Wax Chain Lube

Kieran_Burns

Has anyone tried this?

I've got the Halfords version on the Madone at the moment and I swear the chain feels harder to use (brand new chain)

I've done the double coat and leave to dry thing... or did I do that wrong?

memsley89

I keep intending to make the move...
I'll be interested to see your eventual thoughts!

I've been toying with getting this

drlodge

wax = viscous = stiffer links?

The Rookie

The aim is that the wax keeps the actual lube inside the chain where it is needed.

I know a few people who swear by Squirt wax lube.

drlodge

The Rookie wrote:

The aim is that the wax keeps the actual lube inside the chain where it is needed.

I know a few people who swear by Squirt wax lube.

The OP isn't questioning the effectiveness of the wax. IMO wax will act like a thick grease - assuming it gets into where the wear occurs it will be effective for longer, the downside being that more energy is lost betwee the teeth and the chain in order to displace the stuff (which is what the OP is experiencing).

On the other hand a thin oil (like Progold ProLink that I use) will easily wick into where its needed, but won't last as long, but then is quick and easy to reapply.

Kieran_Burns

I can say it keeps the chain clean. I'm doing the Notts 100 mile sportive on Sunday and keeping it on for it, so I guess I'll see by the end.

zx6man

Some waxes state they are good for up to 100 miles, worth keeping that in mind if you are doing it all in one day.

Edit. just checked my finish line wax and says up to 50 miles.. ceramic wax one says 120

drlodge

I'm doing 160 miles on Sunday, better take some of my thin lube to apply every 50 miles or so then :roll:

desweller

zx6man wrote:

Some waxes state they are good for up to 100 miles, worth keeping that in mind if you are doing it all in one day.

Edit. just checked my finish line wax and says up to 50 miles.. ceramic wax one says 120

Surely not. Even for a commuting bike I'd be reapplying twice a week.

zx6man

Accrording to finish line website info. I commute around 50 a week and find using the dry lube doesn't last that..chain tends to get noisy. The finish line Wet lubes last me ages but get dirty quickly

Kieran_Burns

Err.. Wow. So you can't complete a 100 mile ride without lubing the chain? Has anyone ever seen the service station on a pro race?

drlodge

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Err.. Wow. So you can't complete a 100 mile ride without lubing the chain? Has anyone ever seen the service station on a pro race?

Yeh, they pretend to have a puncture so the bike can be swapped with one on the car, or perhaps the spare wheels having a nicely lubed cassette that will re-lube the chain

zx6man

drlodge wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Err.. Wow. So you can't complete a 100 mile ride without lubing the chain? Has anyone ever seen the service station on a pro race?

Yeh, they pretend to have a puncture so the bike can be swapped with one on the car, or perhaps the spare wheels having a nicely lubed cassette that will re-lube the chain

They lubricate the chain themselves on "comfort breaks" :-)

slowbike

Don't you guys have a lube drip set up? every 3 rotations of the chain it wipes it down and applies fresh lube ...

Huge advantage in the rain is that you don't get wheelsuckers because they slip over on the oil slick left behind you!

zx6man

Slowbike wrote:

Don't you guys have a lube drip set up? every 3 rotations of the chain it wipes it down and applies fresh lube ...

Huge advantage in the rain is that you don't get wheelsuckers because they slip over on the oil slick left behind you!

ooh a scottoiler for the pushbike, and james bond device all in one.

EKE_38BPM

I use Muc-Off Dry Lube in summer and Wet Lube in winter. The Dry Lube is good but does need regular applications otherwise the chain gets very noisy. I do wonder if it is a bit draggy though.
I've got some Muc-Off Ceramic lube, but I haven't used it yet. My current chain is too knackered to waste good lube on.

Initialised

I do it properly, paraffin wax melted down in a tub with a healthy squirt of GT85 (helps it stick), drop the chain in for 15 minutes while I clean the bike.

The first chain clean has to be thorough (muc off, rinse, isopropyl, rinse, dry) but after that you just drop it in the hot wax.

At the moment it's lasting up to two weeks and I'm riding maybe 140 miles per week.

I can touch the chain without getting cyclists finger and CAT 5 tattoos are a thing of the past.

The down side is that one wet ride means you need to re do it so keep it for the "best" bike.

ddraver

I put it on the fixie as (apparently) it is somewhat self cleaning and the point of the fixie is that I don't have to clean it regularly so I can just squirt the chain with the wax lube and all will be well...seems to be working ok so far but this is the first few days of use. Previous experience with wax lube suggests that it doesnt last at all in the wet...

On the Roadie/MTBs I use the MucOff stuff

elbowloh

Ceramic lube for me all the way.

MonkeyMonster

by all accounts, sonic paraffin waxing is *the thing* - no boffin not for legs.

itboffin

Phil woods oil nothing else comes close

cyclingprop

Ceramic wet/dry lube depending on conditions. Hate chain wax.

Initialised

MonkeyMonster wrote:

by all accounts, ultrasonic paraffin waxing is *the thing* - no boffin not for legs.

I haven't gone ultrasonic yet, but it's on my list of weird stuff to buy.

zx6man

Lidl had a cheapish ultrasonic cleaner on sale the other day..

Initialised

I doubt I'd get my cassette in that let alone my rings, I'm after something a little bigger.

zx6man

Initialised wrote:

I doubt I'd get my cassette in that let alone my rings, I'm after something a little bigger.

20L I believe, would get it all in.