Really? Not wishing to be unkind, but do you have evidence to prove this? Certainly evidence here in France suggests anything bought from a bike store with the word ‘bike’ on it usually does cost a fair bit more. As to working better, I can’t remember any performance difference, except that dry ones are easier to clean, and normal oil can be a bugger to get off if you leave it on long enough.

I’ll happily use either, by the way, the point is to lubricate when required.

And how much longer does your oil lubed chain last than a dry lubed one? And how often do you have to clean your drivetrain? And how much time do you spend cleaning your bike because of the oil on your drivetrain. And how much time do you have to take to clean yourself?

Dry lubricant isn’t “snake oil”. It works without being dirty. My chains last about as long as oil lubricated chains, I don’t spend more than about 20 minutes cleaning my in its entire lifetime. And, when I do have to touch the chain, I don’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning up me, my clothes, the bike or anything the chain might touch.

Completely agree. I’ve been a long time proponent of doing the least amount of maintenance as is necessary. If I can use something that performs as well as some other product but I don’t have to do a lot of extra work, I’m going to go the clean route.

You Tube

Honestly, just the same as you integrate wet lubrication. A chain is a consumable. It will wear out, no matter what you do. People spend way too much time obsessing over what is, perhaps, the cheapest part of the bike.

I’ve used dry lube (White Lightning) throughout the US over the last 20 years on all kinds of conditions without issue. I’ve ridden in rain, in dirt and in both rain and dirt. I just apply the dry lube when it’s needed. And that is not every 100 miles. I did a 5 week, 1500 mile circumnavigation of Lake Erie which is the most challenging conditions I’ve ever ridden in. I had to deal with rain and dirt roads as well as about half of the entire distance being done on dirt roads and tow paths. I did about 600 miles between applications of lubricant which is about what I see at home. In other words, I lubricated only 3 times on that tour. The chain was new when I started and lasted to about 3000 miles.

I’ve also done wet mountain biking without issue as well.

I believe that people mistakenly think that wet lubricants don’t have to be replaced after wet riding. Water gets into the chain just as it does with waxes. The difference is that the low viscosity of the oil allows it to mask what waxes don’t. The problem is still there but hidden.

Started in the south, which was not unlike the UK but warmer summers, through rural areas - including one infamous drought - then Sydney and finally some years in the tropics. Can’t swear I used WD40 throughout, but usually an equivalent. Stopped using oils because local experts (Melbourne) were recommending dry lubricants like WD 40 as being easier to get the dust off compared with oils.

I do give bikes in daily use, to whit the Brompton and the Time, a weekly spray. The Brompton seems to get more dirt over far less distance, albeit daily use no matter whether it is raining or snowing*, whereas the Time is my distance/fitness bike and seldom gets wet.

* French roads are salted very quickly after snow fall, so that probably contributes.