In a jog around Central Park Monday afternoon, I saw four cyclists and maybe ten runners. If you can stay warm, you have the park all to yourself.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Wed, 01/22/2003 - 6:51am
Wed, 01/22/2003 - 8:58am
#1
At least it's sunny
On my commute north on RSD this morning, I saw one other cyclist heading south.
Like our bodies, the bike doesn’t work well in the cold. There’s a delayed reaction (rear derailler) when I downshift for the hills. It takes a few seconds to switch gears and sometimes it won’t switch at all, or it will decide to jump gears without shifting. (Quite annoying)
Does anybody know of a better chain lube than White Lightning? It tends to gunk up below 20 degrees. Thanks in advance.
Tomorrow will be the coldest day in years, the roads are clear but the Hudson is icing up by the GWB. Stay warm and stock up on groceries or extra tip for the food delivery guy.
–year round commuter
I need a Gortex jock?
Wed, 01/22/2003 - 11:29am
#2
ProLink (nm)
Wed, 01/22/2003 - 2:45pm
#3
Tri-Flow (nm)
Thu, 01/23/2003 - 7:43am
#4
pedro's syn-lube
actual oil! wet lube, what a concept. it's messier, but it lasts longer and works in the cold.
btw -- shifting? what's that? ride a single-speed!
Thu, 01/23/2003 - 8:14am
#5
Snake Oil
"Prolink is the new White Lightning. WL was the new Pedro's. Perdro's was the new Boeshield. And so on...
What you lube your chain with won't make a dang bit of difference in your ride, barring any placebo effect. And it's got nothing to do with shifting.
Unless your drivetrain is getting slushed or iced up, cold should have no effect. Maybe that ""delayed reaction"" was in your frozen fingers!
"
Thu, 01/23/2003 - 9:00am
#6
Sorry, not so
"For colder weather, an oil based lubricant works much better. White Ligthning (WL) is waxed based and the manufactuer recommends not using it below 50F. Instead they recommend WL RaceDay which does contain some oil.
If you still do not trust what you read, take a bottle of WL and for that matter a bottle of some other oil based lube and leave them both outside overnight and judge for yourself the next morning. Before you do, I recommend sticking a wick in the WL bottle.
Even snake oil would indeed work better in this frigid weather than WL. (Let's hope by St. Patty's day things warm up so I don't stand corrected ;-) Judging from PT Barnum's girth, I doubt he did much winter cycling anyway..."
Thu, 01/23/2003 - 9:21am
#7
OIL!!!
"I concur. The waxed based lubes are not effective in the cold. The wax just gunks up, especially on the pulleys. And it is much like a candle ;-)
Wet, oil lubes work much better. And, contrary to the thought of these oil based lubes being messy, if you just apply a bit, let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight, it permeates the chain. Wipe off the excess and it's clean. During your rides, the chain will ""bleed"" the absorbed oil, and the road grime too. A simple wipe again, and it's clean. If there is alot of grime, q-tips in the links cleans them.
Good luck and stay warm."
Thu, 01/23/2003 - 10:16am
#8
10W30
Buy a quart of 10W30 motor oil. It works better than White Lightning and the quart will last a lifetime. Put a drop on each link, turn the pedals a few times, and wipe off the excess.
Oh, and never lube a dirty chain. That forces the dirt and grit inside the chain where it will accelerate wear.
Art
