Fenwick's Stealth Road Bike Chain Lube

Fenwick's Stealth Road Bike lube is a phenomenally clean-running, long-lasting synthetic lubricant and probably my favourite of all the many space age preps I've tested to date. At £9.99 it's highly recommended, and gives comparably sophisticated chain lubes a seriously good run for our hard earned, although methodical preparation/curing times won't suit everyone.

Fenwick's gives little away in terms of composition, talking in terms of heightened lubricity, cushioning additives and other wondrous friction-reducing compounds. These supposedly maximise efficiency while minimising wear.

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Synthetic blends can turn bashful in cold storage and Stealth is no exception – easily cured by popping the container in a bowl of warm water for a minute or so. This version has shunned the pipette dispenser in favour of the twist spout, which makes application that little bit simpler.

Get recipient chains surgically clean, shake the bottle and then apply the metallic grey fluid to every link, holding some rag beneath to catch any overspill.

Curing times vary. Fenwick's says it can be used wet but this puts a dent in staying prowess, so it's worth following instructions to the letter. Having used previous versions in the long term, I'm inclined to suggest an hour's curing time is right for spring/summer, but bargain for three to four during the dark, colder months.

Once dry, it's virtually invisible, so don't be tempted to add a subsequent coat or it will turn into a gungy mess within the first 60 miles or so. Ensure every link is fed, mind; my Univega's heavy duty chain showed signs of the dreaded red freckling around its inner plates after being subjected to 150 miles commuting along waterlogged roads.

Otherwise, even subjected to these harsh, slimy contexts, chains, cassettes, derailleurs and rings remain remarkably clean and to the tune of approximately 300 miles per application – 500-plus during temperate and relatively dry autumn months.

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Sure, some stout wet lubes will give Stealth stiff competition in this respect but they tend to demand weekly purges of grit and other ruinous contaminants. Like these, Stealth also works well on cleat mechanisms and doubles as a nifty grease substitute for fasteners.

Responsiveness is comparable with other high tech ceramics and seems less inclined to migrate to the outer links on highly polished electroplated and stainless steel chains.

For riders seeking a really clean, long-lasting lubricant, Stealth should be high on the list.

Verdict

Clean-running and durable low-friction lube – recommended