Photo: Mak_ jp

Should you wipe bike chain after lubing?

In fact too much oil attracts more dirt to stick to the chain and wear increases. Therefore after lubing excess oil needs to be removed. To do this wait for 5 minutes after oiling the chain, turn the drivetrain over a few times then use a dry rag to wipe off any excess.

enduro-mtb.com - How to lube a Bike Chain Correctly | ENDURO Mountainbike Magazine

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The chain is one of the elementary building blocks of your bike. It is the connecting link transferring the rider’s power to the rear tyre thus generating propulsion. Yet it is continuously exposed to the elements and maltreated with poor shifting. All the more important that is gets regular care.

When should I oil my chain?

The service-intervall for chain care is dependant on the conditions you ride in. You can’t say categorically that wet or dry conditions require more care as along with moisture, sand and dust also damage the it. For this reason we recommend cleaning the chain after every ride and applying a new film of oil.

What oil is suitable for my chain?

The exact choice of chain oil is to a certain extent a personal one. One thing is for sure that thin oils e.g. WD 40 or Brunox Turbo Spray are not recommended as they wash out the grease applied by the manufacturer from between the chain plates and rollers. The choice of optimal lube as well as the frequency that it is applied depends on the conditions. As a rule of thumb: high moisture conditions require higher viscosity oil, so it sticks to the chain for longer and displaces the water. In dry, dusty conditions choose a lower viscosity oil in order to attract less dirt. If you maintain your chain regularly a standard chain oil is almost always a good choice.

How do I oil my chain correctly?

Step I – Cleaning

Before you apply new oil to your chain, you need to free it of dirt. Use an old cloth to thoroughly clean the chain, cassette, chainrings and jockey wheels. Attention: never use degreaser or disc brake cleaner as these will wash out the oil/grease from between the chain links and this cannot be re-applied later. We are also sceptical about laying your chain in cleaning solutions or using special chain cleaning devices, which we see as unnecessary.

Step II – Oiling the chain

Having cleaned the drive chain now you need to give it a new layer of lube. Important: don’t oil the top of the chain just on the side that actually needs it and is in contact with the cassette and chainrings.

Step III – Remove excess oil

The saying “the more the merrier” is misguided when oiling chains. In fact too much oil attracts more dirt to stick to the chain and wear increases. Therefore after lubing excess oil needs to be removed. To do this wait for 5 minutes after oiling the chain, turn the drivetrain over a few times then use a dry rag to wipe off any excess. Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

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Will WD-40 hurt a bike chain?

As a matter of fact, WD-40 will actually strip away any existing lubricant and leave your drivetrain dry – metal on metal. Basically, spraying this stuff on your chain is worse than using no lubricant at all! Obviously, I strongly recommend using chain oil purchased from your local bike shop.

bikeride.com - Why WD-40 is Bad for Your Bike Chain (with Video) | BikeRide

Nuts and bolts on your bike should always be tightened to the manufacturer's specifications. Near the end of last week’s tutorial, I mentioned that WD-40 should never be used as a chain lubricant. Quite a few people wanted to know what I meant by that. Here’s an explanation. WD-40 was developed by the military in the 50s as a rust preventative solvent and de-greaser to protect missile parts. It quickly became a household item when people discovered it had thousands of other uses as a cleaner, rust-prevention agent, squeak-stopper and more. It also works wonders as a light lubricant on small items like hinges, locks, and toys. Bicycle chains, on the other hand, are far too heavy and fast-moving for the lubricating power of WD-40 to have any effect at all. As a matter of fact, WD-40 will actually strip away any existing lubricant and leave your drivetrain dry – metal on metal. Basically, spraying this stuff on your chain is worse than using no lubricant at all! Obviously, I strongly recommend using chain oil purchased from your local bike shop. Just go down there and ask them for regular waterproof chain oil. It shouldn’t be any more than 10 or 12 bucks, and it’s the best thing you can buy for your bike. My personal favorite is Cross Country, but if you want the Caviar, you can get quality oils from companies like Phil Wood. We’ll talk more about lubricants later… Alex Ramon A bicycle geek since early childhood, spent his twenties as a mechanic in bike shops. His passions include flatland BMX, unicycles, cycle touring, mountain biking and road riding.