Lube me up

I’m gonna get up on my soapbox and preach at ya for minute.

Lets understand something before I start. Lubing your chain is just one of those things you should know how to do and should be doing if you own a bike. I believe that having a well lube chain, well adjusted gears and the right tire pressure are the three biggest things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your bike. Well adjusted gears and Tire Pressure are topics for another day. Today I’m going to talk about Lube in general and my favorite lube in particular.

I can’t think of anything sadder than the sight and sound of a rusty chain on a bike. I see it all the time at the group rides I go on, or that sad looking bike in the garage of someone I have talked into going on a ride and it makes me crazy. I can tell just by looking that they aren’t going to have fun on this ride and I will be hard pressed to get them out on their bike again.

Sure lubing your chain isn’t something you think of. Its neither cool nor sexy, but is just one of those things. I try to remember and still I end up doing it when I realize that it’s my chain making that noise. Still it something you can do easily. Lube that chain up and show it a little love. believe me it will love you back.

Ok preachy part is over and now a word from our Sponsor*
*Rock-n-Roll Lube is not really a sponsor

Review of Rock-n-Roll Gold

I started using this lube by accident. I was using several different kinds of bottled lube (Pro-link and Finish Line) as well as an aerosol can of lube that I got from performance bikes but I can't find the can and I can't remember the brand name. I knew that it was time to clean and lube my chain and I was out riding. (yeah that loud clicking noise my chain made was my first clue) I stopped by Thick Bikes and Chris recommended Rock-n-Roll Gold -”The King of Lubes” it says so right there on the bottle. I have come to trust the guys down at Thick, so I bought a bottle and took it home.

That was over a year ago and I am still using it (not the same bottle). I have also recommended it to my friends who have started riding and I would recommend it (am recommending it) to you now. I like the simplicity of the Rock-n-Roll lube.  Here are the instructions on their website (and on the side of the bottle)

• Shake well and apply a stream of lube to the chain at the cassette.
• Do not drip the lube on like you would oil. This is not oil!
• Get the chain really wet, this stuff cleans and lubes all in one.
• Freewheel the chain backwards for about 5 seconds...no less.
• Wipe off all the excess lube...
• all of it, wipe the chain as clean as it will get.
• That's it go ride...

This is all I have to do. With the other lubes I alway ran my chain through a cleaner with a degreaser in it first, let the chain dry then applied the lube. Not difficult but time consuming and messy. (you cannot believe the mess I can make with a chain cleaner). I am always surprised at just how much gunk ends up on the rag as I wipe the chain dry at the end. I find that I use about a quarter of the small 4oz bottle each time I clean my chain. So my minimal mathmatical skills say I get about 4 lubes per bottle.

All in all the Rock-n-Roll Gold lube is quick and easy to use and I find that I am more willing to lube the chain knowing I won't have to break out the chain cleaner and add the water and degreaser to it and try and get it clipped onto the chain and run the chain through it while sending water and dirt and gunk everywhere. Maybe this year I can even end up lubing my chain before it starts to complain.