On Tue, 06 Nov 2018 20:12:37 +0100, Emanuel Berg
wrote:

OK, so if IIUC, oil (a light coating) on the
cassette/chainrings and on the outside of the
chain does not facilitate shifting nor the
entry/exit of the links onto/out of the
sprockets/chainrings?

The only reason to do it is to prevent rust!

This leads me to three other questions:

1) If you use the bike every day, is rust
really a problem for either chain or
sprockets/chainrings?

2) What material are they made of?

3) When you buy a brand new chain, it is
factory impregnated on the outside as well.
Is this again only to prevent rust, and does
not help shifting or reduce wear in any way?

I think that at least half the reason for the coating on a new chain
is to prevent rusting but having said that there are coatings that go
on wet and sort of harden as they dry made by a number of companies
that claim to be both a lubricant and a rust protective coating.

BOESHIELD T-9 is only one example. "T-9 flushes out dirt and old
lubricants, displaces moisture, and penetrates moving parts"

EUROL makes various special lubricants/rust prevention


cheers,

John B.