1 First, let’s talk about the most common way people ruin their bikes:
Usually, new bikes come with a layer of oil — I mean on the chain, but that oil isn’t lubricating oil.
It should be protective machine oil, designed considering that the chain might be stored for a relatively long time, to prevent rust and corrosion. This oil is not a lubricant.
After riding for a while, you need to apply lubricant.The principle of lubrication is “too much is as bad as too little” — be sure to remember this.,
You may have seen some people’s bike chains, cassettes, etc., looking black, greasy, and sticky. That’s the most undesirable scenario — it’s a classic case of over-lubrication. Bikes in this condition easily attract dust during rides, whether on national roads or mountain trails. After prolonged riding, they become even dirtier. The sand stuck to the chain and cassette will participate in the friction as the bike moves, which will significantly accelerate the wear of the bike’s drivetrain system. We once repaired a customer’s bike that had ridden less than 3,000 km, and the Deore 9-speed 27-speed drivetrain was already worn out to the point of skipping teeth. The rear derailleur jockey wheels were ground extremely sharp, the chain had large gaps, and the teeth of the cassette and chainring were also worn to sharp points, causing severe skipping under forceful pedaling. With proper maintenance and lubrication, such a system could last at least 7,000–8,000 km, and we’ve had customers ride over 10,000 km. So don’t easily doubt the lifespan of your drivetrain system.
2 You definitely need to lubricate the chain:
Not lubricating is not an option. Wolf’s bicycle lubricant, sewing machine oil, WD-40 multi-purpose lubricant cleaner, high-end bicycle-specific lubricants — all of these can be used on a bike chain. Each has its pros and cons. Nothing is perfect; it’s just about what suits our needs and purposes. Also, pay attention to how you use them. But forget about using motorcycle oil or the like. For example, sewing machine oil is quite viscous; WD-40 has great cleaning power but isn’t very lubricating. Finish Line’s dedicated lubricant is pretty good, and some even contain Teflon or Vaseline-like wax.
They don’t stain pants, maintain lubrication well, but are expensive. Wolf’s lubricant comes in small bottles that are appropriately sized, cheap, and moderately effective... and so on. There are many options.
3 How to apply lubricant:
3.1 Only apply lubricant to the chain. Do not apply it to any other part of the bike — remember this. An extremely wrong way to ruin your bike is spraying oil into the hub, into the bottom bracket. To borrow a trendy phrase, those actions are nothing short of tragedies.
3.2 Absolutely do not spray it on the outer tire. Don’t just go spraying WD-40 everywhere. Use a rag to shield the underside of the chain and apply lubricant to the top of the chain.
3.3 The advanced level of lubrication: “dry ride, wet chain.”
What does that mean? Good lubrication is when you can’t even tell it’s been applied, rather than making the chain look greasy. As long as there’s oil between the moving links of the chain (there are usually over 110 links, haha), and no oil is visible on the outside, that’s good. The oil that’s visible on the outside easily attracts dust and sand — remember that. So it’s best to wipe the chain after applying lubricant. That’s all you need to do.
4 How often to lubricate:
Just make sure there’s always a bit of oil between the chain links. Not too much, just a little. A lack of oil is evident when the rear derailleur chain makes a noisy, squeaky sound while riding, or even shows signs of rust. That’s when you need to lubricate. If you’re planning to go on a 100 km off-road ride today, you can apply some lubricant beforehand, and you’ll clearly find the ride much smoother that day. Here’s a note: if you use WD-40, even if you apply it before setting off in the morning, then ride 100 km on the harsh trails of Qinglong Mountain on the hottest summer day, by the time you return, that lubricant will be mostly gone. But with Finish Line, you’ll be fine. Cycling is a semi-mechanized sport. Athletes rely on cooperation with their bicycles to achieve excellent results. Therefore, the bicycle becomes every cyclist’s close companion during training and competition, a weapon for achieving victory. Daily maintenance and care of the bicycle are important conditions for ensuring normal training and competition. Every cyclist should cherish and maintain their bicycle as they would their own eyes; otherwise, they cannot become an excellent cyclist.