Technical FAQ: Threadlock and/or grease?

Dear Lennard,
Most cycling component companies recommend greasing the threads on bottom brackets and other components, yet at the same time a lot of these components have what appears to be thread locking compound (usually blue or white) on the threads. Doesn’t the idea of greasing the threads work against thread locking compound?
-Ken

Dear Ken,
Good question and one that lots of people have. Actually, threadlock usually works by expanding, rather than by gluing, so the grease could allow the bolt to go in further and more smoothly yet not impede the function of the threadlock.
-Lennard