Chain lubes are highly divisive amongst the mountain bikers I know. While some riders have their chosen lube for all conditions, others are on a constant search for the ideal chain lubricant. Used fork oil, brake fluid, olive oil, chainsaw oil… some will try anything!
I tested Green Oil late in 2010 and was very pleased with the product, its ethos, and the result. But does that make it perfect? Far from it. Conditions vary too often for me to believe that there is one lube to rule them all.
MSC Pro Oil has come across the work bench recently, and is of note for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s thin enough to get well in the chain. Next up, the container is small enough to be discrete in a jersey pocket for a long or wet Marathon or Stage. So far, so good. Despite the horrific conditions that have caused devastation around Australia this summer, Sydney has been pretty agreeable. Yes, three weeks ago was like riding in an oven. But we haven’t flooded, burnt, had a cyclone or locust swarm. In these dry conditions the Pro Oil does collect a little bit too much dust for my liking. But it doesn’t profess to be a dry lube. And the lube does stay on there.
The chain lube needed to be used ‘under pressure’ – so it was on the bike for last weekends Otway Odyssey – a wet and muddy affair by all accounts. For me, a chain lube then needs to be judged on three things in a race:
Durability: It has to last an acceptable amount of time. This usually dictates a wet lube of some kind
Clean: It has to run pretty clean. This comes down to using the right amount though. This is learnt in time with any lube, but partly comes down to application. I swear by putting a small drop on each roller, pedaling it in, and wiping it off with your work mates spare T-shirt.
Shifting Performance: This is less tangible. But the right lube makes your shifting feel fast!
The MSC Pro Oil came up pretty well on all three. Although it is a little bit messy, when applied properly it lasted nicely. Due to the small, soft bottle, I was able to reapply more lube while on the bike. Sometime in the 20km Super Loop it was easy enough to reach down and lube the chain as it ran over the chainring.
I did experience some chainsuck, but not much. There was mud everywhere, so that comes with the territory. In the post race clean up, there wasn’t too much build up on the jockey wheels and in the cassette. Plus, it has a reasonably low viscosity, so it got through the whole chain well. My bike felt A LOT better once I relubed at the Otway.
All in, I liked it. As a lube, I prefer the Green Oil at the moment. But the small container that was easy to carry and use while racing was a big bonus. As stated, chain lube is personal. But If you ride in environments that aren’t super dry, it may be worth checking out.