Wet lube

The marketing blurb for this lube is remarkably plain - "Chain Juice Wet is a wet conditions chain lube which does what a wet lube should – it stays on your chain and keeps lubricating in wet conditions. Simple." Which is a nice change from the usual flowery guff that lube sellers use to hawk their wares. In return I'll be equally plain. This is the best lube I've used. Ever.

Muc Off's new 'wet lube' is designed for the British weather, especially at this time of year. I have been using it on two of my bikes for around a month in weather that has been changable from dry and sunny to torrential rain and cold winds. The drivetrain has performed admirably, quietly and without fuss. This lube does its job well and is relatively cheap at around £7 a bottle.

Pedro's Syn Lube is designed for the winter months. A mid-weight fully synthetic chain oil that electrostatically bonds – apparently – with the chain. According to the blurb on their website the Synlube "includes extreme pressure additives and corrosion inhibitors to hold up to the harshest conditions."

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.