Mountain Bike Chain Lube Guide

Mountain biking puts a unique stress on chains that we don't see in a lot of other cycling disciplines.  The biggest factor is that mountain biking is done almost exclusively on dirt which means dirt and debris can get added to the chain and cause more wear than riding in clean road conditions.  Mountain biking is also typically more of an on-off style of riding where the power spikes get much higher followed by coasting, rather than a steadier lower power output.  Mixing the high power spikes with dirt means that you are more likely to create excess wear if you have poor lubrication practices.

There are three main types of lubricant options, Wet Lube, Dry Lube, and Wax Lubricant. and all of them have the pros and cons.  Wet lubricant is a great friction and noise reducer, but will likely attract much more dirt leading to premature wear.  Dry lube is typically about 90-95% carrier and 5-10% PTFE powder which is how it is a "dry" lubricant.  It doesn't attract much dirt as there is no actual oil to lubricate the chain.  Typically it will wear out rather quickly, provide mediocre at best lubrication properties, and is the fastest wearing lubricant category.  

Chain Wax is going to be the fastest, cleanest, and lubricant that gives you the best chain longevity.  The only real downside is that in really dusty conditions, you can get a little more noise on the cassette, but water typically will quiet that down rather quickly.

Chain lube application is unique to the type of lubricant that you are using.  It can make a big difference in the performance you can expect from the lubricant.  We will outline the different styles below.

The application instructions for wax are two fold.  If you are using Secret Chain Blend, you can heat your pot to 75c and let the chain sit in the pot for 5-10 minutes before hanging the chain to cool before installing.  If you are using Super Secret Drip Wax, you simply drop one drop per link on the chain, then allow it to dry for 4-8 hours.  Do not wipe wax lubricants off the chain.

The best tip for applying a dry chain lube is to open the trash can lid and toss that bottle in there.  Dry lube really has no place in cycling.  It is full of carcinogens and is an all around bad lubricant.  If you must use it for some reason, you would want to apply it the same way as a wet lubricant.

For the ultimate care of your drivetrain on your Mountain Bike, we have two recommended solutions.  For most situations we typically find the Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax, or Secret Chain Blend with an Endurance Chip to be the best options, but there are some times when Secret Chain Blend with a Speed Chip or Synergetic Chain Lube can be the best option as well.

SILCA's Synergetic Chain Lube is the best oil lubricant ever tested by Zero Friction Cycling's independent testing.  It is extremely long lasting, efficient, and quiet.  It can be a great option for top up applications mid ride, if you don't want to strip the chain prior to lubricating like is required on wax, or if you are willing to take premature wear to have a quieter lubricant in ultra dusty conditions.  

Born out of a desire to bring the efficiency of hot wax to a more user friendly option, Super Secret Chain Lube is the go to option for ease of use with cleanliness and efficiency still being high on the list of priorities.  It can really only be beaten by one option.

Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax is really the ultimate option for mountain bike chain lubrication.  It is going to be the fastest, cleanest, and the option that will keep your drivetrain working the longest.  It can be topped up with Super Secret Chain Lube or reapply Secret Chain Blend.  

In most conditions Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax is going to be the best option for the mountain bike.  The exceptions to the rule are if you often ride in very wet conditions without access to clean/dry the bike after your ride, or if you are in very fine dust conditions and you would prefer to trade chain longevity for a bit of noise.  

To learn more about the best chain lube for your mountain bike, you can check out our Youtube Channel or click on any of the products listed below to find out more!