Whether you ride to work, into town or out into the countryside, your bike faces every kind of weather, and spring and autumn often mean rain, puddles and soaked tracks. Water quickly washes ordinary lube away, the chain starts to squeak and orange rust appears on the links.
To keep the drivetrain quiet and long-lived, match the lube to the conditions. Wet weather calls for a formula that resists washing off and protects the metal from corrosion. Here is how to apply it correctly.
What you will need
Important: Keep lube and cleaners off brake discs, pads and rim braking surfaces. Cover the brakes with a rag and wipe off any stray spray straight away.
Step 1
Put the bike on a stand
Mount the bike so the rear wheel spins freely, which makes it easy to lube the whole chain. If you are working outdoors or in a garage, lay down cardboard or newspaper so drips do not reach the floor and clean-up takes a minute.
Step 2
Clean the chain thoroughly
Never lube a dirty chain. Shake WD-40 Specialist Bike Degreaser and spray it onto the chain while slowly backpedalling. It dissolves dirt, old lube and deposits. Scrub stubborn grime between the links with a soft brush and wipe the dissolved mess away with a rag.
Let the chain dry completely afterwards. If you washed the bike with water, WD-40 Multi-Use quickly drives moisture out of the links; wipe the chain dry after using it.
Step 3
Apply wet chain lube
Shake the bottle of WD-40 Specialist Bike Wet Chain Lube well. Carefully apply it along the whole inner side of the chain while backpedalling so it reaches every link. This lube penetrates deeply, protects against rust and keeps working in wet conditions.
Step 4
Let the lube soak in
Leave the lube for a few minutes to spread over the entire chain. Meanwhile, shift through a few gears while turning the pedals. Then run a clean rag over the outside of the chain: excess on the outside only collects sand and mud.
Step 5
Look after other parts
Finish by checking the whole bike. A little WD-40 Multi-Use on pedal axles and the seat clamp stops squeaks and keeps moisture out. Plastic parts such as brake lever bodies are best treated with WD-40 Specialist Silicone, which is safe on plastic and rubber.
Tip: After a ride in the rain, wipe the chain with a dry rag before you put the bike away. That way water and grit do not sit in the links overnight.
What next
During the rainy season, check the chain weekly and clean and lube it every few wet rides or as soon as it gets noisy. When dry weather settles in, switch to a dry lube.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
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