Park Tool chain lube

[rob feature]

So I tried some of this stuff out a while back. Late September to be exact.

I ran out of the usual White Lightning, which I generally replace every 50 - 100 miles, but had some Park chain lube on hand so slathered it all over the chain & let it sit overnight. It made a helluva mess. It's like a goopy & slightly sticky oil that just manages to get all over everything. I swore that I would never use it again, as I did not wipe off the slop after and soon discovered that was a bad idea.

Not too far after that, I noticed my chain was nearing the go-side of the chain-checker at .75, so it was time to start checking it. As it was wearing anyway, I quit lubing it - wondering when the Park treatment was gonna wear out and start making noise, shifting poorly, etc. Almost 1000 miles later, no joke, I still have not lubed it. It has shown no signs of corrosion, any degradation in shifting, and no noise. Anybody else tried it out?

 

[fooferdoggie]

I found one lube that goes around 1200 miles even with the rain and its not too messy. but its super think and a pain to apply

 

[chunk]

I always use a chain wax of some kind, I've been using it for years on my motorbikes and I bought some bicycle specific chain wax for my e bike. It doesn't last as long as gooey lubes, but the upside is it works, and doesn't fling off or attract much dirt, Just reapply as necessary.

 

[DDBB]

I use maxima chain lube followed by maxima chain wax. The lube is wet and gets deep into the chain. The maxima chain wax then seals that lube in. Great products IMO. No wear on my chain check tool after 1,200 mi. with a bafang ultra motor.. Of course I'm careful not to nail it in 9th gear etc. and mostly ride dry pavement and try not to stress the drive train at any time

 

[GMA52]

I found one lube that goes around 1200 miles even with the rain and its not too messy. but its super think and a pain to apply

What is it if you do not mind me asking

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

My bike shop spends most of its time selling and servicing very high-end road bikes — Colnago, Pinarello, Factor, Specialized, and the like. Their go-to chain lube is Rock n Roll Gold. Also a chain cleaner.

Good enough for them, good enough for me. And best of all, very easy to use.

 

[CanNik]

I use fairy liquid on my chain when needed and GT85, really the lengths some go to, seriously how we ever managed 40 years ago without chain lube baffles me !!!!

 

[GMA52]

I use fairy liquid on my chain when needed and GT85, really the lengths some go to, seriously how we ever managed 40 years ago without chain lube baffles me !!!!

We cannot seem to get GT85 here in the states.

 

[GMA52]

My bike shop spends most of its time selling and servicing very high-end road bikes — Colnago, Pinarello, Factor, Specialized, and the like. Their go-to chain lube is Rock n Roll Gold. Also a chain cleaner.

Good enough for them, good enough for me. And best of all, very easy to use.

Thanks, ordered some

 

[Chargeride]

I use 3 in 1, oil, handcream and brake fluid substitute.

 

[stompandgo]

My bike shop spends most of its time selling and servicing very high-end road bikes — Colnago, Pinarello, Factor, Specialized, and the like. Their go-to chain lube is Rock n Roll Gold. Also a chain cleaner.

Good enough for them, good enough for me. And best of all, very easy to use.

That's what I've used for years. For cleaning, if it's not going into the ultrasonic, I use Finish Line Citrus on a rag.

At the shop, for rusty or dirty chains, we use an Amsoil spray product that's like WD-40 but has a lube in it. For clean chains, we use a light oil from a number of manufacturers, or RNRG.

 

[Gionnirocket]

My bike shop spends most of its time selling and servicing very high-end road bikes — Colnago, Pinarello, Factor, Specialized, and the like. Their go-to chain lube is Rock n Roll Gold. Also a chain cleaner.

Good enough for them, good enough for me. And best of all, very easy to use.

But maybe they use it because it sucks and it keeps you coming back for maintenance... Those high end bike shops sure know how to sell.

 

[smorgasbord]

There are different factors at play for chain lube, mostly depending on how/where you ride.
If you ride off-road, something to which dirt doesn't stick is often preferable.
If you ride in the wet, something that doesn't easily wash off is often preferable.
If you ride on-pavement mostly when it's dry, something that reduces friction and doesn't wear off is often preferable.

For instance, BikeGremlin did some testing a while back and found that plain old chainsaw bar oil was the best in terms of water resistance and durability, but dirt sticks to it like crazy. Waxes are great at staying clean, but their durability and water resistance suffer greatly. There are "dry" ceramic lubes that strike a middle ground, not great at anything, but don't suck at anything, either.

And then, of course, there is the actual brand/model of chain you're using, what kind of motor assist you use, what you and your bike weigh, what your chain care regimen is, etc. Too many factors to really isolate just the lube in real world conditions, and too many factors for one lube to be best for everyone.

 

[DDBB]

Yes, every member must post the brand/model of chain, what kind of motor and how much torque and the weight of your bike and your own weight and how hard of soft you pedal (please provide exact figures) please include where you ride, if it's wet or dry roads etc. All this before you post anything about chain wear or chain lube or prepare to be crucified by smorgasbord.. Many of us will not provide the empirical data to satisfy this guy.I use a wet lube followed by a wax based lube which seals in the lube and it's been fantastic for me. I don't have data to prove it though, sorry. Heck I don't even have a picture of my chain checkers! However if you are interested in extending chain life and would like to try it, I use Maxima chain lube followed immediately by Maxima chain wax. I can't guarantee any results and I don't have pictures to post either so you're on your own. Proceed with great caution.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

There are different factors at play for chain lube, mostly depending on how/where you ride.
If you ride off-road, something to which dirt doesn't stick is often preferable.
If you ride in the wet, something that doesn't easily wash off is often preferable.
If you ride on-pavement mostly when it's dry, something that reduces friction and doesn't wear off is often preferable.

For instance, BikeGremlin did some testing a while back and found that plain old chainsaw bar oil was the best in terms of water resistance and durability, but dirt sticks to it like crazy. Waxes are great at staying clean, but their durability and water resistance suffer greatly. There are "dry" ceramic lubes that strike a middle ground, not great at anything, but don't suck at anything, either.

And then, of course, there is the actual brand/model of chain you're using, what kind of motor assist you use, what you and your bike weigh, what your chain care regimen is, etc. Too many factors to really isolate just the lube in real world conditions, and too many factors for one lube to be best for everyone.

Agree with all of that. Reasonable guidelines in the first part.

Very hard to come up with a truly evidence-based choice of chain lube at this time, so might as well pick the one you'll actually use most often. That's the main reason I stick with Rock n Roll.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I use 3 in 1, oil, handcream and brake fluid substitute.

It'd be nice to carry a chain lube that would also fix helmet hair at cafe stops.
;^}

 

[DDBB]

IMPOSSIBLE to find truly evidence based "which is better" Anecdotal is all we have. What works for one, won't necessarily work for others.

 

[Chargeride]

It'd be nice to carry a chain lube that would also fix helmet hair at cafe stops.
;^}

 

[Chargeride]

I ran out of the usual White Lightning, which I generally replace every 50 - 100 miles,

This is amusing because white lightning was the goto high strength cheap cider for drunks in the street.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Here it'll grow hair on your ars!