It’s that time of year again when wet rides may become a requirement of getting out doors. I’m currently using muc off and it’s a truely disgusting liquid that coats my chain in what looks like black oil after 30 miles
I’m after something that keeps the drivetrain reasonably clean, without going down the waxing route (I wax the summer bike but can’t be assed with the hassle for winter)
I’ve read good things about Peaty’s . Anything else worth considering? It’s for the road and gravel bike if that makes any difference
ta
Don't buy Fenwick's All Conditions Lube. It was recommended somewhere but Lord knows why. My chain ended up covered in a seemingly endless thin black river of lube.
I find the Peaty's stuff works well and stays pretty clean. I have all 3 types not that the dry lube has had much use this year
Juice Lubes Viking Lube... Easily the best "wet" lube I've used. Not the longest lasting for sure, but the cleanest by a mile.
I have however since been converted to Squirt... A little more involved in that you need to use it from the start on a brand new chain and can't then mix with other lubes, but your chain will stay cleaner and better lubed than ever before!
Wolf Tooth WT-1 is terrible, biggest black mess I've ever seen the first couple of rides on a new chain with factory grease on. Still wipes off black on a cloth after a few hundred km.
Finish line Wet. Wipe a drop, from link-roller-link on each one individually. Takes a minute. Same goes for all of these. Get the right amount of lube in the the right places. If you just back-pedal the chain while spooging loads on, then ride through gop, then of course you'll end up with a snotty chain.
Peatys blue for a clean wet lube, I run that or Smoove when conditions are dry, so mostly Peatys this year.
Another vote for peatys. Wet and dry
3 in 1 oil. Never felt the need to use anything else. Gradually converting my friends as they admire my nice, clean drive train.
GT85... clean and lovely.
White Lightning Epic ride, its a lighter wet lube so maybe not as resilient for longer rides in truly gopping conditions but its easy to apply, doesn't attract the crud as badly as the thicker more dedicated wet stuff and much easier to wipe the chain down and reapply.
It's a bit of a 'Jack of All trades, master of none' but it works well enough everywhere in between 'sunbaked wasteland' and 'Scottish January'
Fenwick’s Professional. It needs a few hours to cure, but works well in the wet and doesn’t leave everything covered in black goop. I don’t understand how it cleans off so easily and endures in wet conditions.
Squirt (but as per other reply needs a properly clean chain to begin with - REALLY clean).
May not last as long innthe wet, but no black gunky Torrey Canyon slick left everywhere
prefer the fenwicks all condition lube to the pro stuff. £5 on merlin when in stock.
always liked rock n roll blue or red road too, also on merlin.
Finish line Ceramic Wet.
White Lightning Epic ride
Great stuff. My favourite all-round lube, especially for road as it's so clean.
But for everyday use I'd suggest Weldtite TF2 Performance.
Way cheaper AND less sticky than most wet lubes and works really well.
I've just bought some of this to try having tried pretty much everything else. Although I haven't tried peatys yet.
Weldtite Unisex Weldtite Tf2 Teflon 100 ml Dry Wax, Green https://amzn.eu/d/eSSwWOb
Also getting fed up of black sticky mess and clogged up jockey wheels. Gritty paste on the chain and chain rings 🙄
I do one drop per link, cycle round, then wipe off excess and it still does it. I'm sure my chains ever did this year's ago and I used to just splash it on. It seems the more fancier the lube gets, the worse the black mess becomes.
If this doesn't work ill go back to a simple oil that worked for years, maybe even 3 in 1 or I'll buy a slow cooker and some wax as I seem to clean my chain after every ride anyway.
Pedro's Syn is a very clean lube, give it a go.
Weldtite Unisex Weldtite Tf2
Still comes with a blue cap though, the sexist pigs.
I've given up with various lubes. Off the back of the MX/Enduro bike approach I spray the chain with WD40/GT85 and rub with a rag.
I've also bought 5l of this https://www.smithandallan.com/product/smith-allan-dw-40-wd-40-alternative-4046 which is the same stuff basically. I use it in my park chain cleaner every month or so.
Still comes with a blue cap though, the sexist pigs.
I thought they must have misinterpreted what type of lube was required when I read the name of that stuff.
I've used loads, some are shit and don't last/wash off, some last for ages, biggest reasons (IME) for black gunk is either adding oil to an already dirty chain (they aren't hard to clean), over oiling (have you seen the price of lube these days?) or mixing lube type/delivery grease/wax.
bikesandbootsFull Member
Wolf Tooth WT-1 is terrible, biggest black mess I’ve ever seen the first couple of rides on a new chain with factory grease on. Still wipes off black on a cloth after a few hundred km
I have had same experience, which is disappointing given the great reviews it gets. Mine was applied to a clean and dry, degreased chain.
I'll be going back to Peatys Premium all weather I think.
Muc Off wet turns into black sludge, so use sparingly and perhaps wipe off any excess.
arogers
Free MemberStill comes with a blue cap though, the sexist pigs.
I thought they must have misinterpreted what type of lube was required when I read the name of that stuff.
Ah, the good old Uni Sex Lube.
I had to make do with KY Jelly when I was an undergrad.
Rock n roll blue or gold for me. I just follow the instructions and it keeps my chains clean and lubed.
It's not officially a Wet Lube but I use Purple Extreme on all my off-road bikes. Applied sparingly it lasts well and doesn't produce a sticky mess. It can be hard to find so I bought 3 bottles last time.
Another juice Lube Viking user too! Best out there.
I am a few weeks into Juice Lubes Viking as well. Seems good so far.
Slightly O/T:
How's the best way to degrease a chain for using Squirt?
I did the last one in a tub with Guy Martin Proper Degreaser - left to soak and the gave a good scrub.
Cleaned up nice, but even when lubed with squirt I was getting stiff links (to many double entendre's with squirt, lube & stiff....)
If you already wax one bike then Putoline is a no brainer. One waxing will last ages and ages so it's really no hassle.
Mostly because I s**** when I look at the massive box of "Extreme Lube", but it's good. Cleans the chain well.
If you already wax one bike then Putoline is a no brainer. One waxing will last ages and ages so it’s really no hassle
id need another slow cooker as the one I have is fulfilled with molten speed wax. Won’t be using that on the winter bike given the cost
Silca Synergetic chain lube.
Might try UFO wet lube (although it's wax based) next time but my Silca bottle lasts far far longer than whatever I used before so probably costs the same for how long the bottle lasts.
I use squirt all year round. Just clean and degrease the chain as you normally would before applying. You don't need to over apply the stuff.
I have had same experience, which is disappointing given the great reviews it gets. Mine was applied to a clean and dry, degreased chain.
Zero Friction Cycling have torn Wolf Tooth a new arsehole about this lube:
Related question...what are people using to clean and degrease the chain before lubing up?
I usually use white spirit in a jar but feel like it might leave a residue which messes with the lube.
Related question…what are people using to clean and degrease the chain before lubing up?
Heavy duty water based degreaser and a park cyclone chain scrubber. I find the scrubber is very effective at brushing off all the crap.
Plus it is a lot less hassle than taking off the chain or storing and disposing of solvents like white spirits.
I’ve given up with various lubes. Off the back of the MX/Enduro bike approach I spray the chain with WD40/GT85 and rub with a rag.
My MTB gets a hosing off after each ride and then muc-off C3 dry applied to the chain and it always stays lovely and clean.
Surely this is a better compromise than resorting to using non-lubes on the chain - every wear/friction test result I have seen for WD40/GT85 has been horrible.
Whatever you choose, use a rag to remove all of the surplus after application. This pretty much eliminates the black grinding paste scenario & gunked up mess that can accumulate on the chain & jockey wheels. The lubrication takes place inside the chain, anything on the outside is simply attracting clag.
Heavy duty water based degreaser and a park cyclone chain scrubber.
Use that for oiled chains. And a jar of white spirits for chains that are going to be waxed.
