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review
Lubrication
Carbon Pro Heavy Duty LubeCarbon Pro Heavy Duty Lube

Carbon Pro Heavy Duty Lube

8
by Shaun Audane
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Nov 6, 2014

6
£5.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Superior to most wet formulas and may prove very cheap in the longer run
Weight: 
68g
Contact: 
www.carbonpro-sports.com
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Carbon Pro Heavy Duty Lube is probably the cleanest running of the truly hell'n'high water lubricants I've tested to date. It has laughed at thunderstorms, river crossings and similar antics. Most surprising of all, it doesn't impair the feel of sportier groupsets.

Unlike its light and middle weight siblings, this one's based upon organic fatty acids derived 'natural feed stocks and additives'. These are designed to provide lubrication, stability and corrosion resistance while resisting dirt and minimising environmental impact.

Another contrast is its consistency, which mimics that of highly refined clear polymer greases and requires concerted effort to apply. However, this minimises waste and is absolutely bang-on for vulnerable fasteners like cleat screws. Indeed, it appears stout enough for installing cartridge bearing bottom brackets or packing hub bearings on fair weather builds!

To my surprise and within a few minutes, it cures to a very clean, almost waxy state with nominal transfer - perfect for post ride fettling or tackling roadside mechanicals. One swift tug of my fixer's pedals saw the chain race serenely for several minutes, every link obviously protected with literally zero overspill. No risk of wheels or flooring becoming the main benefactors here.

Scooting off along the lanes, gear changes were crisp, with a gentle swoosh, even across the Univega's widely spaced cassette. You don't get the responsive urgency of shift afforded by its lower viscosity siblings, but it's streets ahead of most wet formulas.

This is particularly apparent when shifting under load, winching up from granny to outer ring. Settling into a steady 90rpm tempo and charging through the puddles, water seemed to pool atop the links before rolling off, taking any contaminant with it.

Resisting any temptation to wipe the tubby tourers transmission and continuously alternating between salty coastal roads, singletrack and town centres over two weeks had nominal effect either upon its tenure or cleanliness.

Hub and single-speed builds have remained cleaner still and I'm way past three hundred miles from the first application, with little sign of deterioration. All this bodes particularly well for foul weather mountain bike and 'cross meets. However, road salt and other aggressive abrasives may still hold the trump card.

Verdict

Superior to most wet formulas and may prove very cheap in the longer run

road.cc test report

Make and model: Carbon Pro Heavy Duty Lube

Size tested: 2 oz

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

'CarbonPro Sports Heavy Duty Wet Lube is perfect for extreme weather conditions, will stay put and it wont allow for any water to penetrate and create new rust.

Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly'. So far, so good but a grotty winter might reveal some chinks in its armour.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

"Our Wet Lubricants are formulated with selected biodegradable base stocks. They are based on organic fatty acids derived from natural feed stocks and additives which provide lubricity, stability, and resistance to corrosion, prevent the adherence of debris and deflect the penetration of water, these stay put and won't budge on high water situations, while at the time remain extremely effective against friction ready to be used in environmentally sensitive areas to present a minimal environmental impact".

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Straightforward application and nominal mess/clean up.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Carbon pro wet lube is very different from traditional beefy blends but lasts just as long, runs cleaner and without leaving drivetrains feeling sluggish. Seems an obvious choice for 'cross, mtb and foul weather commuting.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Very unique, hard wearing lube but without the dirty downsides of wet types.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing given the design brief.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes .

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Carbon Pro Heavy Duty Lube
Carbon Pro
Shaun Audane

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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6 comments

Avatar
Accessibility f... | 10 years ago
0 likes

Also available - Peter Belt Rainbow Foil.

Avatar
crikey | 10 years ago
1 like
Quote:

Most surprising of all, it doesn't impair the feel of sportier groupsets

Really?
Like you can tell the difference between different lubes?

Crap review, poorly done and one I would be embarrassed to put my name to.

Raise your game laddie.

Avatar
StraelGuy | 10 years ago
0 likes

Just had a look at the company website and it looks like it's only available in Denmark and Florida 7 .

Avatar
JMcWatt | 10 years ago
0 likes

As previous comment... is this available within the UK?

Avatar
fukawitribe | 10 years ago
0 likes

You don't get the responsive urgency of shift afforded by its lower viscosity siblings, but it's streets ahead of most wet formulas.

Seriously ? 4

Avatar
Matt_S | 10 years ago
0 likes

Where does one buy it in the UK?

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