Lubrication
Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner and Lubricant
Despite my initial cynicism, Finish Line’s 1 step cleaner and lubricant quickly won me over with its convenience, low friction and surprising tenacity. Marketed at commuters, the mixture is also perfect for post race clean-ups of cross and mountain bike transmissions, slotted cables and even spd cleat mechanisms. However, it demands an abundance of clean rag, weekly reapplication in wetter weather and those with sensitive skins should apply wearing latex examination gloves.
Juice Lubes Viking Juice chain lube
Juice say they developed their Viking Juice chain lube after Scandiwelsh roadie legend Magnus Backstedt told them how unimpressed he'd been with that his chain was grumbling during Paris-Roubaix. Now, according to the Juice website "Maggy doesnt have to re-oil his chain on long rides. This makes him happy". Well good for him but his definition of a long ride doesn't go much beyond 140 miles, because that's about as long as this stuff lasts for.
Fenwicks Professional Lubricant Spray
Fenwicks Pro Lubricant spray is a useful addition to the toolbox, good for blasting dirt from hard-to-reach mechanisms and cleaning out cable runs. The high pressure aerosol means it doesn't last long though, and it's not the most tenacious lubricant out there. It's better than WD40 though.
Juice Lubes Bearing Juice grease
This thick grease, formulated specifically for bearings, provides immediate lubrication/protection for free/hubs, pedals, headsets and bottom brackets while resisting the ravages of rough stuff, cross and similar duties admirably.
Fenwicks Complex synthetic grease
Formulated for wet-weather performance, Fenwick’s complex synthetic grease is a heavyweight general-purpose assembly paste perfect for free/hubs, bottom bracket and other bearing surfaces through to contact points-even on bikes such as crossers, mountain bikes, winter trainers and stripped- to- basics single speed/commuter fixers thanks to the blend’s tenacity and complex properties. That said I have some reservations concerning its long-term compatibility with elastomer suspension bushes and stick with dedicated pastes when installing carbon and Ti components.
Pedros Bio Grease
This Bio Grease from Pedros is so wholesome you could spread it on your toast. Okay, maybe that's going a bit far but it is at least non-toxic and biodegradable, so you can slap it on guilt free. It's good stuff too, though it does have a tendency to separate in the heat.
Green Oil Ecogrease
Green Oil’s Eco Grease is a medium weight, general-purpose lube perfect for summer applications on areas such as cantilever bosses, derailleur hanger and pedal threads. Bikes in continually hard service (especially those with unsealed bearings and sans guards) will probably benefit from something stiffer, although a regime of wet weather riding coupled with repeated washing has to date, made little impression upon the blend.
Squirt lube
Good lube, this, and not to be confused with delicate wax lubes that demand you soak your chain in lavender oil for three weeks and then pick out the dirt with a toothpick before you apply it. You can just slap this stuff on, and after a few applications when excess wax starts to build up on the chain, you can easily brush it off, keeping your chain nice and clean. It stays put, too.
Green Oil chain lube
Oil. It's expensive, smelly and the cause of more global conflict than the old Mac vs PC debate. Sadly, even switching from four wheels to two still leaves the eco-friendly cyclist reliant on the stuff for keeping chains happy. Happily a solution is at hand in the form of Green Oil.
Muc-Off Dry Lube
Conventional wisdom has it that dry lubes are for fine, dry conditions. Fair enough, but this is Britain and we don't have a balmy Californian climate, we have weather in all its moist and infinite variety and any lube is going to have to earn its keep.
Singletrack MTB mag
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