Alternatives to Oil?

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
jam05
Posts: 153
Joined: 9 Mar 2007, 9:19am

Alternatives to Oil?

Post by jam05 »

Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how we are going to lubricate and grease our bicycles when oil runs out. I don't want a debate about peak oil here (read the literature) but was hoping if anyone could suggest decent alternatives to oil based products.

What will Mick F use when White Lightning is £250.00 a bottle?

Beeswax?
Bob S
Posts: 93
Joined: 6 Jan 2007, 8:50am
Location: Mid Bedfordshire

Post by Bob S »

Goose grease, and good for rubbing on chest for cold's etc. Or my mum used to advocate it.
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56366
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Alternatives to Oil?

Post by Mick F »

jam05 wrote:Beeswax?


I thought bees were on the decline too!

Good question, though. How about lanolin? That comes from sheep wool.
Mick F. Cornwall
hamster
Posts: 4134
Joined: 2 Feb 2007, 12:42pm

Post by hamster »

There was some stuff called (if I remember right) Green Lube in C+ this month, it's vegetable oil based.
User avatar
lauriematt
Posts: 963
Joined: 24 Apr 2008, 10:26pm
Location: shropshire

Post by lauriematt »

hamster wrote:There was some stuff called (if I remember right) Green Lube in C+ this month, it's vegetable oil based.


i was about to say Veg oil!
seems as if its the modern thing to run cars on these days :lol:
WHAT DOESNT KILL YOU .... CAN ONLY MAKE YOU STRONGER
byegad
Posts: 3232
Joined: 3 Sep 2007, 9:44am

Post by byegad »

Castrol is so called as it was originally derived from Castor Oil. So we could go back to using that if need be. However, IMHO lubricating oil is not where the pinch is going to be felt, it will be fuel oils becoming too expensive to use that hots first by a long chalk.
nigel_s
Posts: 362
Joined: 18 Mar 2007, 9:52am
Location: Near Bath, Somerset

Post by nigel_s »

Early steam locomotives were lubricated with tallow - animal fat. I guess it could be used on bike chains.

Another issue is fuel for making steel and aluminium. Bamboo frames and wooden wheels anyone?
User avatar
hubgearfreak
Posts: 8212
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 4:14pm

Post by hubgearfreak »

nigel_s wrote:Another issue is fuel for making steel and aluminium. Bamboo frames and wooden wheels anyone?


when fuel is so scarce that we can't refine the (few kilos required of) steel for a bike, it's all over i fear. i doubt that ships will come half round the world with bamboo in that case
User avatar
cranky
Posts: 538
Joined: 3 Jul 2008, 11:28pm
Location: Glasgow

Post by cranky »

hubgearfreak wrote:when fuel is so scarce that we can't refine the (few kilos required of) steel for a bike, it's all over i fear. i doubt that ships will come half round the world with bamboo in that case


Haven't you heard about Global Warming? Give it a few years and you'll be able to grow your own bamboo!!

:) :)

Iain
Iain

Ridgeback Genesis Day 2
Surly Long Haul Trucker
User avatar
7_lives_left
Posts: 798
Joined: 9 May 2008, 8:29pm
Location: South Bucks

Re: Alternatives to Oil?

Post by 7_lives_left »

jam05 wrote:Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how we are going to lubricate and grease our bicycles when oil runs out.

Graphite!

Once upon a time you used to be able to get this stuff called graphite grease. I am not sure but I believe it's main advantage is that it worked well under harsh conditions (extreme temperature?). Maybe nowadays it has been replace by PTFE. Can anyone more knowledgeable confrm this?

(of course graphite is probably a finite resource too...)
stoobs
Posts: 1307
Joined: 27 Nov 2007, 4:45am

Post by stoobs »

Perhaps we should start whaling again?

I'll get me coat :shock:
User avatar
Beakyboy
Posts: 719
Joined: 21 Mar 2007, 1:26pm
Location: Bantry, Ireland
Contact:

Post by Beakyboy »

We use a graphite powder on our krabs which helps to 'dry' lubricate them, it's called 'slik dik'.
May the wind always be at your rear!
User avatar
7_lives_left
Posts: 798
Joined: 9 May 2008, 8:29pm
Location: South Bucks

Post by 7_lives_left »

Beakyboy wrote:We use a graphite powder on our krabs which helps to 'dry' lubricate them, it's called 'slik dik'.

What is a 'Krab'? Is that a carabiner?
david143
Posts: 516
Joined: 11 May 2008, 9:37am

Post by david143 »

cranky wrote:
hubgearfreak wrote:when fuel is so scarce that we can't refine the (few kilos required of) steel for a bike, it's all over i fear. i doubt that ships will come half round the world with bamboo in that case


Haven't you heard about Global Warming? Give it a few years and you'll be able to grow your own bamboo!!

:) :)

Iain


You can now!
User avatar
Beakyboy
Posts: 719
Joined: 21 Mar 2007, 1:26pm
Location: Bantry, Ireland
Contact:

Post by Beakyboy »

7_lives_left wrote:
Beakyboy wrote:We use a graphite powder on our krabs which helps to 'dry' lubricate them, it's called 'slik dik'.

What is a 'Krab'? Is that a carabiner?


Yeah sorry :wink:
May the wind always be at your rear!
Post Reply