved trails, in town routes or along roads on the keys that run along the beaches. We are exposed to some fine sand from time to time but for the most part our riding paths are fairly clean.

Our chains, cassettes, guide and tension pulleys and chainrings are always clean, no gunk ever builds up on them. The chains stay almost new looking (we use KMC X10/10.93 chains) and the rollers are always free and easy to rotate. The chains run very quiet, are wiped down after each ride and once a week are again wiped down and then lubricated with the Boeshield T-9.

When I put the T-9 on I let it sit for a few minutes after running the chain backwards a few times and then wipe off the excess lube along with whatever dirt it washes out. Before our next ride I will again run the chain backwards through a rag making sure all the excess lube has been wiped off. After each ride the chains are wiped down again and the bikes put away for the next days ride. At the end of the weeks riding I repeat lubing the process again.

I have found the T-9 to be the best chain lube for our use that I have ever come across, works great, I buy it by the gallon and apply it to the rollers on the chain with a needle oiler (one drop per roller). The T-9 can also be used to lube the shifter interiors and all of the pivot points on the front and rear derailleurs. I can, and do, highly recommend the Boeshield T-9.

Frank

Doge

My bike (kid riding) was lubed every ride with Rock n Roll for 200-300 miles a week. Chains were virtually free/cost was not a factor. The only thing was, and is, friction. That is all I care about. That said, chain would last easy 5k miles.

indyfabz

NFS lube is the best.

/thread

trailangel

I like Breakfree CLP, but I think it's too light for a chain lube.

Da Reef

Ultrasonic cleaner and hot wax.

evan326

I just tried molten speed wax for the first time. I added some moly and some pfte based on some people's recommendations. I'm sure it was in my head, but I felt less resistance for a given wattage-cadence-gear combo. I don't think I'll use moly next time, it doesn't blend into the wax as well as the pfte does.

noodle soup

ElJamoquio

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

noodle soup

Cafe` Dumonde is the real deal.

There's nothing like it.

Pilky

Got a link to the study?

Madridjoe

Been waxing my chains for about ten years, works well for me. Chain stays clean and runs smooth and quiet. Depending on conditions I wax it between 600 and 800 miles, chains life equal or better than anything else I ever used.

Racing Dan

What wax do you use? Im having trouble even reaching 100MI, before the drive train sound pretty chatty.

FBinNY 

It was linked on one of the earliest posts on this thread. Start at the beginning, and you'll find it a few posts down.

woodcraft

See post #34 this thread.

Pilky

Wow.

I've been using Pro Link on all of my bikes since I can remember. Looks like I will be trying something new when my current bottle runs out.

Thank you

woodcraft

I know, right?

I'm now using Mobil 15-50, thinned a little. It tested near the top for both friction and wear

at 10% the cost & 3x mileage between applications.

Pilky

Cheaper and more effective, you're doing alright.


Before reading this thread I read/heard good things about Rock N Roll Gold and Chain L so I'll likely end up with one of those next time around.

Doge

The largest cost in chain lube is the time it takes to put it on - or post about it.

Racing Dan

That may be true, but the less than stellar lubes takes equally long to apply and post about

Doge

Total drive train friction, as determined by the unscientific, internationally recognized junior test backwards spin*, I have the lowest friction drive train system in the world.

*pre race - kids from various counties spin drive trains backwards. Junior is undefeated. Russia was close, obviously.