Hey Andrew,
I love it whe "true" experts sign in! Neat.
I've not heard of Krytox products. Is it a specialty brand or generally available in bike shops.
I"ve been using Phil Wood Grease for years, just bought a tube recently as I've been scraping the
bottom of the previous one and just came back from California where I rode from Marin to LA plus some
riding at either end. The Prolink worked okay as I had a convenient non aerosol bottle to travel with. I think
I still prefer Boeshield though.
Thanks for your contribution.
EJ
Krytox was developed for NASA during the space race - I think in the late 50's - really was just do darn expensive to sell to anyone else, and gradually the aerospace community started using the stuff (it has much better 4 ball and load wear index than any pet based oil or grease), and now it is available (although still pretty expensive) to the public. Remember that grease is just oil with a thickener, most conventional stuff uses lithium or clay or soaps, and that the oil will separate from the thickener in a fairly short time frame. Nye builds a Uniflor series that is even better than the Krytox, but harder to get ahold of, and another step up in cost - but, if you run a 100 dollar chain and a 200 dollar cluster and 200 dollar chain rings, the cost of the grease is pretty minimal. My daily is about ready to get a new chain after 6000 miles, and I beat on the thing pretty hard (plus, I live in Minnesota, where we get nasty conditions often) - just rebuilt the freewheel, and am going to install a new chainring on it also.
Boeshield and Boelube are re-branded stuff from Mobil (Gargoyles mostly) Shell and Dupont (the white Boelube is Krytox). Glad you have access - great stuff. I have parts all over your airframes.
If you want to see what real bearing people use on their bearings, check out NHBB's website sometime - they have a number of in stock lubes and oils, the Chatsworth facility is where gyro and dental motor guys get their bearings.
Wow.
There is a whole universe of grease and lube out there!
We also had a question recently on how often one should change a chain. It became an interesting read as I polled three local/Detroit area clubs.
Some good reasoning and some dislogic out there.
BICYCLING reportedly just posted changing the chain every 1000 miles but to me that is when one should measure it. I usually go 2,000 or so and not more than 3 thousand miles. I've not had to replace chain rings in about 18,000 miles so far and the cassette I mostly use is still good too.
Thanks,
EJ
I measure the chain to tell how often to replace - my chain wear is significantly less than most of the people I ride with - see 4 ball and load wear index information about why - 20 bucks worth of good lube (and good cleaning) seems to be a pretty good trade. I ride Wipp**** chains for the most part, but I have an S** on one bike and some Cam***** and Reg*** chains that alo show the sameresults.
Is Finish Line Wet Lube considered a good basic lube?
Finish Line products are all good. However, you have not provided enough information to give an answer for "you". For instance, I ride in sand a lot and it would not be good for my mountain bike. It is only good when used in the right conditions.
I use it primarily on my road bike.....I'm probably safe from excessive sand, etc.
I'm training for my first tri in April. I suspect the same lube would work well?
Thanks!
The wet lube is something for humid conditions, and will pick up dust and dirt in dry. If you are riding pretty much in said conditions, I think it's probably good lube. Try it, and see how it holds up.
Im in luck then...Georgia's know for the humidity :-)
Pro Link Pro Gold is the best. Put a drop on each link after every ride and wipe the chain down. The new lube drives out the old gunk. It penetrates the metal keeps everything slick.
I believe White Lightning is some good stuff to use on your chain. Go for the Clean Ride!
I used to use ProLink but have switched to T-9 Boeshield. My chain would always have lot of gunk on it after about 200 mi. riding when using ProLink. With Boeshield I do not get the gunk so I am sold on the product.
My local REI carries Boeshield, ProLink, Tri-Flow, Pedro's and Finish LIne. When I stop in to pick up some lube they usually only have one or two bottles of Boeshield and plenty of the other brands. The bike mechanic at REI said Boeshield was their best seller, they had trouble keeping it on the shelf. Seems to me that once a rider uses it he is sold on it. One poster says it cost twice as much as ProLink. At REI ProLink is $8.50 and Boeshield is $9.00. Both are 4 oz. bottles.
John
We seem to be going full circle! I've had good success with Boeshield and Prolink and on my five day trip from Marin to LA last
October the Prolink kept me running smooth as I feel the Boeshield does on my single speed road bike as well as my all gear
bikes, both mountain and road. As I've mentioned the Prolink works fine on my track bike as well.
I opted out of the White Lightening several years ago as I seemed to have to clean it after every ride. It would wipe off black after
a short 25 miler. And I figure that any lube that you have to shake up is not for me. I know others like it for different purposes
and using it for wet miles in the winter or on slop seems pretty good I finally just tossed a large bottle I had with the materials
separated in the bottle.
Remember, keep the chain clean and change it often (there is another link on this topic!) so you don't wear your rings and cogs
prematurely.
EJ
I remove my chain, clean it thoroughly, roll it up and gently drop it into a coffee can of melted paraffin, the kind you find with canning supplies. I melt the parafin in the coffee can in a pan of boiling water (much safer than heating the can directly). I swish the paraffin around for a few minutes, take the can outside and then carefully lift the chin out with whtever tool I have. After it is cool enough to touch I wipe if off with a towel and reinstall. I ride less than 2000 miles per year and lube my chain twice a year. Low tech? You bet. Effective? Very. Green? I've been using the same coffee can for the past eight years.
This is what I use:
http://www.progoldmfr.com/products/prolink.html
Its kind of expensive but it works great.
Tom
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