Assuming you don't live somewhere that gets constant rain, I strongly recommend you give chain waxing a try. It leaves your drivetrain much cleaner that if you use oil, and it's relatively low maintenance. I re-up my wax with Silca's drip wax every several hundred miles, and it works great.
All of the equipment needed to get into chain waxing can be a bit daunting. I started just putting the wax bag in a pot of boiling water, but I strongly recommend you get a second hand instant pot or Silca's chain wax system if you think you're in for the long haul.
I recently switched to waxing all my chains. I've had good luck with both wet and dry conditions, but I primarily use them in extremely dry conditions. While I'm not thrilled with the price that Silca garners, this is a high-quality product. A bag has lasted 10+ months and waxed 12-15 chains. Each waxing lasts hundreds of miles regardless of the discipline. I have now converted road, mountain, gravel, and commuter bikes and am extremely satisfied. I have yet to try other types of wax (aside from some old ski wax, which worked surprisingly well) so I cannot offer a comparison.
It took some effort to convert all our bikes to wax, but I have found efficiency in waxing multiple chains at the same time. Starting with a new chain is best. I used basic hardware store items (mineral spirits and denatured alcohol) to strip the chains and an old rice cooker to melt it. Simple is best. I recommend taking care when waxing to avoid allowing significant amounts of wax to cool on the exterior of the chain. This can result in gummy residue that can get on the rings and cassette.
This is a good product.
So, I tried my hand at hot melt waxing and it works; the chain ran smoothly with this blend. What I did not like was all the flaking falling off when the crank was turned. Really, who wants wax flakes on their garage floor? That bothered me, but when I took the bike outside (in the very hot summer sun), the flakes stuck to my CF wheels and then proceeded to melt all over them.
IMO, if you're not racing, you don't need this product. Until the chain wax wears off enough for the above not to happen, it is just lame.
What I am doing now, is using Silca's drip wax. Prep your chain and the entire drivetrain properly before application and you'll be happily spinning down the road....
SIlca is known to be the best in the business and my experience is consistent with that reputation. Before trying the Secret Blend, I purchased 500g of parafin wax and a jar of PTFE powder. Opening and using the PTFE powder gave me anxiety (even though the final product is not considered carcinogenic, the fine particulate is dangerous for your lungs and is persistent in the environment).
My results have been much better with the Secret Blend than with my homebrew method. The wax lasts longer on my chain and is more effective. I have found that, as Silca recommends, pairing the hot wax with some drip-on Super Secret leads to the best results and durability.
Wax doesn't hold up well during wet or extremely dusty conditions, but out performs every wet lubricant I've tried. Almost as importantly for me, it is cleaner. No black nastiness on your chain and everything it happens to touch. I just put about 5000 miles on a chain with a combination of homebrew parafin and Silca. I replaced the chain and have had no issues with my chainring or cassette. Cleanliness and durability are my motivations, not marginal watts.
Seems to work as described. I did wipe down the new Force chain with brake clean prior to the Hot waxing and strip chip bath. The Hot wax stuck well and the chain links were definitely stiff after cooling. 600 miles on the new chain with 3 added drip wax applications. The chain has never made noise regardless of stretching a re-drip to 220 miles once. Chain stays clean and smooth running. I will remove at 1000miles de-wax and do another hot wax application. 2 more drip waxes first.
My drivetrain is quieter and smoother than ever; this is superior to any other lubrication product on the market. Before this product, I was cleaning my cassette and chain after every ride. Now I just wipe my chain down after each ride instead - much easier! Cassette barely gets dirty and I clean it every 3rd or 4th ride as needed. Top off after about 100-200 miles with the Super Secret drip; the whole system is an absolute game changer. Yes it takes some effort and getting used to, but it's well worth it. Check out zerofrictioncycling . com for the real data, and how use of this will extend the life of your drivetrain.
I hot waxed two Ultegra 11-speed chains 6 weeks ago. Thoroughly cleaning the chains with nasty solvents was a pain, but it only needs to be done once per chain. I followed the instructions in the Zero Friction web page. Each chain then received an hour soaking in a crock pot with half a bag of the Silca Secret Hot Wax Melt. On my first pedal it was obvious that the chain was much quieter. I have since re-waxed one Ultegra chain, and thoroughly cleaned and waxed two Campagnolo Chorus 12-speed chains for my new bike. The re-waxing is much easier and faster than the first clean and wax. Waxed chains remain extremely clean and dry to the touch. No oily grime or residue. A bag of Silca Hot Wax will last for tens of thousands of miles. I am now completely sold on Hot Waxing.
It is hard to review the wax on its own - I have to mention the Silca Strip Chip and their Chain Waxing System. You use the wax in the chain waxing system and it is best done with a new chain and a Strip Chip. You end up with a very stiff chain that you need to manipulate to get it remounted on the bike and then 20 or so minutes to break it in. This is all fairly easy to do and no greasy mess.
Once on the bike you just use a microfiber towel to clean off the dirt. Every 150 miles you can use Silca Super Secret Chain Lube to keep up the lubrication, and after 1,000 miles or so you can rewax the chain by boiling the wax off in a pot or just pouring boiling water over the chain. A rewax is pretty quick and you are back to square one.
Since the dirt is prevented from getting inside the spacers and links the chain will last longer and is very quiet while running. You can wax an older chain but that will contaminate your wax - it is best to start with a new one and enjoy the ride
wax the way it should arrive...so easy
If you live in a dry climate and don't wax, you cray. This is sooo much better than traditional lube.
Use this on my mtb and gravel bike. Doesn't collect debris and holds up well in dirty conditions. Can get over 200 miles on chain if don�t end up in very muddy condition's or rain. Overall stays quite and keeps drive train clean
I don�t get chainring grease tattoos any more, but the waxing process requires a little more work. I rotate my chains every couple of weeks (sometimes sooner). You have to get yourself setup with an ultrasonic cleaner, and a way to relax your chain frequently. I use a small crockpot. Once you have the equipment and process dialed, it�s not too bad.
Used this for the 1st time on my road bike after replacing the Cassette and Chain Ring. Started with 2 new SRAM Rival AXS chains and clean them thoroughly as recommended and used a small beauty wax pot. I alternate chains every 150 miles. the shifting is quick, quite, and positive. The drive train feels less resistive. Chain is spotless and stays that way. No grease or stains. I am expecting my drive train to last longer. My previous cassette and chain ring lasted 6000 miles. If you are ready to try hot waxing, I highly recommend this product
Started waxing about a year ago to see if the claims of three times the life of a chain are really true, but it�s going to take some time to get there with 4 bikes in the rotation. I hot wax when the first of the bunch reaches 400-500 miles and use super secret drip on in-between. I really like how clean the chain and cassette are with this method, just wipe with a microfiber cloth and re-lube.
Bought a crock-pot for $20 and constructed posts which straddled the pot. Posts held a steel rod for allowing the chain to drip into the crock-pot. Melting and applying the wax went smoothly, but freeing up the waxed chain after it dried was a pain.
I use this periodically and top up as needed with drip wax. I�m happy to have a clean chain and save the wear on my other components.
Great product, the bag is easy to add more wax to my pot if getting low, with 10-12hr rewax intervals I see zero chain wear
I've done two new chains with this wax and Chip Strip, and with one cleaned w Silca's cleaner and then waxed with the same mix as the first two. I rode the 40 mi leg of Levi's Gran Fondo on 4/13/24. Smooth sailing. The other new chain I waxed is on the bike in my trainer. Both work fine. It's nice not getting slimed by these waxed chains.
Perfectly works to coat every minute area of your bicycles chain. What more can you ask for. You also get the smoothest shifting chain ever.
easy to apply. lasts 500 mi
