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Weldite TF Extreme here. After going through purple extreme, muc-off ceramic, finish line wet and dry, Fenwicks Pro and Shimano dry.
Routine is squirt GT85 on a rag and run chain through it post ride (<1 minute). When needed (weather dependent) it gets a degrease with a chain tool and brushes and reapply (5 mins).
I need it to stick to the chain, not get too gunked up, degrease off easy and be cheap. It ticks all those boxes for me and keeps the drivetrain quiet on gritty and invariably wet trails.
science officer was one of the two folk that I know of that didn't get on with it. He and I have had a few discussions and I cannot see that he did anything wrong. So take heed.
As for the staining - if you wipe the chain down well once refitted and again after the first ride its not much of an issue IMO / IME
Moltenspeedwax
Boiling water rinse and re-wax in the slow cooker after any wet ride.
otherwise re-wax once a month maybe
apart from tedious initial cleaning in multiple baths of white spirit then meths it's very straightforward
as I have an XX1 (Gucci pricing) cassette I use 3 chains in rotation
You'l definitely hears from the multi chain sceptics now, but as it’s the chain that wears the other parts, swopping 3 chains around regularly means the drivetrain life is 3 x a single chain as it takes 3 x as long for any chain to reach 0.5 wear.
Plus it means waxing isn't a pain if you're on a few days trip and its muddy.
I don’t get grit sticking to my chain, it’s too wet here for grit!
I've found that mud varies hugely by geography so I can believe that. If it's loamy you're fine, if it's sandy and coarse (like I saw in the Cairngorms) you might be alright too as the water drains. In sandstone areas if it's just the right amount of wetness we get surface water readily on trails and a mix of sand and coarse clay suspended in the water which coats everything and erodes it, even your clothes. This seems to be why some people say brake pads disappear in two rides, and some say they last years.
Moltenspeedwax
Boiling water rinse and re-wax in the slow cooker after any wet ride.
What?? So after every wet ride you take the chain off and go through the faff of rinsing and rewaxing?
Just no
those regularly removing chains to rewax, are you reusing the split links, esp on the likes of 11 and 12 speed where they are supposedly single use ?
Just no
uh-huh, I hear you. This'll blow your mind: Some of them actually even enjoy the whole rigmarole/ritual...I know right? The weirdos.
Yep, this thread is starting to get worryingly "specialist".
Some times I wish I had never started this church. The schisms have set in already and the disciples are revolting
tjagain
Some times I wish I had never started this church. The schisms have set in already and the disciples are revolting
OH also says that about me. Are you two ganging up?
As I have just discovered, don't bother with Smoove in mud and gritty conditions unless you like the sound of your drivetrain being ground to dust.
I thought it would be the lube that I had longed for...a degrease and relube once a month job - sadly not.
Interesting and different from my experience with Smoove. Nothing stops the mud and grit from getting on your chain but I've always found that Smoove keeps the rollers full of wax and keeps the crap out. Once home and the bike has dried, the surface cleans up nicely with s baby wipe. If the rollers feel loose, I'll add another drop to each link.
First ride in Cairngorm damp sandy grit today and the Peatys worked well, a quick rub of the chain with a rag and some GT85 when I got back and it looks just about the same as pre-ride.
I'm using molten speed wax on my hardtail and my Genesis Day One with Alfine 8. On the mountain bike it's super smooth and quiet. I'm yet to ride that bike in wet conditions, however I have a bikepacking trip planned in August and I'm a bit nervous about running MSW - definitely need a test wet ride. Bit of a dilemma really, do I take some Squirt to top the MSW if the weather is bad? Or do I just sack it off and go back to traditional wet lube?
On the Genesis, the chain seems to be a bit squeaky, but the Alfine hub is so damn loud it's hard to tell where it's coming from.
And yes I do quite enjoy the waxing process!
I have successfully used putoline for a two week off road tour.
If your alfine is noisy service it!
I serviced it just a few weeks ago, tried using grease instead of the ATF bath method, in an attempt at preventing the rotor and nicely waxed chain getting coated in ATF.
I had a fleeting idea to dip the hub in MSW... I think that would end badly.
Just service it properly. It will last longer and be quieter
To be fair, my ride included sections of sand from erosion. This led to fine sand sticking inbetween the links.
No problem if you degrease and lube after every ride but I bought Smoove to avoid that. Maybe I'm expecting miracles!
> Just service it properly
Thanks for the advice...
Athose regularly removing chains to rewax, are you reusing the split links, esp on the likes of 11 and 12 speed where they are supposedly single use ?
I went for these:
I split my chain regular for cleaning. I use them on a SRAM PCX1 chain. I'd say I've split around have a dozen times now. I still need pliers to separate so I have confidence they are good.
Knowing now that I'll continue to use then my next purchase will be a set of Parks master link pliers as they can assist with both the installation and removal.
I never have to clean my chain, takes 30 seconds to apply, and lasts more than long enough for my needs, it’s a problem that just doesn’t exist.
Tend to agree but then for the rides and lengths of ride I do I am not someone who fits the criteria for requiring Putoline. I only ride every Sat/Sun all year around and the vast majority of those rides are in the dry. The only time I have to spend any time doing much with a chain in November to February and even then it is a quick degrease and relube every few weeks.
I can however see that Putoline would make sense for people who continually ride in wet and muddy conditions.
. I’m yet to ride that bike in wet conditions, however I have a bikepacking trip planned in August and I’m a bit nervous about running MSW – definitely need a test wet ride. Bit of a dilemma really, do I take some Squirt to top the MSW if the weather is bad? Or do I just sack it off and go back to traditional wet lube?
Id take wet lube. I have a little dropper bottle of the posher of the muckoff wet in my pack for those trips although I dont think ive ever needed it. I'd avoid anything that needs time to dry/set. I find whatever you use mixes with the remaining wa and turns to the most sticky tenacious grease known to man so have a rag to hand to wipe it off the outside of the chain.
I also hated sticky black staining nature of the stuff, and I found that it slowed the shifting down a bit.
Id suggest you had too much on the chain. My cassettes a dull grey but theres no sticky blackness outside the fryer and initial wipe while hot.
Ian - where did you get your Peaty's Link Lube from? It's my go-to but I'm running out and can't find any stock anywhere. I've got some old RnR Extreme to use up if I need it but could do with some stock soon.
those regularly removing chains to rewax, are you reusing the split links, esp on the likes of 11 and 12 speed where they are supposedly single use ?
Hnn, I've always re used them ever since they were invented. I can't see how there's a failure mode that is made worse by repeated use. Some people are apparently so bemused by this recommendation that they take it to mean do not re-use them across different chains, which would make more sense.
Also note that reportedly Decathlon links are made by KMC and then sold at half the price.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/11-speed-quick-release-links-id_8351523.html
I've never had an issue with reusing whether they say they can be or not.
Ian – where did you get your Peaty’s Link Lube from? It’s my go-to but I’m running out and can’t find any stock anywhere.
Have you tried peatys.co.uk? It's my go to now, RnR was good but got hard to find, purple extreme was OK, white lightning clean ride was a massive faff but peatys seems to last a while and doesn't get claggy.
Ah, they're back in stock! Was out of stock everywhere when I looked at the beginning of the week.
Was just about to reply 🤣
I’m clearly in a room of one. Still think Finish Line Wet is the quietest, nicest chain lube. Cassette and chain clean up like a shiny new thing every few rides in about two minutes, and it takes all of two minutes to relube.
Tried every thing else, never found anything better. All the ceramic stuff I’ve tried is noisy or not long lasting, Putoline is filthy (comparatively).
The only other lube I once loved was Phil’s Tenacious. It was about 25 years ago, but one drop per link lasted ages, it was very quiet and clean enough. Keep meaning to buy more, but 4x the cost of FL Wet in the UK.
Chainsaw oil for me as my Ebike will stretch and knacker a chain every 500 miles or so, there's no point in anything fancy.
I've been running Putoline for a few months now.
Still on my first application on the mountain bike and it's really good.
Had dusty, wet, and now proper wet gritty/sandy rides and it's still nice and quiet.
I took some photos after today's ride that shows how the muck just washes off.
I think it's probably due another hot bath now but I want to see how long it will go before it REALLY needs doing.
The chain is a bit short so not too bothered about a bit of excess wear if it comes to it.
The test will be next time I take the bike out I guess as I had to wash the chain of quite well this time (only with water though)
When I can remember how to post pictures I'll share some
Oh and if anyone is near Milton Keynes and wants to try it, bring me a clean chain and a few beer tokens and I'll pop your chain in the cooker!