I can only speak for local conditions but if you’re putting enough hours on a bike year round then I, as noted, find the difference is huge.
The right product - I’m in love with King’s blue grease - in suspension bearings will significantly decrease service intervals. Doing bearing kits in frames is time consuming and expensive, why not pack bearings with a product that will last significantly longer? Separating, drying out, washing out, gumming up - I’ve seen lots of grease products not do what they’re supposed to.
Hub bearings is another place where grease choice is noticeable right in the shop - bearing drag on the bench VS longevity out in the wild. What do you pack hub cartridge bearings in?
There’s a good reason that a lot of companies making Pawl style hubs - Industry Nine, P321, Stan’s, etc - recommend Dumonde Tech lube or grease. Cuts down on drag, wear, stays put, and following recommendations it won’t stick up the pawls. The grease quiets hubs down nicely too. As I said in the article, I don’t know anyone who has switched who has switched back to anything else - if you find yourself serving a pawl-style hub maybe try it?
I purposely didn’t write about chainlube. In addition to being very locale-specific people all clean their bikes differently and etc and it’s all anecdotal anyways. I use Boeshield T-9 or Dumonde Tech regular. In either case I only apply when needed, don’t hose my rigs, and it’s always surprising how long a tiny bottle lasts. Highly recommended but whatever works for you.
Jan. 16, 2020, 5:46 a.m. - Andrew Major
I can only speak for local conditions but if you’re putting enough hours on a bike year round then I, as noted, find the difference is huge. The right product - I’m in love with King’s blue grease - in suspension bearings will significantly decrease service intervals. Doing bearing kits in frames is time consuming and expensive, why not pack bearings with a product that will last significantly longer? Separating, drying out, washing out, gumming up - I’ve seen lots of grease products not do what they’re supposed to. Hub bearings is another place where grease choice is noticeable right in the shop - bearing drag on the bench VS longevity out in the wild. What do you pack hub cartridge bearings in? There’s a good reason that a lot of companies making Pawl style hubs - Industry Nine, P321, Stan’s, etc - recommend Dumonde Tech lube or grease. Cuts down on drag, wear, stays put, and following recommendations it won’t stick up the pawls. The grease quiets hubs down nicely too. As I said in the article, I don’t know anyone who has switched who has switched back to anything else - if you find yourself serving a pawl-style hub maybe try it? I purposely didn’t write about chainlube. In addition to being very locale-specific people all clean their bikes differently and etc and it’s all anecdotal anyways. I use Boeshield T-9 or Dumonde Tech regular. In either case I only apply when needed, don’t hose my rigs, and it’s always surprising how long a tiny bottle lasts. Highly recommended but whatever works for you.