For a bicycle, the only thing that can drive it to run is to make it through a chain or a belt. Of course, most bicycles on the market are still driven by chains. Then when the chain runs in the transmission system, the insufficiently lubricated chain will increase the friction between the metal and the metal. And cause unnecessary wear, but the excessively lubricated chain will be covered with dust and sand particles, which will also increase the Friction wears out the drivetrain. Therefore, when choosing chain oil, you should choose a chain oil that is suitable for you according to your own bike using scene. For players who often participate in competitions, the required chain oil can be selected according to the weather and road conditions.

When it comes to chain oil, finding the one that’s right for you is not that easy because there are so many brands to choose from that offer a range of different types of chain oil. The right choice of chain oil can make the transmission between the chain and the flywheel, chainring, and guide pulley smoother, and maintain the best shifting performance. It also helps prevent corrosion and reduces friction and drivetrain wear. Below, we also summarize several different types of bicycle-specific chain oils for your reference, including wet chain oil, dry chain oil, ceramic chain oil and waxy chain oil. For non-riders, peak speed and efficiency are not the ultimate goal, and reducing drivetrain wear and thus extending the life of components can better save some unnecessary costs. For the rider, proper cleaning and effective lubrication can make the drivetrain work at its optimum efficiency.

Before the bicycle chain is oiled, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove the remaining oil stains and “sludge”.

Ceramicspeed launches UFO Drip Chain Oil with a retail price of €70, possibly the most expensive chain oil on the market. However, budget-conscious riders will consider the cost of maintaining the drivetrain when purchasing chain oil. For example, cheap chain oil can end up costing more than expensive chain oil. Chain oil leads to reduced efficiency and increased drivetrain wear, so in the long run, the need to replace bicycle wear parts more frequently will undoubtedly be much more expensive than using high-efficiency chain oil.

Dry chain oil is mainly designed for dry conditions. The oil is relatively diluted and easy to clean. Dry chain oil reduces friction through lubrication and is not easy to absorb sand particles, thus ensuring the working efficiency of the transmission system. However, the disadvantage of dry chain oil is that it is usually easily washed away by rain in rainy days, and the durability is not very high. The oiling cycle can be judged by the friction sound of the chain and the transmission system.

Wet chain oil can be used in relatively humid weather. The composition of wet chain oil contains a lot of lubricants, so it usually contains a lot of high-viscosity synthetic oil and additives such as PTFE, but this kind of chain oil is easy to absorb a lot of sand and gravel dust particles. More lubricant is available with this type of chain oil, and the high viscosity means this type of lubricant is more durable and less likely to be washed off the chain in the presence of water. The disadvantage is that it is easy to absorb a large amount of sand and gravel dust particles, especially if it is used excessively, it will cause the chain to form a “sandpaper”-like existence and wear out the transmission system. So, the best practice for this type of chain oil is to apply a small amount of oil to each link in the chain, let it penetrate the axle face, and wipe the excess oil off the surface of the chain before riding.

Compared to standard wet chain oils, ceramic chain oils provide the best performance in all-weather environments. Muc-Off previously launched ceramic lubricants, saying that their ceramic chain oils contain tiny “ceramic particles” and use long distances. Resistant polymers that provide amazing durability and, more importantly, a petroleum-free eco-protective formula that is environmentally friendly . This type of chain oil is more expensive, but it is also pointed out that the reduction in friction will extend the life of the drivetrain, resulting in overall cost savings.

When many people worry about whether to use dry or wet chain oil because of the weather, the introduction of waxy chain oil seems to be a perfect solution to this problem. Waxy chain oils are paraffin-based formulations that maintain high lubricity over time and are easy to clean. Maintaining optimum lubrication in all weather conditions, the dry wax layer creates a protective dust-free effect that prevents friction-increasing contaminants from adhering to the chain and getting inside the chain or staining the drivetrain. However, wax chain oil requires strict cleaning of the chain before the first use, otherwise the wax will hardly adhere to the chain perfectly, which means that even a brand-new chain must be completely removed from the oil stains. It is recommended to allow the wax to completely dry and harden on the chain after applying the chain oil (preferably overnight).