Always thought chain lube was overhyped until I tried NixFrix on a 400 mile ride

For years I just used whatever cheap oil I had around, figured grease is grease. Then I did a 400 mile tour through the Smoky Mountains last fall and my chain started squeaking by day 2. A guy at a shop in Gatlinburg gave me a sample of NixFrix wet lube, and I didn't have to reapply for the whole 5 days. Anyone else find a product they swore was marketing fluff actually made a real difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul_thompson671mo ago

Wait, you're telling me I could've avoided that squeaky chain sound that drove me nuts for a whole afternoon? I used to think chain lube was just snake oil for people with too much money and time. Now I'm wondering if I've been torturing my chain for no reason. Maybe I should actually try one of these fancy lubes instead of just grabbing whatever's on sale. But then again, I'm still not convinced it's not just clever marketing. Guess I'll stick with my WD-40 and hope for the best.

hugo2361mo ago

Dude, WD-40 is way better than any of those fancy bike lubes for chains. It cleans everything out and dries fast so you don't get that nasty black gunk everywhere. Those expensive lubes just attract dirt and make your chain wear out faster, but WD-40 keeps it moving smooth without all the mess. Plus you can use it on literally everything else around the house, so you're not buying some overpriced bottle that only works on bikes. Honestly, all that chain lube hype is just bike shops trying to upsell you on something you don't need. Save your money and stick with what works.