Posted 12/8/04

Product review  -  Dumonde Tech Bicycle Chain Lube (BCL)

By Ed Sanchez
 
Products tested – Dumonde Tech Lite and Original BCL
Duration tested – 1 year
 
As a mechanic at a busy bike shop you get exposed to a huge variety of products. Some are major innovations; exciting products that improved upon the ones that came before. Some stuff we get in stock seems redundant. Being the retro-grouch that I am, I am of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” mind set. Too many of these “innovations” are just a re-hash of some gizmo or concept that someone else tried and failed at. All too often, I will take a sample of said product, and actually use it the way they say it’s meant to be used, and falls short of the expectations. Which leads us to question, what's up with all the hype? That said, when I do come across a truly well made product, I let people know how great it really is. Dumonde Tech Lube is one of those products.
 
Chain lube is one of those things most never think about until something goes wrong . “What could go wrong” you ask? FORGETTING TO PUT IT ON! Or worse yet, applying an amount so excessive you get rookie tattoos. This is a non-issue with DumondeBCL. As with all my testing, I like to begin from ground zero, starting with a completely degreased and dry drive train. I applied 1 drop per link of the BCL lite and back pedaled to work it into the chain. I rode the bike for 1 week before having to re-apply. At this time, I followed the same application procedure.
 
I began this test in March of 2003, and in over a year of training and racing, +/-500 dirt miles I have only gone thru 2 ounces, and the chain runs smooth and quiet. It is just now showing signs of beginning to wear. What was also interesting is that it almost has a dry lube feel to the touch. It’s tacky, but leaves little tattoo effect. I have also found this product to be a great cable lube as well, especially on today’s full suspension bikes with complex over/under cable routing.
 
What is it about this lube that makes it so durable? It is polymer-based, as opposed to a oil or paraffin(wax) base lube. But what exactly does that mean? Unlike a wax based lube, a polymer will bond at the molecular level, becoming part of the metal.  Oil and wax float on top, and thus washing or wearing off. Some products are designed to do this so efficiently that they will not last 10 miles on a dusty ride! I was a White Lightning fan for years, but as I liked to call it, bike heroin, because once you began using it, you were constantly using tons of it! With the BCL, the chain requires reapplication much less frequently. At the beginning of the race season I tested a purple product which contained calcium carbonate, which is used on oil drilling bits. It was expensive, and a very thin based product. In my experience with it, it was crap. I knew this in one ride, but the second convinced me. Taking the same bike, with BCL applied rode like a dream.
  

Dumonde offers three different lubes. A heavy one, called Liquid Grease, a medium, Original BCL, and a light/thin one, BCL Lite. I use the grease for bolt assembly work, the Original as a MTB or wet weather lube, and the Lite for road or summer trail riding. It sells for 7.99/2oz . Check it out, even a retro-grouch can learn new tricks. Sometimes.

*Editor's note: This stuff is worth the loot. I've had similar experiences with chain lubes, and to date this is the best lube we stock at the bike shop. Having tested them all, it's the one we use, and whole heartedly recommend. The shop favorite. And Edward is totally a retro-grouch, but a new school retro-grouch, in that he rides bikes that have front and rear suspension with disc brakes and indexed shifters, but he still thinks a bike with five inches of travel is a freeride bike.

IIf you're still in doubt about what lube to buy when you are out, I challenge you to do a google search on "Dumonde tech lube." It quite simply is the shit.

Posted 11/15/04
Reviewed: Specialized's 2005 Air Tool Pro Floor Pump.

This is one sweet "air tool."

As a long time bike shop employee, I'm familiar with most of the floor pumps on the market. The funny thing with floor pumps in the service department of most bike shops, is there is usually one pump that works. Everyone uses that one particular pump, and avoids the three or four other broken ones. You would think that bike mechanics (like us) would take the time to fix these pumps, or throw them away; but there they are, in a stack under the stairs covered with dust. This pump is not one of the pumps you will find in the broken stack with the other Silca pumps that will "someday" be fixed back up. Why is that? Well, simply put, this pump kicks ass.

Most of the current crop of floor pumps on show room floors will feature some kind of dual head. It is no longer necessary to spend several minutes fiddling with the grommet to get it to the proper setting. I've used most of the pumps currently available, and this is the best "smart head" out there. Presta tube, schrader tube, it doesn't matter with the Air Tool Pro's Switch-Hitter head technology. Push it on, flip the lever and pump. It's that easy. When I took my new pump home, I was actually excited to pump up the tires on my bikes. I don't think this has happened before.

The pump features an oversized gauge for easy viewing. It's flush with the cast aluminum base, which should protect it from the abuse I will undoubtedly heap upon it. The aluminum barrel, Body Geometry inspired handle, alloy head fittings, lever and caps, are classy in appearance, and look to be long lasting. The handle features a pressure relief valve for easy and accurate pressure adjustment. I didn't even notice this feature until I took the time to read the copy on Specialized's web site. Nice.

Not everyone may get as excited I do by a floor pump, but I have gotten over 6 years of use out of my last Specialized floor pump, and other than the busted gauge, it's still functional. We have been using the Air Tool Comp at the bike shop for the last season, and other than a blown o-ring (which was easily replaced) it works perfectly. That pump gets constant use, and as a sales tool, works extremely well. The only time I sell other brand pumps is when we're out of stock.

I almost bought the Air Tool Comp; it's also a great product. But since you're going to have this pump forever, you may as well treat yourself and get the pimped out Air Tool Pro.