Ask the experts

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by XtrPickels

Compare it to pure paraffin.
Then sprinkle some dust on both and see which one it sticks to.

I'm not saying squirt is bad, I'm just saying it doesn't do as well in dust as a pure hot melt wax.

the question was is Squirt liquid or not ?

but there is lots of dust around here so we can try that, also the toilet seat is up

**jamal** · 03-23-2021, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by grskier

OK, apperently off topic right now:

I've carefully curated what I carry on different length rides for mountain biking over the past.... while.
I recently bought a gravel road bike. I'm guessing I'll get a saddle bag and shove stuff in there.
What should I have in there?
Spare Tube
CO2 and inflator
multi tool

What else?

For bigger rides I try to be prepared for more than one flat tire, so an actual pump, patch kit, sometimes two spare tubes. Going to 40mm tubeless tires has cut down on flats for me a lot at least. But I did have a dumb ride last fall where I had to walk in the dark for awhile and get picked up.

I have a little half frame bag for the longer rides. Lets me carry extra snacks, extra water, a jacket, etc without having my back pockets all stuffed full (or I can even wear a casual shirt instead of a jersey). Also I can get a whole 6 pack in there

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**bagtagley** · 03-23-2021, 02:28 PM

Definitely carry a pump. Flat prep may be even more important on gravel because you can get really far from home/the car in a hurry.

Agreed on tubeless, but I still carry a pump in addition to cartridges.

**climberevan** · 03-23-2021, 03:02 PM

On long/remote gravel rides (many of my rides) I carry a plug kit and a spare tube. I bring a pump instead of CO2, obviously. I also carry my full MTB tool kit and zip ties, tie wire, etc. It all easily fits in my seat & frame bags, along with an extra water bottle, Red Bull, & food. That way I can avoid wearing a pack, which is super nice. For rides longer than 8 hours or if it's really warm I need to figure out how to carry more water.

**toast2266** · 03-23-2021, 03:21 PM

You guys fret way too much about lube.

My chain gets cleaned maybe a handful of times a season (and by "cleaned" I mean I wipe it with a rag, and maybe a toothbrush. It does not come off the bike). I throw a bit of whatever lube is lying around on the chain immediately before most rides. I rarely bother to wipe off the excess.

That procedure is the same for spring mud, mid-summer dust, or late fall freeze/thaw. The bike shifts fine, regardless of conditions (at least until I smash a rock and bend something).

I get 1200-1500 miles out of a chain. So that's like ~$0.04 / mile. If I spent hours fretting over the care and maintenance of the chain, I could maybe get that down to $0.03 / mile. So over the course of a shitload of riding, that'd save me like... $7.

**skaredshtles** · 03-23-2021, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by toast2266

You guys fret way too much about lube.

My chain gets cleaned maybe a handful of times a season (and by "cleaned" I mean I wipe it with a rag, and maybe a toothbrush. It does not come off the bike). I throw a bit of whatever lube is lying around on the chain immediately before most rides. I rarely bother to wipe off the excess.

That procedure is the same for spring mud, mid-summer dust, or late fall freeze/thaw. The bike shifts fine, regardless of conditions (at least until I smash a rock and bend something).

I get 1200-1500 miles out of a chain. So that's like ~$0.04 / mile. If I spent hours fretting over the care and maintenance of the chain, I could maybe get that down to $0.03 / mile. So over the course of a shitload of riding, that'd save me like... $7.

I like the way you think...

**jm2e** · 03-23-2021, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by skaredshtles

I like the way you think...

We should start a support group

**Dee Hubbs** · 03-23-2021, 07:03 PM

I wax my Road chain and drip lube my MTB chain.
I’ll put a stop watch on my maintenance and time my efforts of waxing vs the efforts of drip lubing.
I’ll chart them and put them into a spreadsheet, and present my data after 250 miles on both bikes.
Look here in June for my data.

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by toast2266

You guys fret way too much about lube.

My chain gets cleaned maybe a handful of times a season (and by "cleaned" I mean I wipe it with a rag, and maybe a toothbrush. It does not come off the bike). I throw a bit of whatever lube is lying around on the chain immediately before most rides. I rarely bother to wipe off the excess.

That procedure is the same for spring mud, mid-summer dust, or late fall freeze/thaw. The bike shifts fine, regardless of conditions (at least until I smash a rock and bend something).

I get 1200-1500 miles out of a chain. So that's like ~$0.04 / mile. If I spent hours fretting over the care and maintenance of the chain, I could maybe get that down to $0.03 / mile. So over the course of a shitload of riding, that'd save me like... $7.

wow you are fretting way too much if you got it broken down by cost per mile, I don't ever wipe or clean the chain after initial instal, just put product on the chain,

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 07:07 PM

we need to start a thread called simply " I don't care " for people who don't care how things work, take short cuts, don't have basic mechanical skills & do chicken shit things

**Powder Ho** · 03-23-2021, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

we need to start a thread called simply " I don't care " for people who don't care how things work, take short cuts, don't have basic mechanical skills & do chicken shit things

I'm in. I take my car in to have the oil changed.

**XtrPickels** · 03-23-2021, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

we need to start a thread called simply " I don't care " for people who don't care how things work, take short cuts, don't have basic mechanical skills & do chicken shit things

Do you plan on this being a thread where people go for advice...

... or do you not care?

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 07:46 PM

As the title infers it would be for people who don't care

so it would not matter if they got good/ bad/ no advice

but they could state their indifference or what they fucked up

and put a jaunty lol at the end

I'm not going to start it cuz i don't care enough to bother

**mall walker** · 03-23-2021, 07:47 PM

any worth-buying 100mm suspension forks that can take a 29x3.0 tire? (or forks that can be spacered to 100mm)

rockshox sid select+
...?

**toast2266** · 03-23-2021, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

we need to start a thread called simply " I don't care " for people who don't care how things work, take short cuts, don't have basic mechanical skills & do chicken shit things

I don't think anyone's saying they don't care. Some, including myself, are saying that lots of the things being suggested don't make any worthwhile difference.

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 07:58 PM

so why ask, why contribute ?

**toast2266** · 03-23-2021, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

so why ask, why contribute ?

Well, I didn't ask. I can't even remember who asked, since it was like 9,000 posts ago.

Some questions have a right answer. "What chain lube" is not one of those questions.

There's 30 different experienced people in here giving 30 different answers. If there was a right answer, there would be some semblance of consensus. But there isn't, because it doesn't really matter. Use any decent lube. Apply it regularly. Clean the chain if it really needs it. Otherwise, just go ride.

That was my contribution.

But you're welcome to keep going around in circles in the 3rd(?) iteration of this long winded and consistently pointless discussion.

**XXX-er** · 03-23-2021, 08:36 PM

well you don't even need to lube or do anything so just ignore this then

**grrrmountainman** · 03-23-2021, 08:40 PM

Ummm Canadian units DH... and Canadian dollars when you chart costs.

Please also add a column for lubing with the tears of children, I feel that could be the best results.

**toast2266** · 03-23-2021, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

well you don't even need to lube or do anything so just ignore this then

I would never ride dry. Leads to all kinds of problems.

**jamal** · 03-23-2021, 08:52 PM

What's your favorite chamois cream?

**snowaddict91** · 03-23-2021, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by mall walker

any worth-buying 100mm suspension forks that can take a 29x3.0 tire? (or forks that can be spacered to 100mm)

rockshox sid select+
...?

Manitou Magnum and Pike+ both have clearance for 29x3.0 according to a facebook group post I saw recently, which of course I can't find now...

**Dee Hubbs** · 03-23-2021, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by grrrmountainman

Please also add a column for lubing with the tears of children, I feel that could be the best results.

Reminds me of a buddy in University who had a funny saying:
Me: Hey John how'd it go with Rebecca the other night?
John: Lets just say tears don't make for a good lube

He was able to incorporate this quote into conversation at least once a week.