Monday, September 6, 2010

Mix your own bike chain lubricant

Chain lubrication has often been the subject of heated debates.  For the most part, this is much ado about nothing.  Unless you're riding 11 speed Campy (and therefore want to do what you can to protect your $85 chain and $500 cassette), any lubricant should be fine---even the much maligned WD-40.  WD-40 may get the job done, but it isn't a very tenacious lubricant and better options are readily available.  All commercial chain lubes (that I know of) contain the same basic mixture:  a lubricant thinned by an evaporating solvent.

For the past two years I've been using mostly White Lightning, which is a wax based lubricant.  White Lightning required a lot of attention, but allowed me to keep my chains clean and helped me get good mileage out of my drivetrain components.  My LBS was out of White Lightning last time I stopped in, so I decided to make my own chain lubricant. 

The most commonly cited mixture for homebrew chain lubricant is a mixture of odorless mineral spirits and 30 weight motor oil.  The two most commonly cited mixtures are 1:1 and 3 parts mineral spirits to 1 part motor oil.  I decided to split the difference and just eyeball the mixture so that it was between the two.

For $15.05, I made 160 oz. of chain lubricant (compared to $12 for 8 oz. of White Lightning).

After a week of use, I really like this lubricant!  It is much more tenacious than White Lightning---and also seems to lubricate more effectively!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kool Stop Salmon Brake Pads


It is a great mystery of cycling why so many brake pads suck so badly.  I've had brake pads "melt" in a single rainy ride, cover my rims in disgusting brake pad goop, pick up debris and grind my rims, squeal irreparably, and fail to stop my bicycle.  This mystery is compounded by the fact that these aren't merely cheap, generic, or stock brake pads---I've had these experiences with Tektro and Shimano Ultegra brake pads as well!

The only brake pads that have ever worked for me are Kool Stop Salmon pads.  They offer more stopping power, last longer, don't squeal, don't pickup debris, etc.  

The greatest mystery is why they're so hard to find!