Are You Using The RIGHT Chain Lube? | Everything You Need To Know!

You may have seen Pro’s at a triathlon with white chains or maybe you’ve considered immersive waxing for your chain? We’re diving into the world of marginal gains of chain treatments. What’s available, whether you should consider using them, and how much time they may save in your next triathlon!
Intro 0:00
Types of Chain Lubes 1:18
You don't need wet lube 4:49
Opt for a Wax Lube 5:16
Always clean and degrease 6:29
Immersive waxing a waste of time 7:27
Race day choice matters 11:23
What if it rains? 13:32
Useful Links
Submit your Photo and Video to us 👉 gtn.io/UPLOAD
Check out the GTN Shop 👉 gtn.io/TeamKit
GTN Training Plans 👉 gcn.eu/gtntp
Watch more on GTN...
📹 Road Bike Vs TT Bike 👉 • Road Bike Vs TT Bike: ...
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gtn.io/editorschoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The GTN Show 👉 gtn.io/GTNshowPlaylist
Photos: © Triathlon / Getty Images
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound / Artlist 🎵
Lightburst - Kharmea
Dusty Blinds - Lucas Pittman
#gtn #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run
The Global Triathlon Network (GTN) is the world's biggest triathlon KZbin channel, with new videos every day! GTN is for anyone who loves triathlon: from seasoned triathletes to first-timers - and everyone in between!
With the help of our former pro and Olympic medal-winning team, we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better triathlete; including videos on:
- How to swim, bike, and run faster with expert knowledge
- Try our session ideas
- Investigations into wide-ranging topics
- The best triathlon bike tech and gear with pro-know-how
- In-depth, entertaining features from the heart of the sport
- Chat, opinion and interact with us across the channel and on social media!
Join us on KZbin’s best triathlon channel to get closer to the sport and to become a better, faster and fitter triathlete!
Welcome to the Global Triathlon Network.
Thanks to our sponsors:
Canyon bikes: gtn.io/canyon-bikes
THEMAGIC5: gtn.io/TheMagic5
MET Helmets: gtn.io/MET
ON Running: gtn.io/On-Running
Orca: gtn.io/Orca
Park Tool: gtn.io/parktool
Precision Fuel & Hydration: gtn.io/PrecisionHydration
Surpas: gtn.io/Surpas
Wahoo: gtn.io/Wahoo
Zwift: gtn.io/zwift
Watch our sister channels:
Global Cycling Network - / @gcn
GCN Tech - / @gcntech
GCN Racing - / @gcnracing
GCN Italia - / @gcnitalia
GCN en Espanol - / @gcnenespanol
GCN auf Deutsch - / @gcnaufdeutsch
GCN en Francais - / @gcnenfrancais
GCN Japan - / @gcnjapan
GCN Training - / @gcntraining
Global Mountain Bike Network - / @gmbn
GMBN Racing - / @gmbnracing
GMBN Tech - / @gmbntech
Electric Mountain Bike Network - / @embn

[@hatchet427]

Did James steal Ollies "doc Bridgewood glasses"?😁

[@glenni249]

Aside from any performance gains, wax is great if you travel for races. Could bundle the bike up in the bike box and everything came out clean at the other end!

[@btmzi55]

I love how you presented this video. You're right that chain lube is a massive rabbit hole of information and I very much appreciate you cutting right to the answers of the most important questions. I especially like the explanation of immersive still being the best, but definitely not worth it for those of us who don't enjoy that long process. Well done!

[@BigDickMark]

My wife has a Proseco-flavored personal lubricant that she uses with her boyfriend, but I find it works great for bike chains, too!!

[@marathoner_Ali]

Excellent informative video. Many thanks James.

[@marksmits1911]

Hot wax is the go for me. Its amazing how clean everythings stays. Only takes about 10 mins to do it. Never looking back

[@WILDFOXRUNNING]

Amazing video James, been wanting to wax my chains on both bikes for a bit but it always seemed a bit daunting. All clear now, happy to know I don’t need all that fancy wax coating stuff to get started. cheers

[@theoisgooddog]

New to cycling and went down chain waxing rabbit hole earlier this week thinking I had to do it for my new chain. Happy to hear I can run with the waxed based lubricant for now until I’m ready to upgrade.

[@PeatySpirit]

Wax is great even for non-racers. It just keeps the drivetrain clean, so you can touch it without getting black marks everywhere. And you can use solutions instead of chaing dipping so it is not even that difficult aside form the initial chain cleaning.

[@andreemurray7039]

Ultrasonic cleaner best for chain clean . Clean chain regularly a good chain lube

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

"immersive waxing is a waste of time"... TRUE... drip waxing is quite good and two applications is very near immersive waxing

[@alisonwilks302]

That was useful . I didn’t know any of that and I always over lube my chain ❤❤❤

[@beyered1]

Wonder how long they debated removing the word chain from the title

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

best lube for bike chains would be "tears of disappointment" from every failed strava segment kom attempt 🤣

[@robertbachmann1573]

Would be good to know how many Watts can be saved with each type of lub, and lost during rain. And cost involved...

[@davidjarzynka4760]

How often should one re-appply wax lube though?

[@dominikweiss1996]

Great video, consider switching to wax, but one question coming up: I occasionally saw some corrosion on the chain when I degreased my chain and did not relubricate it with oil-based lubricant immediately afterwards. Is this probably a problem with wax based lubricants as well? And what about the cassette, do I also have to degrease it first and apply dripping wax then, or spin through the gears with the not yet dried drip on wax? #gtncoachescorner

[@usmclongrangebrainsurgeon]

I haven't lubed my bike in over a year, she's used to it by now

[@mattchay84]

If you're not racing, your time will be better spent doing something else than chain waxing.

[@5t4n5]

WD40 for me... ...nuff said! 😀

[@Gieszkanne]

How many miles or km do your chain last?

[@5t4n5]

@@Gieszkanne On a turbo, several years. Outside, i can't give an exact figure, but plenty good enough for me considering the Devon country lanes i ride down in all conditions. The thing to bear in mind is how long the maintenance takes with WD40. It's its own cleaner, so you just have to give it a spray with some fresh after each ride and wipe down with some kitchen roll and you're good to go again. If you're happy spending loads of money and time to gain a tiny few watts then go with the expensive stuff. Just buy a cheap chain and give it a go. You might enjoy the ease of use, cleaning and re-lubing. I'm 60 this year and i've been using it since forever i can remember. Love the stuff. Even Simon over on GCN always used to use and push WD40 as his favourite ever chain lube in the early days of GCN. I presume their sponsors told him to stop promoting it.

[@ODonnchadhaBrian]

I tried immersive waxing a chain once about 30 years ago. It turned out it wasn't for me.

wd cleaner once a while and then oil based lube, nothing special, since I'm not racing, it's just protection layer for my casual rides

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

@14:10... jesus man, is this sarcasm?? You are talking about using a good wel lube, but show Mucoff, which may very well be the worst wet lube available. Literally.

[@rhenceocampo3253]

Wax. Period. ZFC, ifykyk.