Silkolene Wet Lube

This Silkolene Wet Lube gives good drivetrain protection in poor conditions and quiet running, but it picks up loads of dirt and costs more than its competitors.

• Pros: Good protection from the rain
• Cons: Attracts a lot of muck; more expensive and harder to get hold of than rivals

It's no secret that a wet lube will pick up more muck than a dry lube. Part of that is because of the conditions, but it's mostly the result of the thicker, more water-resistant consistency needed to protect the drivetrain. However, that muck can cause premature wear to components, so finding a wet lube that protects well and stays reasonably clean will extend your component life. I know that some riders like to let the dirt build on their winter steed. To me, that's just shortening the life of the components which cost more to replace than a decent wet lube.

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After applying the lube to a stripped drivetrain, I wiped off the excess and tested with a 2-hour ride in persistent rain. While out on the bike, I really noticed the silence of the chain. Even when climbing and shifting under load, the chain was silent.

I left the lube on for a week for both dry and wet rides. It protected the drivetrain well, with no visible corrosion. The lube did form a really bad black paste on the chain, though. It took two cleans with strong degreaser to remove, which will make winter maintenance a pain. Even with the best of intentions, my winter cleaning is fortnightly at best, so having something that stays relatively clean is really useful. It means less component wear and less time cleaning in the cold.

Silkolene's bottle design is, just like the Dry and Everyday lubes, rather poorly designed and lube will just pour over the rear wheel if you're not careful. Once you get the screw top in the right place, the oil does coat the chain's rollers well, giving good coverage. There was also very little splatter on the frame, suggesting that it's rather sticky.

> Buyer's Guide: 7 of the best lubes

The real sticking point for me is that its rivals offer similar or better performance for less money. They're also more readily available, and can be found heavily discounted. Morgan Blue's Syn Lube can be bought for £4.99/125ml (rrp £7.95) and Muc-Off's Wet Lube for £2.99/50ml (rrp £4.94). While they both turn black, they're not as quick as the Silkolene to gunk up. The cleanest wet lube I've used is Finish Line Ceramic Wet, which has an rrp of £8.49 for 120ml, but can be bought for £5.92 online. There are cleaner, but this doesn't cost much and it's easy to get hold of.

If you're fine with a lot of gunk build-up, then the Silkolene Wet lube will protect your chain from the elements pretty well. You'll also get a quiet drivetrain, with no squeaks. The price, poor cap design and heavy gunk build-up mean that I wouldn't recommend it over others, though.

Verdict

Good protection and runs quietly, but heavy gunk buildup and the price are drawbacks