Photo: Uriel Mont

Can I use baby oil to lube my bike chain?

Putting anything other than bike lube on your components can cause them to corrode faster. I've had customers tell me they've used motor oil, baby oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil, etc. Sounds like a good idea right? Actually it's not, it ends being more work to clean up since it picks up more dirt onto the drivetrain.

portlandbicycletours.com - What Should I Oil On My Bike? (And What I Shouldn't) - Cycle Portland

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Bicycling takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It also requires a bit of oil and grease to keep your bike moving smoothly with all the blood, sweat and tears you’re getting on it. You might ask “What should I oil on my bike?” Every so often and just once in a while? What should I never oil? Although we’ve had a similar post in the past, we wanted to dive into this question in more detail. Here are our mechanic recommendations on what to oil, grease and what to keep nice and dry. If you’ve got any questions we don’t cover here, give us a call or email. Or stop by our repair shop in Portland

What Should I Oil on My Bike?

Essentially, you want to make sure all moving parts are oiled/greased appropriately. Be sure to use bicycle lubricant, not WD40 or another solvent. Putting anything other than bike lube on your components can cause them to corrode faster. I’ve had customers tell me they’ve used motor oil, baby oil, coconut oil, vegetable oil, etc. Sounds like a good idea right? Actually it’s not, it ends being more work to clean up since it picks up more dirt onto the drivetrain. Besides the nice scent of the non bike oil of your choice, the only thing you are left with is a bunch of parts needing replacing often. We use Finish Line at our shop and it’s a fantastic lube to use for almost anything that needs it, plus it smells pretty great! As for grease, we use Phil Wood Waterproof Grease, great for all the threads and keeping your non drivetrain parts and bearings working smooth.

Things to Oil

Chain

Cables

Cable housing

U-lock

Brake levers and assemblies

Derailleur levers and assemblies

Spoke nipples

Kickstand

Springs

Drivetrain

Things to Grease

Rack bolts

Fender bolts

Pedal threads

Seat post

Threads

Bearings

Quill stems

What Should I Not Oil?

At best, excess oil can collect dirt. At worst, it can make your bike less stable or safe. Even after you oil something like a chain, its a good idea to wipe off the oil from non-moving parts (like the faceplates of the chain).

Handlebars

Bottom Brackets (grease, but don’t oil)

Threadless Stems

Anywhere near your braking surface

Cassettes

Disc Rotors

Brake Pads

So the next time you’re looking at your rusty steed and a bottle of lubricant, refer to this list and ask yourself “what should I oil?”

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How often do you need to lube a bike chain?

every 100-150 miles When should you lube your bike chain? Normally every 100-150 miles or once a week if you are riding most days on pavement in dry conditions. If you are riding mostly in dry conditions on pavement, you probably don't need to clean your chain every time you lube it.

bike.nyc - Bike Maintenance Tips: How Often Should You Lube Your Bike Chain?

If your bike chain is showing rust or squeaks while you ride, it’s definitely time to lube your chain. The good news is it’s an easy bike maintenance job, but how often should one do it? Well… it depends!

When should you lube your bike chain?

Normally every 100-150 miles or once a week if you are riding most days on pavement in dry conditions. If you are riding mostly in dry conditions on pavement, you probably don’t need to clean your chain every time you lube it. Aim to clean your chain every two to three lubrication jobs. For mostly dry riding on pavement, use oil-based lube. Tri-Flow, 3-in-1 Oil, Pro-Link are some commonly used lubes (not WD-40, it’s too light). Use an oil-based lube for winter salt/slush/snow riding as well. Lube and clean your chain after every ride if you are riding in wet, snowy, salty, conditions, or conditions where there’s more dirt and especially sand. If you are riding in dusty, sandy conditions, you can use dry or Teflon-based lubes, which don’t attract abrasive dirt and sand as much as oil-based lube does.

Why should you lube your bike chain?

That power from your legs when you pedal doesn’t move your bicycle on it’s own; you can thank your bike chain for that! Your bike chain transfers the power from your legs to the wheels so it’s under serious tension when you ride. Because it’s low to the ground, it can also pick up dirt, muck, sand, you name it. Regularly lubing and cleaning your chain will increase the longevity of your bike, and prevent that dreadful squeaky noise. 🥴

Written by Bike New York’s Director of Education, Rich Conroy.

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