Quick lube question

[wurkit_gurl]

So at the LBS, I took a free bike maintenance class where they went over the basics. They suggested two different kinds of lube to use - white lightning, which is the wax-based kind that is not water-resistant and tri-flow, which is water-resistant. I remember the guy saying you could use one on top of the other, but not the way around. And I think he said you leave on the white lighting but wipe off the tri-flow. Similarly, is it fine to just use one of them? I'd assume it'd be better to use the tri-flow since it's the most protective. Thoughts?

[wurkit_gurl]

PS- I apologize if this is a really dumb question, but I honestly can't remember what the guy said I really don't want to mess up my bike.

[Kalidurga]

I used to use White Lightning and really did not like the results. It made my chain noisy and picked up all sorts of gunk. I've never heard of using one lube on top of another, but if I were choosing between the two you named I'd go with Tri-Flow.

Everyone you talk to will have a different opinion about lube, but Rock'N'Roll Gold is the best one I've tried yet. It cleans as it lubes, it's great in dusty conditions (any dust/grit the chain picks up wipes off easily), it didn't pick up any mud when I did my first mtb ride the other week (my pedals, on the other hand, were full of dirt & mud), and after 9 months or so I'm barely halfway through a 16oz bottle. Great stuff.

[KnottedYet]

I used to use White Lightning, too. With similar results.

Now I use Boeshield, and I'm very happy with it and how well it handles the Seattle rain and muddy puddles.

Between Boeshield and Phil's Green Grease I've got all my bike lube needs covered. (anything more involved I take to the LBS)

[Zen]

The Rock & Roll Gold sounds interesting. The instructions say

"Get the chain really wet, this stuff cleans and lubes all in one. Freewheel the chain backwards for about 5 seconds-no less".

What do they mean by "freewheel the chain backward"?

[Kalidurga]

What do they mean by "freewheel the chain backward"?

Rotate the cranks backwards so the chain moves backwards, but the wheel doesn't move. Doing so helps to distribute the lube into the links where it belongs, and pushes any gunk between them up to the surface where it can be wiped away. And when they say wipe all of the lube off, they mean wipe it ALL off.

[Jolt]

Everyone you talk to will have a different opinion about lube, but Rock'N'Roll Gold is the best one I've tried yet. It cleans as it lubes, it's great in dusty conditions (any dust/grit the chain picks up wipes off easily), it didn't pick up any mud when I did my first mtb ride the other week (my pedals, on the other hand, were full of dirt & mud), and after 9 months or so I'm barely halfway through a 16oz bottle. Great stuff.

That stuff sounds interesting--maybe I'll have to see if my favorite LBS carries it. I ride through my share of sand and gravel, so something that doesn't pick up all that garbage would be good. I think White Lightning may have been what they had at the bike co-op where I replaced my chain and so that's what I used; it does seem to have picked up quite a bit of sand.

[madscot13]

this is a bummer, I just claned and lubed my bike with White Lightening.

[equus123]

lol, i know. me too! i've heard good things about White Lightening. though i have to admit after trying it, it does make the chain louder and i find that it gets dry a lot and needs re-lubing. kinda weird. hmmph. i might check out the RNR Gold next time around.