Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Is it necessary to lube the bike after every ride in rain?

Search
Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Is it necessary to lube the bike after every ride in rain?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-03-13, 10:25 PM
  #1  
vol
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 12 Posts
Is it necessary to lube the bike after every ride in rain?

I had just thoroughly cleaned and lubed my bike a few days ago. Today was the first time I rode after that, and I rode in rain (though not heavy rain). After I came back, I clean the bike removing the dirt, and wiped the chain. Should I lube the chain and other parts again?
vol is offline  
Old 08-03-13, 10:55 PM
  #2  
buffalowings
Senior Member
 
buffalowings's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 708
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Depends on which lube, if you used a very thin lube (which you should because it penetrates all the gaps in the chain) then yes, lube after every ride in the rain. If you used something like finish line cross country lube, then it might be okay to not lube it. If your chain starts squeaking, then lube it by all means.
buffalowings is offline  
Old 08-04-13, 01:19 AM
  #3  
009jim
Senior Member
 
009jim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,289

Bikes: Giant CRX3, Trek 7100

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
You'll more than likely need to lube your chain. If not, the next ride you will be able to hear it scraping and grinding. In regard to other areas such as pin joints for the derailer pantographs, I expect you'd need not lube them until a few rides in the rain (say a week).
009jim is offline  
Old 08-04-13, 10:15 AM
  #4  
Kai Winters
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,575

Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times in 267 Posts
When caught in the rain I always relube my chain...I usually give my bike a complete once over but at the minimum take a few minutes to lube the chain or watch the nice film of surface rust appear pretty quickly.
Kai Winters is offline  
Old 08-04-13, 12:45 PM
  #5  
ThermionicScott 
working on my sandal tan
 
ThermionicScott's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times in 1,579 Posts
The smellier your chain lube is, the less likely you'll need to reapply after riding in the rain.
__________________
Originally Posted by chandltp
There's no such thing as too far.. just lack of time
Originally Posted by noglider
People in this forum are not typical.
RUSA #7498
ThermionicScott is offline  
Old 08-04-13, 02:07 PM
  #6  
vol
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,797
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 12 Posts
Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
The smellier your chain lube is, the less likely you'll need to reapply after riding in the rain.
Maybe I should add blue cheese to my chain lube?
vol is offline  
Old 08-04-13, 09:49 PM
  #7  
Kai Winters
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,575

Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times in 267 Posts
lol...
Kai Winters is offline  
Old 08-05-13, 08:46 AM
  #8  
Northwestrider
Senior Member
 
Northwestrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 2,470

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, Dahon Mu P 24 , Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Rodriguez Tandem, Wheeler MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Necessary , no. A good idea, yes. I ride a lot in rain, and lube every few days only. Having said that, the life of my chains is still pretty good.
Northwestrider is offline  
Old 08-06-13, 09:31 PM
  #9  
Jeff Wills
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
 
Jeff Wills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,843
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 809 Post(s)
Liked 712 Times in 380 Posts
Originally Posted by Northwestrider
Necessary , no. A good idea, yes. I ride a lot in rain, and lube every few days only. Having said that, the life of my chains is still pretty good.
Me too. I don't ride every day when it's raining, but enough that 10 or 15 rides happen between lube sessions. Personally, I would use a heavy "wet" lube and only reapply when the chain got noisy. Remember to clean your chain before lubing- applying oil to a dirty chain just drive grit into the rollers, where it does the most damage.
__________________
Jeff Wills

Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills is offline  
Old 08-06-13, 10:32 PM
  #10  
aaronmcd
Senior Member
 
aaronmcd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 3,462

Bikes: Cervelo S5, Marin Gestalt X11

Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 65 Times in 45 Posts
Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
Me too. I don't ride every day when it's rainSeems to work. ng, but enough that 10 or 15 rides happen between lube sessions. Personally, I would use a heavy "wet" lube and only reapply when the chain got noisy. Remember to clean your chain before lubing- applying oil to a dirty chain just drive grit into the rollers, where it does the most damage.
The lube I get is supposed to clean the chain as well as lubricate it. Seems to work. Also I never have to lube after one ride in the rain.
aaronmcd is offline  
Old 08-07-13, 10:04 PM
  #11  
Jeff Wills
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
 
Jeff Wills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,843
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 809 Post(s)
Liked 712 Times in 380 Posts
Originally Posted by aaronmcd
The lube I get is supposed to clean the chain as well as lubricate it. Seems to work. Also I never have to lube after one ride in the rain.
I wouldn't trust a product that's supposed to both remove dirt and provide lubrication. Either it comes off the chain (taking dirt with it) or it stays in place (keeping moving parts from contacting each other). These two things seem to be mutually exclusive.
__________________
Jeff Wills

Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills is offline  
Old 08-13-13, 12:38 AM
  #12  
jputnam
Senior Member
 
jputnam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Pacific, WA
Posts: 1,260

Bikes: Custom 531ST touring, Bilenky Viewpoint, Bianchi Milano, vintage Condor racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by vol
I had just thoroughly cleaned and lubed my bike a few days ago. Today was the first time I rode after that, and I rode in rain (though not heavy rain). After I came back, I clean the bike removing the dirt, and wiped the chain. Should I lube the chain and other parts again?
I commute all winter in Seattle, rain or shine. I lube my chain at least three times a year, sometimes four, using foul-smelling hypoid gear oil that I actually bought for the lower unit of my outboard motor.

But then, I have fenders and a chain guard. They make a huge difference in chain lube life.
jputnam is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
shine2000
Bicycle Mechanics
6
11-09-18 10:33 AM
avidone1
Mountain Biking
10
01-20-16 06:06 PM
rojeho
Bicycle Mechanics
3
08-31-11 08:35 AM
|3iker
Commuting
5
09-10-10 04:08 PM
undisputed83
Commuting
25
05-14-10 11:34 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.