Lubing derailleurs/shifters/cables

[TigerMom]

I watched the Youtube videos (thank goodness for Youtube and for Team Estrogen to let me know that I should thoroughly clean my road bike every 300 miles). I wiped down the bike and the wheels. I cleaned off the disgusting grease clinging to the jockey wheels, the Crankset, and the cassette, and the bike chain. I didn't even realize that my chain is supposed to be dark silver and not black . I did my best to clean the front and rear derailleurs. I lubed the bike chain after everything was dry.

My question is....do you all lube your derailleurs, shifters, cables. I watched the Youtube videos where they said to lube the pivots. There seemed to be a lot of pivots. Should I just spray lube all over the front and the rear derailleurs and hope that I lubed the right parts? Same question with the shifters and the cables. Or, should I just bring my bike in for a total drive train cleaning and lubing once a year instead of fussing with not knowing where/how to lube.

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2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[ny biker]

I clean and lube the chain regularly and clean the bike. I also lube my Speedplay cleats regularly.

Once a year I pay the LBS to do a full cleaning and tune-up on the bike.

[marni]

I clean my wheels and brake pads after every ride because I ride on some pretty crummy roads. I also wipe down my chain and wipe off the jockey wheels after every ride. I lube the chain and grease/oil/lube every 250-300 miles and clean the chainwith chain cleaning solution and relube it, every 500 miles after I clean the bike . As far as lubbing the none chain parts, defintely anywhere metal touches metal should be lubbed this includes where your cables go through the mounts on your bike, and where they enter the adjustment barrel, the center of your jockey wheels (the two cogged small wheels on your derailleur) the pivot point on the brakes and several other points that seem to need it.

Like NY biker, once a year or whenever I finish a cross country tour, I pay the bike store guys to take the bike aprt, clean it, relulbe and regrease everything and reassemble. Depending on the mileage, I may get a new chain, derailleur cables or brake pads as needed.

Bebe my Trek 5.2 pilot is 6 years old and has over 50,000 miles on it so I guess my system works. But then I am also a bit compulsive because I ride alone out in the country, no stores, no taxis, often no cell phone coverage, and cannot afford to have something go wrong with the bike. I also do the 7 point check before I ride- every time.

[OakLeaf]

Derailleurs yes. Just a drop of lightweight lube at every pivot whenever you clean them (yes there are a lot). Then shift up and down through the gears several times to work the lube into the moving parts, and wipe dry with a clean shop towel.

Cables maybe. If they have a teflon sleeve or coating, then no. If not, then ONLY in the housings. Usually only the chainstay housing needs any at all. Again, only a drop or two, shift several times, wipe dry.

Brifters NO. You don't want to gum up the works. Bar end or other lever shifters should get disassembled and cleaned and lubed with a very thin coating of white grease every year or two. Grip shifters, I'm not sure....

HTH.

[lph]

Basically you want lube on the inside wherever there are moving parts, but you don't want lube anywhere else where it will attract dirt and sand, especially on the outside of the chain.

[Catrin]

I clean and lube my chain regularly, and also have my LBS do a tune-up and thorough cleaning at least once a year - if I can break 3000 miles in a year I will have them do it when that happens. I am a bit unclear myself about lubing pivot points.

I check my tires and brakes carefully at every ride - I typically ride by myself and don't want to get stranded in the country with no cell phone service. I use Rock and Roll lube which does require more frequent application than some, but I like it.

[OakLeaf]

Also, a little off topic, but cleaning time is a good time to check the bottom bracket cable guide.

I've found they're only good for about 5-6,000 miles (might be better if I were more diligent about cleaning "down there" ).

Just a little visual inspection to make sure (1) it's clean, (2) the groove isn't so deep that the cable is hanging up in it, and (3) there's still enough of the guide left that the cable isn't contacting the frame.