- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
Self-cleaning jockey wheels!
Someone with materials science fu, please .... invent them.
Failing that, I'm looking to hire one or two tiny-fingered elves.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- David9694 1 hour 18 min ago
Wiveliscombe residents urged to join community protest against new car parking charges...
- Drinfinity 1 hour 32 min ago
EE have just offered me TNT sports and Disco+ as part of my mobile package as an add-on, for 2 years. Seemed too good to be true, but it is real....
- Rendel Harris 2 hours 11 min ago
If you've still got the pedals there seem to plenty of cleats on eBay starting at around £14 a pair - I don't know if they are any good but worth a...
- wtjs 2 hours 37 min ago
a loss of concentration is often accepted as mitigation...
- Rendel Harris 3 hours 6 min ago
It's not the first country to spring to mind I admit but Ridley make some very nice mountainbikes that are being used by the KMC team.
- Fatbagman 3 hours 18 min ago
Someone should point out that Sky lose money on their football channels, how does that fit into the bull they put out? And as for watching free to...
- Rendel Harris 3 hours 20 min ago
To measure chain wear with a ruler you have to be able to measure so precisely that you can tell the difference, measuring from the exact centre of...
- BikingBud 3 hours 27 min ago
"However, he said he was running late and decided to turn left into Norwich Avenue to avoid congestion, when he heard a bang which he said sounded...
- David9694 5 hours 2 min ago
Salisbury Shopmobility to reopen after car crashed into wall...
- Rendel Harris 5 hours 20 min ago
The bars are included although they are apparently 400 mm in all sizes which won't suit everybody. From a recent picture (below) of Astana's...
Add new comment
14 comments
Thanks, I shall try that on my dry weather bike. Would be nice not to have that black gunk all over the shiny silver alloy Athena parts.
I'm using this stuff:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/squirt-chain-lube-120ml/?sku=5360593459
r.e. the comment about a new chain, unless you degreased it first that was probably your problem.
When I switched to a wax based lube, I degreased my chain (had about 1000 miles on it) a couple of times (which with hindsight was possibly still not enough, it took 3-4 applications of wax before the oil was all gone). I then applied the wax to the inside of the chain fairly liberally, before giving it a good spin to get rid of the excess + a wipe down; basically you just want the inner rollers coated in wax.
I always do this after a ride so it has a chance to penetrate and dry out before riding it again.
After a ride I just clean the chain with a old rag - no degreaser or anything else required, before re-applying the wax lube.
I've not done a huge amount of wet miles on this (best bike + weekend warrior). I'll admit I've no plans to switch to wax for my winter bike, wet lube all the way there.
I've tried wax once, applied to a brand new chain, and it made the entire drive train feel rather noisy and rumble-y. Then again, there may be nuances to using wax instead of normal lube that were lost on me, I'll happily admit I may have been doing it wrong.
Are there specific products you can recommend? Things, apart from wiping off the excess after a ride, that someone can easily get wrong when using wax?
Totally up for trying wax based lubes again - I mean, if wax is good enough for my legs it may be good for my chains too ...
... in the meantime I'll be at the bottom of my garden with the butterfly net trying to catch me some of them elves. They're quickly moving little buggers!
I've switched to wax based lubricants from oil, they are a teeny bit more effort to use (you need to wipe of excess wax after a ride) but you retain a nice shiny chain and there's no oil to get everywhere.
I spend 10 minutes after a ride wiping off the excess and re-applying the wax, once you get practised it's not especially onerous.
If you are a weekend warrior I'd recommend trying wax. For commuting/everyday usage I'd think it's probably a little to much effort.
Do I dip the elves in oil instead?
Don't use oily stuff on your chain and the problem goes away.
Erm - you mean, like, chain lube? What do you use?
But I want elves
Clean the drive train after every ride. Spray WD40 generously over the jockey wheels, then with a cloth between your thumb and fore finger gentle grip the exposed part of the jockey wheel while turning the crank. Comes clean in seconds. If you need a toothbrush you are not looking after the drive chain enough. Also doe not need any elves.
Pffft... lifes too short or you don't ride enough or you have a personal mechanic or don't work.
or you're just a lazy git
They're pretty easy to take off so you can give them a real good scrub.
old tooth brush
