lube

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.

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.

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.

I've tried loads of different chain lubes over the years but I've never really found one that I'm overly impressed with. The Pedro's ChainJ though is actually really good. Pedro's was started back in 1989 in New England with the main ethos being a passion for cycling and commitment to the environment. This still stands and the ChainJ is made from renewable materials, is biodegradable making it 'safe for the people and the planet.'

Chain L is a rich, old school wet lube aimed at elite riders churning away marathon mileages and it's as close to fit and forget chain oil as you’re likely to find.

Virgin chains with the factory lick of water displacer are ready primed but take used ones to the chain bath to make sure you don't make a distressingly efficient grinding paste from the grit on your chain. Given the viscosity, I'd recommend sitting the 4oz bottle in warm water for a few minutes prior to application. You only need the lightest drizzle to each link.

When conditions are harsh you need a tough lube. Finish Line Cross Country is just that. Made from a blend of biodegradable synthetic oils, polymers and friction modifiers, this lube is a versatile old school lubricant for demanding conditions – as the name suggests it's aimed primarily at off roaders, (Finish Line also produce a road lube, we've got a test on that coming soon), but when the Winter is at its worst this will certainly do a job on your commuting or training bike.