With a function list that goes far beyond being just a chain lubricant, Prestacycle’s One Liquid promises conditioning, polishing, degreasing, cleaning, washing, rust removal, and even works as both a dry and wet chain lubricant. The question is, can one product really do it all?
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Prestacycle One Liquid – Technical Details
Prestacycle One Liquid is a bio-based product made from agricultural ingredients, with no alcohol or petrochemicals. Prestacycle states that it is USDA certified, meaning it follows strict organic production rules, contains no genetically modified organisms. The certification is more commonly associated with livestock feed than bike care products.
On top of this, One Liquid claims to reduce friction, shed water, work in a huge temperature range from -44°C to 315°C, and avoid drying out or gumming up.
It comes in three sizes. A small 5ml container for £2 is handy to carry on the bike. There is also a 2oz (59ml) bottle for £19 and a 4oz (118ml) bottle for £23.
Prestacycle One Liquid – Performance
Although it is promoted as a multi-use product, I tested it mainly as a chain lubricant, using it in all conditions on gravel rides, mountain biking, and cyclo-cross racing.
Despite the name, One Liquid is very thick, and its texture changes with temperature. In summer, it flows more easily, but in cooler weather, it becomes thick and sticky, which makes application harder. For winter use, I would recommend keeping it indoors or warming it slightly before applying.
The thickness also means it takes more time to apply than a standard lube. It took me a few goes to avoid clumping while still covering every link. In dry conditions, the chain should be wiped down after use. In the wet, Prestacycle suggests leaving it on, although I still found wiping gave a more even finish. One area that does make application easier is the nozzle, which is adjustable in size, allowing the amount applied to be controlled.
Performance in wet weather has been excellent. I tested it on long off-road rides of over 200km with repeated water crossings and heavy rain. The chain ran smoothly and quietly throughout, with no heavy build-up and clear signs of lubricant still present at the end. While it is not as clean as a wax, I have yet to find a wax that lasts this long in such conditions. In a local cyclo-cross race with thick mud, the chain finished looking much the same as at the start, with water still beading off the surface.
Cleaning and reapplication is simple. Wiping off any excess leaves the outer links looking clean, and there has been no need for full degreasing through typical autumn conditions. It can also be applied directly over itself for top-ups.
Prestacycle claims low friction but gives no figures for efficiency. For shorter distance cross-country racing in pure dry conditions, I would still favour an immersion wax treatment, such as Silca Secret Chain Blend, as it is proven to be fast. That said, One Liquid offers strong all-weather reliability, which even wax does not always manage.
Over the long term, I expect drivetrain wear using Liquid One to be low compared to most oil-based lubricants, since it attracts little dirt, which is the main cause of wear, although lab testing would be needed to confirm this.
Beyond chain use, it also works well as a cable lubricant. Its thicker texture makes it easy to apply inside outers, where it can reduce friction and block water ingress.
Prestacycle One Liquid – Verdict
The 4oz (118ml) bottle costs £23 and lasts well thanks to its thick texture and staying power. Even in wet, muddy conditions, top-ups are minimal. This makes its cost per ml similar to wax-based products such as Silca Super Secret at £25 for 4oz. The difference is that Silca requires more frequent application, especially in anything but dry conditions.
Compared to oil-based lubes, such as Fenwicks Wet Weather Chain Lube at £10 for 100ml, Prestacycle is more expensive. Oils are easier to apply but tend to be used up more quickly.
While it is called One Liquid, its consistency is closer to a gel. It is more versatile than most lubricants and takes a little practice to apply properly, but it delivers strong year-round protection, with the bonus of working for other bike maintenance jobs too.
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Product purpose:
Uses:
• Dry Lube
• Wet Lube
• Bike Wash
• Degreaser
• Rust Remover
• Rust Preventer
• Anti-Seize
• Paint Protectant
• Metal Polish
• Leather Conditioner
If you want to embrace your love for Prestacycle, we’re excited about that. We have sportswear to show-off your Prestacycle loyalty. However image is not a reason to choose a lubricant. Choosing lubrication based on stories of “supposed science” without showing actual science is like basing any aspect of life on unfounded conspiracy theories.
In the real world, Cars, Motorcycles, Industrial, Military, and all other applications base the best lubrication for a purpose on Science. Independent standards and testing. National and International standards exist for this. Claiming “natural ingredients” is how a product hides the fact it is not “USDA Certified Bio-Based”. Posting indecipherable wattage charts is how a product hides from actual “ASTM International lubricant testing results”. Telling feel-good stories reinforced by paid professional endorsements is how a product avoids being examined for suitability-for-purpose through MilSpec and other specifications. Tests performed using chains are flawed because chains are already lubricated with something else during manufacture and cleaning is never absolute. Reviews that only include products from brands who advertise with them are incomplete. Making claims they don’t believe in Standards testing is just a way of hiding from the fact that they won’t like the results.
Prestacycle brings to you the very best choice in lubrication, not based upon the “image”. We are USDA Certified Bio-Based. We openly post our ASTM lubrication results which chart our extremely low resistance and “broke the test” results proving our product will not fail even under the most extreme circumstances. Our product publishes actual specifications such as operating temperature range and is certified for purpose based upon government standards and specifications.
All of these certifications are irrefutably just as applicable to Bicycles as they are to every other piece of machinery in the world. We challenge other brands to do the same. Perform standards testing. Publish results and product specifications. And … make you some really cool Jerseys.
FEATURES:
USDA Certified Bio-based!
Unlike other products, Prestacycle® One uses agricultural ingredients. It is bio-based and USDA certified. Other products use petroleum and alcohol. Those products are not good for the environment, and may actually cause long-term harm to your bike. Paint and carbon fiber can react to harsh chemicals.
Lubrication that broke the Test!
Prestacycle® One was subjected to the ASTM 4 Ball Wear test. A steel ball is rotated against three lubricated stationary steel balls under a specified load, speed, temperature and time, per ASTM standards to determine wear or failure. Prestacycle® One’s lubrication score result: No Fail.
Each Feature makes the other Feature Better!
Other products dry-out your gear when cleaning. They may leave behind cleaning residue and be tacky and cause friction. Failure to fully re-lubricate inside-and-out after cleaning could cause damage. NOT with Prestacycle® One! As one product, the cleaner lubricates, and the lubricant cleans and protects – constantly! Prestacycle® One will clean, degrease and protect, and anything left on or inside the nooks and crannies is still a lube. Add more to friction surfaces after cleaning and those surfaces will continue to clean and protect while lubricating. Prestacycle® One is so effective it will actually remove rust from an old chain as you ride!
Dry Lube or Wet Lube? Yes!
Choosing dry or wet is based upon riding conditions. You may need wet lube on Thursday and dry lube on Saturday. Apply liberally for wet lube, wipe with a cloth to leave behind a dry lubricated surface. You can change between lubrication types without cleaning the chain each time. Anytime you want to change a dry application to wet, simply add more and it will stay wet. Wipe to switch to dry lube and the surface will resist picking-up dirt and dust.
One Product. Easy to Buy, Store and Carry!
You need buy a whole suite of products from other brands to get all this functionality. With their petroleum and alcohol content, they may have safety warnings. You need to be careful where and how you store them, particularly around children. Not with Prestacycle® One! While Prestacycle® One is NOT a food product and is NOT approved for consumption, it does not pose any specific health risks due to accidental consumption. It is an agricultural product. Storage could not be simpler. One small container. Imagine having all this functionality in one small package and being able to transport it with you to your bicycling events, or even on your bike!
Proven Product
Prestacycle® One is engineered in liquid and creme form specifically for bicycle use, but is based upon an established, popular industrial lubrication that is highly-revered for its multi-functional properties. It is frequently used in applications where metal parts are lubricated in wet environments, including bearings that may be completely submerged.
Build extra:
SPECIFICATIONS
Performance
• Substantially reduces friction improving pedaling, shifting and drive train performance
• Sheds water
• Clean, Lube and Protect with one product
• Improved lubrication and wear resistance even when run dry
• Temperature performance range from -48F to +600F
• Extends chain life
• Seasons chains and cables after 3-4 applications
• State of the art penetrating characteristics
• Road, Track, Gravel, CX, MTB, BMX & eBike
• Motorcycles
• Skateboards
Technical
• State of the art Sub-Micron formulation enables the product to be run wet or dry for all riding conditions
• Not vegetable oil or vegetable ester based. Will not dry out or gum up
• No thermal decomposition even in extreme riding conditions
• No Petroleum
• No Alcohol
Environmental
• Green Engineered
• Bio-based Product
• Non-Toxic
• Biodegradable
• USDA Certified
• Made in the USA with USA raw ingredients
Meets or Exceeds
• MIL-PRF-6340E ASTM D93 Flash Point
• MIL-PRF-6340E ASTM D445 Kinematic Viscosity 104 F
• MIL-PRF-6340E ASTM D4172 Wear Preventative Characteristics
• MIL-PRF-6340E ASTM D5620 Load Carrying Capacity Jaw Load
• MIL-PRF-6340E ASTM Corrosion Production
• ASTM D 5183, Determination of the Coefficient of Friction for Lubricants: No Fail
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Weight .25 lbs
Dimensions 6 × 2 × 1 in
Size 2 oz., 4 oz., 5ml.
Product construction
Product performance
Product durability
product value
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