FROM THE WORKSHOP... .
When should I use oil on my bike and where?
Keeping your bike properly lubricated is an important part of basic bike maintenance. Firstly, use the right oil for the job, there are lots of options and opinions on what’s best, but my preference is a lighter oil on a more regular basis. As a rule you should lightly lubricate all moving parts on the drivetrain, chain, rear and front mech. The pivot points on the brake levers need a drop every now and then. Quantity will depend on how much you ride your bike. The winter is hard on bikes so more will need to be applied to stop parts wearing out.
It’s also important to clean the chain and sprockets to stop a buildup of dirty oil. There’s no point in adding oil to parts that are basically dirty. There are some great cleaners on the market; generally, I like the Muc-Off ceramic lube along with some hydraulic disc brake cleaner from the local car supplier for degreasing small parts and cleaning up the disc brakes. Making sure your drivetrain is clean is also part of the process. If you find that your gears aren’t working as they should be, the chances are that they don’t actually need oiling but might need a tune. Also keep oil away from the braking surface (rims/discs). We often see bikes coming in to us that have had everything oiled – you do need to be selective and sparing. If you hear a squeak try to locate where it’s coming from exactly – adding a drop of oil in the right place will normally do the trick.
YOU SHOULD LUBRICATE ALL MOVING PARTS ON THE DRIVETRAIN, CHAIN, REAR AND FRONT MECH