There are so many types of chain lubricants on the bike market that there is a huge selection problem. Each manufacturer insists that his product is better, and the seller tries to sell the most expensive product, talking about its merits. The focus of this article is bicycle lubrication for a bicycle chain, what it is, how it is applied correctly and how it differs from competitors.
Types of Lubricating Oils
In the markets, bicycle grease can be found in several types, each of which stands out against its competitors with special properties.
- Aerosol lubricants. Under high pressure, together with air, the lubricant enters the chain in the form of foam and, due to its aggregate state, penetrates into hard-to-reach components. After waiting 10-15 minutes, you need to wipe the remaining substance dry with a dry rag. Such a bicycle chain lubricant is not only durable, but also the most effective, because a dry-worn chain will not attract dust to itself. One inconvenience - it takes a lot of time to clean the chain of grease residues.
- Liquid oils. The most popular type of lubricant is sold with a special dispenser for the convenience of the procedure. Liquid oils cost a penny on the market, but are inferior in effectiveness to all competitors.
- Two-component greases. Volatile solvent with thick oil is applied to the chain. Lubricant penetrates into inaccessible nodes, the solvent evaporates, and the oil thickens.
Popular teflon
TF2 bicycle grease, which is available in aerosol and grease fittings, differs from its competitors in its best resistance to dirt and dust, because Teflon is present in the composition. Before applying it is necessary to completely wash the chain from dirt and dry well. This is the main requirement of the manufacturer, which guarantees a long service life. The lubricant is applied evenly to the chain and is gently wiped from oil smudges. After 10-15 minutes, the chain must be wiped with a rag to dryness. The Teflon component declared by the manufacturer as part of the lubricant should create an enveloping film over the entire surface that will repel dust and dirt. After a couple of kilometers after cleaning, you will notice that the bicycle grease for the chain again appeared on the surface in the form of droplets. This happens due to heating and pressure in the circuit during operation. Excess oil should be removed with a rag. With such an effective lubricant for 150-200 kilometers on dry terrain, neither dust nor dirt are scary.
Grease from the manufacturer of bicycle accessories
If there are accessories under the Shimano brand, then there should be accessories from a well-known brand for maintenance and care. Naturally, their quality should be consistent with the brand. Shimano WET 100 bicycle grease is rightfully considered the best in the professional cycling segment. The grease is designed for wet weather, because it contains components with high binding properties. In addition, after lubrication, a water-repellent film is formed on the surface of the chain, which can easily cope not only with moisture but also with dirt. At a low price, this option contains components that prevent the formation of corrosion and rust, so many athletes, in addition to the chain, lubricate the rotating parts of the bicycle, trying to protect themselves from pollution. Such extensive functionality has only one drawback - fragility. At the end of the cycle race, you need to completely rinse all lubricated components, wipe dry and re-lubricate.
The Russian brand will not give way
When wondering which lubricant is best for the bicycle chain, many Russian buyers argue among themselves, upholding Japanese, German and American brands. Few people know that in the Russian market there is a lubricant for a bicycle chain of its own production. Unlike competitors, only she is able to work in the conditions that exist on the territory of Russia. Bicycle grease Nanoprotech has no analogues in the world, because it consists of components that provide protection against aggressive environments, which include all kinds of reagents, including salt, sprinkled on the roads of the country in the winter. The manufacturer chose to release the product in the form of an aerosol, providing the user with ease of maintenance. There is a lot of any information on the bottle, which at first raises doubts about the veracity, but after a month of active use in the winter, all questions to the manufacturer disappear. Professionals recommend Nanoprotech lubricant to all cyclists who use the vehicle year-round.
In a sandstorm
Motorex bike chain grease is not multigrade. She has a slightly different task. Biodegradable oil is designed for use in dusty environments with low humidity. The sand race, quarries, mountain slopes - this is her environment. In addition to the chain, the manufacturer recommends using the same lubricant for processing brake cables and switches, as well as for moving components. Available in aerosol form and in the form of an oiler. In our market, the Swiss manufacturer Motorex is better known for products for servicing depreciation bicycle forks. Low cost and high quality quickly attracted their customers. However, Motorex bicycle chain grease, for some unknown reason, occupies the most expensive niche and will not be affordable for many bike owners.
Generation Bio to protect nature
Bicycle chain grease from the manufacturer of bicycle accessories Zefal is positioned as an organic substance that can decompose after use in nature without polluting the surrounding nature. In the XXI century, this is an urgent problem, and many manufacturers on the word Bio make good money, including the manufacturer Zefal. After all, if you think logically, all lubricants are created on an organic basis, it just does not indicate the packaging. If you familiarize yourself with the lubricant in more detail, the user will note its excellent all-season qualities. Ability to work in aggressive environments, in frost and in hot weather. A low price will give the impetus that is so lacking at the time of purchase.
Elite Oil Market
There is a market for elite oils that are imported from abroad in a roundabout way and distributed like Amway cosmetics, without advertising and world wide. This is not to say that the bicycle grease for chains offered to the buyer from an unknown brand is of poor quality. Perhaps she will be better than the market leader. However, there is no certainty that the contents of the bottle or oiler are what the manufacturer is talking about. After all, a product enters the market without quality certificates, and no one bears responsibility for it. As an example, you can meet such brands:
- LIDER. Production Germany. Very high quality grease. It contains molybdenum disulfide, which allows the chain to work for a long time at high temperatures and in aggressive environments. The cost of one bottle can reach up to 25 thousand rubles, which is comparable with the price of an inexpensive second-hand bike.
- Silicone greases without names. They are designed for rubbing surfaces, but not for the chain.
Universal grease WD-40
Reviews in the media are full of headlines that the best lubricant for the bicycle chain is WD-40. This is not true, because the WD-40 incorporates white spirit, which is actively used not only by cyclists to flush lubricant components, but also by motorists, tractor drivers and other specialists related to oil pollution. Naturally, a substance designed to cleanse oil cannot in any way act as a lubricant. The price of chain lubrication is not so high as to do such nonsense with the WD-40. But the purchase of new components that fail in the process of improper operation, significantly affect the affordability.
Finally
As it turned out, bicycle grease for the chain is presented on the market by many manufacturers in different variations. A low price for well-known brands will only attract buyers. Of the brands that exist on the market, many athletes recommend giving their choice to a domestic manufacturer, which focuses primarily on the climate of their country and knows a lot about operating conditions. You should not look towards uncertified products, because the chances of buying a fake are within 100%, and the high import price for the product will force you to invest in a fake product. Naturally, the WD-40 should only be used for cleaning, and nothing else.