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LUBRICANT – What is the best oil to use on your bike chain?

There was? Oil? Spray? Drop? What to choose to grease or lubricate your bicycle chain.

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This chain hasn't been oiled in a while

Lubricate the chain: basic maintenance operation not to be forgotten. You should do this frequently in order to preserve the chain, sprocket set and crowns: but luckily, if you don't grease the chain, the noise it will generate will make you understand that something is wrong. But which oil to use? Let's look at the various topologies.

CERAMIC OIL (WAX)

Wax oil

Wax lubricant, (also dry lubricant), is composed primarily of water and ceramic particles. Easily identifiable by the white colour. When you apply it to the chain, the water base evaporates while the ceramic part sticks to the different parts of the chain: these particles form an invisible protective film that repels dust and reduces friction.

Advantages of wax

By using a water base, the wax is biodegradable and therefore environmentally friendly. Leaves the chain cleaner: being a great protection against dust or dirt, the chain will accumulate less dirt once the route is finished and cleaning will be much easier than with oil. It penetrates the joints better as it has a low density.

Disadvantages of wax

Low water resistance: the lower density makes it more susceptible to water/humidity. Shorter life: at least every 2 bike rides, the chain must be lubricated. If you wash your bike most of the wax disappears (never wax before washing).

CHAIN ​​GUARD - Care in the chain guard with a generous, very protective and silent structure

THE 5 MAINTENANCE YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO DO ON YOUR BIKE


CLASSIC OIL

We find it available on the market in two versions: for dry and for wet. The first (dry) has less oil and is mixed with Teflon, making it less dense and more transparent. The second (wet) has a higher concentration of oil, is more viscous and is blue or green in color.

Differences? Easy to understand. The dry version retains less dust and dirt than the wet oil version. The greater density of the wet version allows better protection of the chain from water (remember the disadvantage of ceramic oils?).

Benefits of the oil

Long duration: Unlike wax, oil adheres to the chain much longer. Waterproof: Both oils repel water very well, especially wet oil. Prevents rusting of chain gears over time and remains even after washing the bike.

Disadvantages of oil

Holds more dust or mud: Due to its greater density and viscosity, dust and mud stick to the chain more easily, and therefore makes it dirtier. On routes with dusty roads or paths, we risk having the opposite effect causing greater wear of both the chain and the gears and sprockets.

What is the best chain lubricant?

If you have read the article well, you will have understood which is the best chain oil for you. Your choice will depend on the season (winter calls for a thicker oil while summer may call for a less dense oil), on how often you use your bike (if you go out every day you will find benefits from the classic oil which has a longer life ) while if you don't use the bike much you might prefer the ceramic one, as it messes up the chain less and you can therefore only use it near the exit.

I forgot: on the market you can find oils in spray or drip versions: I feel like dispassionately recommending the drip ones, given the lower risk of dispersing it into the environment and contaminating discs or pads (in the case of disc brakes).



Written by

[email protected] I am a fan of everything that has 2 wheels: at a young age I practiced road and track cycling (Italian Allievi champion). At the age of 18 I passed into the cross country competing at national/international level as an Under23. Past Elite, I made the choice to take things more lightly from a training point of view, and my love for gravity disciplines was born, training me as an FCI MTB instructor and guide. Now I have made passion my profession by managing 2 MTB centers on the island of Elba (Bike Center Elba and Elba MTB), creating the FANTAmtb and telling in an ironic but professional way everything that revolves around MTB thanks to 365mountainbike and 365TV (YouTube'PULITI dentro BIKER fuori').

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