New: Finish Line 1-Step Cleaner & Lubricant

Bike lubricants specialist Finish Line has launched a one-step product called 1-Step to help make the chore of keeping your chain clean and lubed a little easier.

The idea is for the liquid product to be thin enough to dissolve and flush chain crud effectively - in accompaniment with plenty of your old tee shirts, obviously - and then evaporate leaving behind a proper non-sticky 'dry'-type lubricant that doesn't attract too much more dirt.

We're guessing this will be at its best when used little and often.

While its easy to be self-righteous about chain maintenance, the truth is that, if we're anything to go by, very few perform any sort of regime routinely and well enough so 1-Step could be regarded as a 'least-bad' option.

All too often, and speaking for ourselves here, we leave the job too long, then use a citrus-based chain-cleaner, a clip-on chain bath and then a good ceramic lube. Takes ages, it's a filthy job and all the while we're remembering how much longer chains and sprockets last when they're run clean.

The big concern with oily products that potentially get slavered on in copious quantities is what happens to the noxious chemicals therein and Finish Line are at pains to explain that over 60% of the content biodegrades within 28 days. The entire product is REACH-compliant to Euro regulations.

That's still a good argument for being abstemious and you'll spend less money. As we suggest, little and often.

1-Step is available in a 4oz (120ml) squeeze bottle for £6.99, a 6oz (200ml) aerosol for £8.99 and a 12oz (360ml) aerosol for £10.99.