Maintenance- Post cleaning ( lubricating and water dispersal)

After cleaning your attention should be turned to drying and lubing. A water disperser – such as GT85 - is used to help drive moisture out of components where it could sit and cause harm. These products are generally aerosols to force it into hard to reach areas. Water dispersers are not recommended as lubricant, but they can be used to protect components by wiping over the exterior surfaces.The lubricant on your chain is its only defence from the elements and helps it to run more smoothly, with no irritating squeaks! Chain lube comes in many different forms.Modern oils are synthetic and often Teflon based, they are often referred to as a dry lube as they are not sticky to the touch. This stops the chain picking up grit. It also means that the adhesion to the chain is not so good in wet conditions. Wax based lubes fall into a similar category, dry to the touch, clean but not as resistant to water wash-out.When deciding on the correct type of oil to use, a number of factors should be considered, mainly the type of bike, the time of year and the conditions in which the bike is predominantly used. For example road bikes do not require ‘heavy’ oils even in the worst conditions and the cleaner wax or Teflon based ‘dryer’ formulas are sufficient all year round. A mountain biker will need to choose a different type of oil to cope with mud but will need to consider whether the oil will ‘fling’ which can cause problems with modern disc brake systems. Very little oil goes a long way on a drive train as it is constantly turning and the oil will transfer to each of the components. By only applying fresh oil to a cleaned chain the life of your components can be extended.