Bicycle chain lubrication

A bicycle chain makes different sounds depending on how it's lubricated, and those sounds tell you about the oil's behavior. Wet lubes use sticky oils that cling to the chain in rain but attract dirt like a magnet on dry days, creating a black grinding paste. Dry lubes use oils mixed with solvents that evaporate after application, leaving behind a waxy coating that sheds dirt but washes away quickly in wet weather. Professional cyclists sometimes change their chain lube based on weather forecasts, because using the wrong type can waste several watts of pedaling power through extra friction.