Best Bike Chain Lubricant: The Key to a Smooth Ride

When it comes to ensuring a smooth ride on your bike there’s not much more important than a good lubricant. It makes an amazing difference when it comes to keeping your bike running smoothly and efficiently. If you’re not making maintenance of your bike chain a priority you need to start now! So what is the best bike chain lubricant?

Lubricating your bike chain reduces friction and reducing friction makes your ride so much better. When a chain isn’t lubricated it wears down over time. When a chain wears down it takes a toll on the rest of your bike as well. 

Lubricating a bike chain also protects it from rust and corrosion. When that happens it makes it easier for the chain to break or snap. A good lubricant increases longevity. Who doesn’t want that?

Now that you’re convinced lubricating a bike chain is the way to go, you more than likely have questions. Wet or dry? Wax or Oil? And does it really make a difference to spend ten dollars on a tube or forty?

Here’s a rundown on some of the best products on the market when it comes to choosing the right chain lube:

Best Overall Bike Chain Lubricant:

Rock N Roll is a solid lube that performs well in just about every category. It has a nice, protective barrier to keep out dirt and grime and doesn’t have that buildup you can get over time. This is all purpose lube that’s great for mountain and road bikes. This lube goes on thin and dry and stays that way.

Best Long-Lasting Bike Chain Lubricant:

Squirt bike lube is a wax based lube that will prolong the life of your chain. This is a lube that doesn’t wash away easily and provides all weather protection. Easy to apply and doesn’t hold onto grime, Squirt is a reliable product. 

Best Bike Chain Lubricant For Your Back:

WPL is a chain lube you can buy wet OR dry and for somewhere between 10-12 bucks it’s a steal for what you get. Touted as “environmentally friendly” because it contains all natural ingredients, WPL is a deep penetrating bike lube that can also be used on any bike part in need of lubrication.

Best Bike Chain Lubricant For Dry, Dusty Conditions:

Muc-Off is an ultra-durable long distance bike chain specifically formulated to excel over long rides. There’s typically no build up and cyclists say they feel a difference after one ride. This is a deep penetrating oil that holds up in extreme conditions.