Lubricants?....

[Stu Merckx Man]

what is the best thing to use as lubricant?...ive been using wd40, but was thinking there must be something better out there.

stu

p.s.. sean i meen for the bike!

[Marek]

Depends what for, WD40 is not a lubricant, it is a degreaser so is good for cleaning stuff up, but you need to clean it off the bike and then lube up after.

Chain - I clean the chain with water, or with WD40 if really bad, and then clean the WD40 off with water. Then you either dry the chain or wait for it to dry, I use kitchen paper for this. Then you lube it with White Lightning, wax lube in a white bottle. Put a drop on each link, make sure you shake the bottle well. This stuff is great, keeps the chain looking clean after a good few rides.

Brakes and Cables - I just take a reasonably light oil and run it along the cables at the tops and bottoms where they enter bits on the bike. What I do is put the oil onto my fingers and then lightly rub it here. For the brakes I put a bit on the main moving bits, try not to get the oil on the brake pads.

Rear and Front Mech - again just a drop of oil now and then.

Spokes - Now and then I think it is worth putting a drop of oil on each spoke just to stop the creaks.

I am sure other people have views on all this, but that is what I do. Also, lube up your ass with Vaseline or nappy rash cream for a pleasant ride in wet weather.

Cheers

Marek....

[Stu Merckx Man]

cheers marek, and are you seriose about vaseline for the wet ?

[Jim B]

Marek,
What are you planning to do to Stu on the next ride?
Sounds like he's about to find out what a reliability ride really is!

[Andrew G]

I'll second White Lightning, it's fantastic stuff. Only use the normal one though Stu. They do a "wet ride" version for winter riding but I think it just makes the chain really grubby. Be "Normal" all year round.

I just use white spirit to degrease the chain.

[Stu Merckx Man]

sounds like white lightning is the way to go then. thanks people!

[Dr Frigo]

Finish Line do a similar (and easier to find) "Dry Lube" (red top) which smells nicer.

[Ian A4size]

White lightning is awful, finish line wet is great gear, just dont use too much.
You should also wipe off any excess and when you get home after a ride wipe the chain over with your addiscombe T-shirt.
I am sure that by now you know you can't trust Marek with any maintenance advice

'Owzat Toks?

[Ian A4size]

Cripes and blimey Sylv don't get young impressionable teenagers into solvent abuse.
Thinners is much better

[Jon H]

Finish Line degreaser has a lovely orangey smell, rather like Grand Marnier.

[Ian A4size]

"Ice and a slice" luvvvly.

[Stu Merckx Man]

hmm not as simple as i thought...

[Matthew Ives]

White Lightening...hmmmm I've never got on with it.
Makes the chain really noisy and you need to keep applying it after every long ride.
The worst thing is it wearing off on a long ride and you have to ride the rest of the day with a noisy drivetrain.

The Finish Line dry lube is great, as Sylv says. It's a teflon lube and attracts hardly any muck

[Marek]

Each to his own, I personally think White Lighting, the white one is very good. Next time I will try the other one though.

Cheers

Marek...

[Stu Merckx Man]

i know what to do.... take all the suggestions and put them to the people at geoffery butlers, they'ell know what to do