New bike saddle got wet

[Swan]

Ooooh, thanks everyone! I've been keeping my bike in the shed with a seat cover as usual, but yesterday whilst riding the windy conditions turned into a bitter cold rain. I looked around for some WD40 (or something!) to grease down the chain and other metal bits with after wiping them down, and my dad handed me some unmarked bottle of something that he promised would get the job done............... Unfortunately I don't trust my da that much! So can anyone please recommend a good bike lube, and possibly something to use in the mean-time? The not-so-LBS sells only two types (and I've already forgotten the names), but I'm thinking it would be cheaper to just order something online. I just really don't know what this is my dad has handed me... it smells like motor oil or engine grease or something.

[OakLeaf]

The main thing with bike lubes is you don't want stuff that's going to attract grit. As far as lubes your family might have lying around the house, gun oil or sewing machine oil are lightweight enough to serve. WD-40 is (as its name suggests) a water displacing penetrant, not so much a lubricant. It attracts tons of grit. I don't recommend it on bikes, except on a rag used (with nitrile gloves!) to take road tar off your frame before washing. It's a good thing to use on tools at the end of a season or when they'll be stored for a few months without being used...

There are as many opinions about lubricants as there are riders and riding conditions. My personal choice is Pedro's soybean-based Go! (lightweight for dry conditions) or Chainj (heavier for muddy or rainy conditions).

Whatever you use, make sure to wipe off any excess THOROUGHLY. The parts you're lubricating are between the plates and pins of the chain, inside the moving parts of the derailleurs and brakes. Any bit of oil left on the outside surfaces will just attract grit, that will work its way inside and cause wear.

[Swan]

Oh gosh, thanks. I was just about to bike to the store to get WD-40. Glad I saw this in time!

[Seajay]

Oh gosh, thanks. I was just about to bike to the store to get WD-40. Glad I saw this in time!

Any hardware shop should have TRI FLOW. Not the greatest durability in the rain but 100000x better than WD40. Beyond that any bike shop should have a years supply of chain lube like FINISH LINE WET for about $6