Phil Bio-Lube and Pedro's ChainJ come to mind, if you've not tried them
already. Both are chain lubes. I wouldn't say that either of them are the
best chain lube I've ever used, but they do okay and are both biodegradable,
if memory serves.
Certainly different plant-based oils have very different properties. Flax
(linseed) oil for example is known to be a highly polymerizing oil, which is
why it's used in paints and the like. Good to season a cast-iron skillet,
too, but such properties may be either helpful or harmful for different
uses.
I'd be curious to see how butter. ghee (clarified butter, doesn't need
refrigeration [especially as a lube!] so wouldn't get so funky as butter),
or coconut oil might hold up as chain lube...the solid oils don't oxidize
and gum up in the same ways that something like olive oil does, and
therefore might work better. Refining oils can also change things
dramatically. For the worse in food, but might be for the better in this
case.
Josh
--
*Crooked River Recyclery*
*Kent, O.*
"All Bikes! All People!"