Why does nobody talk about how chain lube attracts dirt way more than it should?

I had this customer last month, a guy named Dave who rides 20 miles every weekend on gravel. He came in complaining his drivetrain sounded like a coffee grinder. I took one look and his chain was caked in this black gritty paste, like the lube turned into sandpaper glue. He told me he always applies it wet and lets it sit overnight before wiping. I asked how much he uses and he said 3 full squirts per link. So I showed him how 1 drop per roller plus a 5 minute wipe down cuts the grime by 80%. He looked at me like I was speaking alien. Has anyone else noticed people just dump lube on and hope for the best?

2 comments

2 Comments

andrew_nguyen644d ago

Three squirts per link? I'm surprised his chain wasn't dripping like a leaky faucet. Did he think more lube automatically means more protection or is he just scared of metal-on-metal noise? I've seen guys who treat their chain like a deep fryer and then act shocked when it turns into a grinding paste. What exactly goes through their head when they see that black sludge forming?

the_barbara4d ago

Honestly, you've got a point about overdoing it, but I've seen worse from guys who barely lube at all and end up trashing a chain in a month. Ngl, sometimes a little extra is just peace of mind, not necessarily a death sentence for the drivetrain.