@eq asks:

[matthewnewell@mastodon.social]

@dan @Pionir @rand @ascentale @eq @bikenite

I am a Chigwell lad at my roots so I know well that claggy clay. My Dad used to claim you could use it for fine detail polishing it was so smooth.

It's been too long since I went mad in Ambresbury Banks (never riding - that would be desecration) but we felt we had our own iron age fort when we were kids.

And the paths round there are great fun - I envy you if you're close by.

[morgan@sfba.social]

@Pionir @MatthewNewell @rand @ascentale @eq @bikenite I also use Squirt lube on nearly all* my bikes. It's some sort of liquid wax lubricant, doesn't play nice with oil lubes, requires a clean, dry chain to begin with.

I was handed a bag of tiny try-me bottles of the stuff, after an event for which I volunteered. Figured I'd try them for free, was surprised how well it works. Chains stay clean, seem to last longer. Does require reapplication nearly every ride. The downside; if my bike gets rained on, or stays wet for hours, Squirt does not do a good job of preventing rust.

* Single speed mountain bike gets oil-based lube, usually Phil's Tenacious, because it gets ridden in all weather, often wet, and that bike gets nearly no maintenance.

I may try Dumonde Tech when I run through this stuff. Historically I've been a fan of the dry lubes. Most recently, the WD-40 bicycle specific lubes, before that, Pro Gold. These are USA brands.

[nnn@bettercities.top]

@ascentale @eq @bikenite
A5)
If you're coming from the "used motor oil" camp, I'd suggest trying used ATF transmission fluid.
I like the thickness of it: I brush it on (with toothbrush) then wipe-off excess

That said, it will stain your pantlegs red if you brush the chain, and it isn't biodegradeable, so there are probably better choices

Speaking of: I clean my chain with 90C water and washing-up liquid in a Pedros Chain Pig, then blow with compressed air, then lube. No solvents needed.

[eq@mas.to]

@NNN Thanks, will try that. Just a compressor needed then, those compressed air cans are realy expensive

[nnn@bettercities.top]

@eq
Yeah, compressed air is definitely not something everybody has access to.

If it's a sunny day, just sling the chain around in a circle for a while, then lay it in the sun.

[etp@indieweb.social]

@gcvsa Thanks. I still have quite a lot of a decathlon chain lube left, but maybe when that’s gone.

[cutting@sfba.social]

@ascentale @eq @bikenite I use Dumonde Tech light lube. Lasts a few rides and doesn't collect dirt.

[dan@axillae.telent.net]

@MatthewNewell @Pionir @rand @ascentale @eq @bikenite I'm a bit further west (walthamstow) but yeah. Every spring in the space of three weeks it goes from wet sticky clag to brick-hard. In some ways I prefer riding it in winter, its a lot softer to fall off onto

[pionir@masto.bike]

@dan @MatthewNewell @rand @ascentale @eq @bikenite

Ah I lead a club run out to Epping Forest a couple of years ago at the start of April. I think it was in the sticky clay stage!

[ascentale@sfba.social]

@eq @bikenite A5. Not an answer, but I once bought a used bike where I suspect the chain was lubricated with used motor oil. The chain was messy, dirty, and scary to touch. I didn't like it as a chain lube.

#BikeNite

[the5thcolumnist@ottawa.place]

@ascentale @eq @bikenite

I used to use chain saw oil on my winter bike for a few years.

[matthewnewell@mastodon.social]

@Pionir @dan @rand @ascentale @eq @bikenite lovely stuff .

[myphatself@mstdn.social]

@ascentale @eq @bikenite dry lube?