Forum menu
As above really. I'm talking about a standard road bike here- I used to own a pretty cheap road bike and I don't ever recall specifically lubing or greasing anything on the actual front or rear mech and they seemed to work fine for quite a few years (and still do).
I have a much nicer/more expensive road bike now and after riding 60miles in torrential rain I'm wondering if I am being too neglectful?
A quick google re: the front mech seems to indicate I should spray with degreaser and then douse the whole thing in teflon lube... for some reason I feel a bit reluctant to just blast my front mech with degreaser though, even if I am re-coating with PTFE...not sure if I'm just being daft?
I realise I am probably massively over-thinking this.
A spray with GT85 every so often is as much as I do, has kept my Ultegra 6800 running fine for the past few years.
Pivot points on front and rear mechs get a spray lube and a wipe down with a rag every now and again.
The front mech can seize up over the winter due to getting sprayed with salty cack from the rear wheel.
As the others do - spray a bit of lube into the pivots and work it back and forward a few times. I just freed off a stuck front mech like this.
Its a part of my regular maintenance. I have 20+ year old mechs on some of my bikes.
I drop/spray some lube (whatever I happen to have to hand) at them whenever I notice they're a bit sticky.
Pivot points with WD 40 every now & then.
In the winter to stop them freezing up with ice
Spray with GT85 every so often and also after washing the bike.
Cheers everyone. I think I'll do the same then and show them a bit of love with a rag and some GT85 every now and then and maybe skip a total de-grease (which does seem a little unneccesarry looking at it)
GT85 after wet ride or washing to displace water and a silicone spray every now n again, cut up cereal boxes for putting behind the mech before squirting owt.
As others GT85 squirt on the pivots after wet ride (or wash) - I always put a rag under the front mech to stop any GT85 getting into the BB bearings.
Occasionally spray on some chain degreaser when washing the bike, followed by warm water and suds, rinse, dry off and a soft of 3in1 on the pivot points.