How does chain lube affect the durability of my bike's components?

[Metal Earth]

So, if we’re really diving into the mythos of lubes, what about those wild claims that certain lubes can actually improve your speed? Are we just one bottle away from breaking the sound barrier? And let’s not ignore the “secret” ingredients—do they magically repel dirt, or are we just buying into the latest cycling fairytale? What’s the most laughable marketing spin you’ve encountered? Is it all just smoke and mirrors?

 

[Metal Earth]

If we’re questioning the efficacy of those “speed-enhancing” lubes, how do we even test that? Is there a controlled environment out there that measures real-world performance changes? What’s the benchmark for improvement—seconds, watts, or just subjective feel? And those secret ingredients—do they really have a scientific basis, or is it just a clever marketing ploy? Anyone stumbled upon actual data that debunks or supports these claims?