Hot take: Should we lube chains wet or dry before a long ride?

Had a debate with my buddy Tom at the shop last weekend. He swears by dry lube even in wet conditions because it picks up less grit, but I've always done wet lube before a 50-mile ride in the rain. He showed me his chain after a rainy century with dry lube and it was way cleaner than mine. What's your go-to for a wet forecast?

3 comments

3 Comments

bennett.mason13d ago

Man people really overthink this stuff huh. Honest question though does it even matter that much for a regular weekend ride or are we just arguing about something that makes no real difference. Dry lube in the rain works fine if you reapply after the ride but wet lube is just thicker and lasts longer so pick one and go ride your bike. Grit buildup is real I guess but unless you're racing for money who cares if your chain gets a little dirty after 50 miles. Clean it when you get home and move on with your life...

robinson.hannah13d ago

Ngl I'm the queen of overthinking this stuff and then immediately contradicting myself. Last weekend I spent an hour researching chain lubes online, then just grabbed whatever was cheapest at the shop and called it a day. My chain's probably crying in the corner but it still moves when I pedal so I guess we're good. The grit buildup argument always makes me laugh because half my bike is already covered in mud from the trail, the chain being a little gritty is the least of its problems. I'm convinced 90% of bike maintenance debates are just an excuse to procrastinate actually riding.

grantf7311d ago

Wait, do you actually clean your chain after every single ride though?