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Keeping
your bike parts properly lubricated is crucial for good performance.
Lubrication protects moving parts from excessive wear caused by
friction and keeps rust and corrosion from attacking exposed metal
components.
 Be
careful, though -- over-lubricating can lead to poor performance
and component damage (excess lubricant can attract dirt and other
abrasive particles). As a general rule, excess lube should always
be carefully wiped away before the bicycle is ridden.
When lubricating a number of parts at once, remember the order
in which you apply the lubricants. Wiping off excess lube in the
same order will give the lubricants time to soak in.
Frequency of lubrication
To keep a bike and all its parts in good condition, you must 'lube'
it regularly. For those who ride their bikes daily this means
about once a week in winter and every 2 weeks in summer. For those
who ride perhaps weekly or monthly, monthly will suffice. Certainly
lube your bike after every washing.
When you lubricate your bike, be sure to use lubricants that are
suited to the weather conditions you'll be riding in. Rainy areas
require more durable bike oils, while drier areas require lighter
oils that won't pick up as much dirt. Also keep in mind that wetter
conditions typically require more frequent lubrications.
What to do
Spray lube the brake pivots being careful to not get it on the
pads or rims.
Spray lube the centre of the jockey wheels to keep them running
smoothly.
Lube
each of the main pivots on the rear derailleur, the top pivot
and the chain cage pivot. Then wipe them lightly.
Lube the front derailleur. Lube around the chain cage and the
gear shifters. Lube any point where the inner gear cable turns
a corner.
Your chain is your bike's most "at risk" lubricated part. It should
be lubricated frequently (to slow the rate of chain wear), and
will benefit from being removed from your bike from time to time
to be thoroughly cleaned in a solvent and re-oiled. The more frequently
you lube your chain however, the less necessary off-bike cleanings
will be.
In general, you should lubricate your chain whenever it squeaks
or appears "dry." Lubing after wet rides will help keep your chain
from rusting. Keep in mind that the type of chain lube you use
will affect how often you need to lubricate. The chain should
be soaked with whatever type of lube you choose to use, follow
the instructions given. Give it time to penetrate and dry if necessary.
Lube the brake levers on the pivots. Pull the brake lever so you
can lube the brake cable. If you leave the nipple dry, the cable
may fray, so lube it also.
Lube all of the cables. Cables connect your brake and the derailleur
assemblies to the levers you use to control them. They should
be checked frequently (especially in wet conditions) and re-lubricated
from time to time..
Hint for lubing gear cables.
Place your gears in the lowest gear (at the back, the largest
chain ring), and then use your gear lever to effectively 'change
up' to the highest gear (at the back, the smallest ring). This
has the affect of providing a considerable amount of 'slack' for
the cable to be easily lubricated.
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