Is there such a thing. This year I tried to start using the Pedros oily formula a bit earlier but still. Gone to my bikes now and can see hints of rust peering through.

What's worked for you. I'm getting sick of it now and I think I lose a chain or 2 each winter to the thing (rust)

I've long since given up worrying about a little bit of surface rust - after all, it's just on the surface

A mixture of chainsaw lube and white spirits. Just keep applying before each ride until all moving parts have a thick black protective coating.

finish lime wet lube is the best i have ever used in winter.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fin ... p-prod1041


it lasts a couple of weeks in the wet/grime of this time of year.

Have you tried dry lube?

Wet lube in the summer picks up all the dust and creates a right mess, so in that basis, a wet lube in the winter will pick up salt particles and create rust

Tend to use dry lube all year except when it’s absolutely pissing it down

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:06 pm Have you tried dry lube?

Wet lube in the summer picks up all the dust and creates a right mess, so in that basis, a wet lube in the winter will pick up salt particles and create rust

Tend to use dry lube all year except when it’s absolutely pissing it down

Dry lube is the worst. Hence i don't bother wiv Smoove over winter. A full drivetrain (it was Campag Veloce and nit designed for hard graft i suppose) was binned after a long December ride a few years prior. My fault partly as I got home and just 'shedded' it for a few weeks

I use normal chain lube on the rollers then brush the chain plates and cassette with ACF50 to control corrosion, works a treat. I’ve a little pot with a paint brush in it, if I get in and haven’t the time to deal with properly I’ll give it another quick brush with the ACF 50.

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:38 pm

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:06 pm Have you tried dry lube?

Wet lube in the summer picks up all the dust and creates a right mess, so in that basis, a wet lube in the winter will pick up salt particles and create rust

Tend to use dry lube all year except when it’s absolutely pissing it down

Dry lube is the worst. Hence i don't bother wiv Smoove over winter. A full drivetrain (it was Campag Veloce and nit designed for hard graft i suppose) was binned after a long December ride a few years prior. My fault partly as I got home and just 'shedded' it for a few weeks

Funny how we have different experiences of more or less the same problem

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:46 pm I use normal chain lube on the rollers then brush the chain plates and cassette with ACF50 to control corrosion, works a treat. I’ve a little pot with a paint brush in it, if I get in and haven’t the time to deal with properly I’ll give it another quick brush with the ACF 50.

this made me laff so much. Only cos I was thinking to myself, 'but you're Steve'. Who else buys pedals at £400 and tiny tents for £700 That's too complex for me but I might read it again (a few times) and if it sounds simples enough I might give it a try...

ACF50, isn't that that motorcycle stuff?

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:57 pm

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:38 pm

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:06 pm Have you tried dry lube?

Wet lube in the summer picks up all the dust and creates a right mess, so in that basis, a wet lube in the winter will pick up salt particles and create rust

Tend to use dry lube all year except when it’s absolutely pissing it down

Dry lube is the worst. Hence i don't bother wiv Smoove over winter. A full drivetrain (it was Campag Veloce and nit designed for hard graft i suppose) was binned after a long December ride a few years prior. My fault partly as I got home and just 'shedded' it for a few weeks

Funny how we have different experiences of more or less the same problem

I was thinking the same thing about what Stu said about 'just' surface rust. Mine definitely doesn't end up as soley surface rust. Might be that Welsh roads don't get gritted or that I'm an ex bus driver so always recall that bus routes get gritted first. Hence alwaay try to use the bus routes (not to be comfused with lanes) as much as I can find...

Interesting responses so far and sounds like I'm probably asking a bit much of my lubes

Chain L (or whatever it's called... about 30£ a tiny bottle and reviewed as 'leaves a black sticky residue' on the chain...) might be what I needs

Shaf, maybe try some motorbike chain wax. Just spray it on and leave it. Pretty much covers everything and won't wash off.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:28 pm Shaf, maybe try some motorbike chain wax. Just spray it on and leave it. Pretty much covers everything and won't wash off.

That might just be the ticket. Hadn't thought of that thanks

Piss taking aside shaf, ACF50 is VERY good stuff
https://www.airpart.co.uk/page/acf50?ne ... 9CEALw_wcB

It forms a thin film and really stops rust, used it on motorbikes when I commuted all year round and lived 50 yards from the sea, it works.

Skoosh with a hose (or other water sprayer) as soon as you get home and spray with WD40 etc. Then lube as normal. Only way you can keep a mint chain mint in the winter. Finish line ceramic wax is my current dry lube - seems to be much more resilient than others.

BigdummySteve wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 10:52 pm Piss taking aside shaf, ACF50 is VERY good stuff
https://www.airpart.co.uk/page/acf50?ne ... 9CEALw_wcB

It forms a thin film and really stops rust, used it on motorbikes when I commuted all year round and lived 50 yards from the sea, it works.

Reminds me of my motorbiking/DHing mate. Each time we'd finish a ride he'd wash it and apply some of that weldtite stuff. ACF50, might have to look into that...

Squirt all year round.

I've tried all the main brands, many people have recommended here and come back to squirt. Works well and keeps the chain far cleaner than oil lubes.

mattpage wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:43 pm Squirt all year round.

I've tried all the main brands, many people have recommended here and come back to squirt. Works well and keeps the chain far cleaner than oil lubes.

I'm using Squirt on my gravel bike and it is a lot cleaner than wet lubes. I've found I have to use a lot of it and reapply it often though and I'm still getting some surface rust on the chain (although the rollers and working surfaces are lubed and rust free).
I'm still using Finish Line green on my mountain bikes but the riding in this area is so wet and muddy that there's never any left on the chain by the time I finish a ride.

I've never had Squirt last long enough. I've followed all the application guidelines and it's usually washed off completely by the end of a decent ride.

I found quite by accident that Purple Extreme works well - lbs had it half price.
It is thin enough to 'seek' its way in under the rollers then dries after dripping on the garage floor or wheel rim depending how the bike is leaning overnight.

Never understood spraying with WD40 as it is a water displacer which you have to wash off?
I back pedal the chain through a rag with GT35 sprayed on then lube. It does not get right in under the rollers but what does?

I also treat a chain as a consumable item and like guitar strings change it once a year - whether it needs it or not.
I also buy chains when ever I see them on discount so always got a new in the parts box.

Purple Extreme is my current favourite. Availability is patchy though, so I bought 3 bottles last time. TBH I obviously apply it more sparingly than you do as there is never any drippage.

I have some ACF50 but not considered using it on my bicycle. Was for the motorbike

I've done one round of Putoline and so far seems OK, too early to say for sure though

I changed to Putoline motor cycle wax last year after getting fed up with going through so many chains in Dorsets sandy tracks. Its a bit of a faff and initial investment but I've been really satisfied with the results. I do nothing to the chain between rides, no washing, no wiping, just left alone. The XT chain I waxed three months ago still only has a chain growth of 0.25. I see no reason to back to the wet/dry lube approach.

jobro wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 12:58 pm I changed to Putoline motor cycle wax last year after getting fed up with going through so many chains in Dorsets sandy tracks. Its a bit of a faff and initial investment but I've been really satisfied with the results. I do nothing to the chain between rides, no washing, no wiping, just left alone. The XT chain I waxed three months ago still only has a chain growth of 0.25. I see no reason to back to the wet/dry lube approach.

This sounds really interesting. Might get myself some of that. I hate cleaning chains and the Smoove through the other months gets me about 800 miles between cleans/relubes...

Wow, I clean and relube after every ride in winter.