SMOOVE Long Lasting Universal Bicycle Chain Lubricant for MTB, Road, CX, Etc. 125ml

Product Information

Smoove Prep was specially formulated (aren't they all?) to clean, dissolve and neutralise the company's own Universal Chain Lube and be far more effective than other degreasers, so you need less of it. A bottle contains enough degreaser for cleaning the drivetrain 10 times. I was able to make it last longer by using it more sparingly with satisfying results. I have half a dozen bottles of dry lube products on the shelf in the workshop, none of which have ever run out, for the simple reason that none of them work effectively so I don't use them. Typically, 40 to 60 miles is all I get before the grinding transmission becomes noticeable. In some memorably wet rides that's been even less. In short, it's up to you whether you want to invest more in a good chain lubricant, which may have a higher initial cost than others. It is worth thinking about, especially for mid and higher-tier groupsets which most performance road bikes generally have.

Oh boy, you wouldn't like how I got only 500 miles out of my last chain (Shimano HG40) before it was stretched 1%. That's with obsessive wiping after every ride. On a city bike.However, for the habitually lazy or fair-weather cyclist, a dry lube is going to be the preferred option.

As with any products, you should follow the instructions because generally it’s recommended to start with a clean chain before applying lube, rather than just layering it up. Do I really need to lube my chain? Unless your bike ride is planned to take place underwater, we’d recommend steering well clear of using grease on your chain. Do aerosol lubes work? While Smoove doesn’t make any specific claims about how long its lube lasts, as this can vary based on the amount of lube used, chain prep and riding conditions, Deyzel told BikeRadar he’s seen gravel grinders get up to 435mi / 700km, roadies get 620 mi / 1,000km and MTBers get 250mi / 400km out of a single application.Some lubricants are also sold as aerosols, but we wouldn’t recommend these for lubricating chains because they’re very difficult to apply precisely. If you’re thinking, “That sounds like quite a lot of hassle…”, you wouldn’t be wrong. It is, at least initially.