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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE: APRIL 5th
HOW DO WE REACH THE OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Blub Lithium Grease
100g £9.99 (twelve months test)
From dabbing onto threads to smearing onto sliding parts lithium grease is an excellent all-rounder on your bike, or for other applications. It has become something of a go to. Now, there are, of course, different takes on an all-rounder, but Blub Lithium Grease has certainly produced very good results. This is, however, a very competitive market.
Pros: clean, frugal, suitably durable.
Cons: none, for an all-rounder.
Spec and science bit
Blub’s blurb describes their Premium Lithium Grease as “long-life”, “with high corrosion resistance”, suitable for use on bearings, threads, and any moving component requiring lubrication or maintenance, and a high degree of protection against moisture and wear.”
Now, such a description is by no means exceptional when it comes to grease. You’d not expect Blub to tell us an awful lot more about their ingredients. However, they make a point of stating that it will not attack rubber. Chemical stability is a feature of modern lithium greases – they should not react and cause seizure or corrosion; although there are some who urge caution when matching aluminium and steel, say an aluminium seat-post into a steel frame. Likewise, modern lithium greases are much better at resisting high temperatures than they once were (temperatures well above anything I am going to generate with the most furious pedalling in the hottest weather. However, lithium grease is best kept away from rubber and plastic.
Contexts
Once upon a time lithium greases tended to stodginess. Whilst this is no longer the case, there is a lot to be said for a stout compound to protect the bottom bracket or wheel- bearings of a seasonal winter bike. However, that is not what you may need in all circumstances. Greases contain different levels of thickeners. Thicker greases offer a higher level of moisture protection, but can be too messy or weighty for some applications. There are, of course, plenty of other options – Rock ‘n’ Roll Super Slick Grease has done excellent work and then there are a whole range of eco-friendly options, such as that from Green Oil, as well as specialist greases and pastes.
I mention all that, because I am a general fettler as opposed to my colleague Michael, Prince of Arch-Fettlers. As such, my cupboard is that of a peasant compared to his hoard of potions for all occasions. Basically, I like a good all-purpose grease that is easy to use, relatively clean, and lacking in the finnicky demands of some more pure-bred beasts.
Application 3.5/5
Dismantle components as much as is necessary, then make sure you get things nice and clean. Any decent degreaser will do this. This is the time for a quick once over or even a careful inspection, especially of bearings and races.
Apply either by hand – use gloves if you like – or grease gun. How much will depend on what you ae greasing, but be sure to wipe away excess. As with most greases, a little goes a long way. The Blub Lithium Grease sits somewhere in the middle in the viscosity stakes amongst the greases I have used over the years. For me, that is a happy medium: easy to apply but sturdy to stay in place. Having said that, hard-core bike mechanics may prefer something stiffer for some jobs, such as packing out bearings.
So, application is easy, whatever method you use, and you can be pretty frugal, too.
Performance 3.5/5
The Blub has been my go-to grease for the last twelve months. I’ve already pointed out that it meets my generalist needs, however, I have also found it to be suitably durable, clean, and effective over the twelve months I have used it. A year in which it has faced all sorts of weather and a good mix of miles. In that context, I have noticed no corrosion on parts treated with it, despite the wide variety of precipitation the English weather has thrown at it, and all the muck from country lanes frequented by Buttercup and her buddies off to milking and mud surfaced forest trails.
First up was a stubborn seat-post on a touring bike. Once removed and cleaned (including the seat-tube) a thin skein of the Blub was applied. I hate the waste of grease that oozes out of the seat tube when the post is inserted. A year later, that same thin skein of grease is still in place and the tube can be easily manipulated.
Equally well-served were the head set races. A thorough clean, bearings re-packed with grease. Job done. All in good working order a year later. Even better, the ball bearings were all held in place when dismantling to check how the grease was going.
Pivot points on v-brakes started misbehaving in autumn 2024. Basically, they were on the verge of seizing up after a long period of neglect, and neither wanted spring-back when released or pull smoothly. Stripped down and cleaned, Blub applied, and things worked smoothly straight-off. Of course, you’d expect this from even a half decent grease. Mind you, it has proved tenacious over the year. It has also remained pretty clean, despite the worst a muddy British winter could bung its way. Of course, grease will attract dirt, but the Blub is definitely toward the tidy end of the spectrum of gunge.
In fact, over winter, there’s been no need top up, and, as spring comes on, the worst of the weather should be over for a while. Over the year, I have noticed no ill-effects on any materials or paint jobs. However, I have kept it away from rubber and plastic parts. As for galvanic corrosion between aluminium and steel or other metals, well, that may happen eventually, but I have not seen any ill-effects. Maybe if I left it longer before each general service. On a similar note, I have noticed no changes as temperature has varied from below freeing to 32C.
Value 3.5/5
Pure Bike Grease is eco-friendly and cheaper. However, Michael felt that commuters and tourers might want a stiffer mix for bottom brackets and more vulnerable parts. He was full of praise for Muc-Off Bio Grease, with similar reservations for his winter training bike. However, it did seem to be very good value, even if slightly more expensive than the Blub Lithium Grease.
There are some very good all-round greases, such as the Wolf Tooth WT-G Precision Grease. On the other hand, Michael found that Peaty’s Speed Grease was very strong on lubrication, but less durable than some.
Oxford Mint Assembley Grease - another lithium- infused blend claims to be safe on carbon and other modern surfaces. However, it's more for static components, rather than bearings.
White Lightning Crystal is a highly sophisticated, all-surface friendly synthetic (now £10.99) has impressed me and can be used anywhere.
So, Blub Lithium Grease, is good value for a grease that will do the job and last for at least a year. That is fine, if, like me, you like to ride rather than lube!
Summary
Overall, it seems to me that the Blub Lithium Grease is a good all-rounder, and whilst there are different views on what a good all-rounder might be, the Blub will do a lot of tasks very well, is durable, clean, and easy to apply. For a year-round commuter-tourist, such as me, it is ideal for that annual full service that we all have to faceup to, as opposed to pickier, more specific greases, that might suit those who want perfect performance or stouter greases for massive mile-munching in the mud.
