I'm a waxer, been doing it since before it was the cool thing to do. Ultimately, the hot melt option lasts the longest out of the applications for wax. The drip on is convenient, you don't have to really do anything other than wipe the chain clean, drip on, back pedal, and wait overnight. No biggie, sorta the same process as drip on oils other than the waiting.
My only hiccup with the SS drip is longevity. I get maybe a 3 hour ride out of it tops before it gets grindy. So I only use it as a top up to my hot melt and in a pinch type of thing, it just doesn't last. And for that reason, I don't give it good value either, it works and does what it should, but not as well as the real thing, and it's honestly expensive even on sale.
And if you ride it in wet, forget it, it's worse than the hot melt. At least with that I can get some time on the bike and make all the cleanup afterwards worthwhile.
Convenience, great Grade A, longevity, Grade C. Clean though like the real wax, so that's a bonus. For the first application, I'd really encourage to make sure that chain is super clean, be extra OCD with it, or really use it as a top up, not as your primary (for my riding, if you do less and don't mind daily lubing, go for it). I ride too much and it isn't worth it as a primary for me.
I commute via bike as well as race, and keep a bottle at work for those after downpour rains coming in, I keep a fan on the bike to dry it by go-home time. Works fine there.
I heard about wax. I was not sure at first. A friend of mine jump on the experiment. His riding was quiet, smooth and his bike chain and gear cassette was clean, even after riding some gravel sections. Just hose down the bike for dust, with a rag he wiped the chain, then applied Silca Super Secret, the whole chain, and cassette was looking new. I was convinced. I now have a waxed chain too. The riding quality is very smooth and quiet.
I will recommend you place a drop of Silca super secrete chain lube on each chain link. Do it over a carpet, that can be vacuumed. When it solidifies flakes and it could track all over. so spin the chain few times to allow the wax conditioning lubricant flakes to fall down and them vaccum it. That's all Enjoy the ride.
I wax my chain about every 600 Mi and in between, use this stuff, it's awesome!
This wax lube is easily applied and helps to prolong each chain waxing. Made of the same stuff as the Silca Hot Wax it serves to "top off" the original waxing as it errods with wear. I like that Silca uses Tungsten Disulfide rather than the "forever chemicals" others include. Would recommend for hot waxers.
I use this for interval touch-up of my chains between full hot wax immersion lubrication. It will harden to be as dirt free as the hot wax itself, and has been measured as having great wear resistance and low friction. Silca products tend to be very expensive, but this one is worth it to me.
After reading ZFC data on low wear on drive train components with Silca wax and watching Silca Velo videos, made the switch to hot wax on MTB, gravel and 4 road bikes. Best results in my 50 years of riding. Used Squirt last 6 years which was improvement over Progold. Lots of mud on MTB here, wash with Silca cleaner, 5ml in bucket and scrub the bike, dry the chain with microfiber. After 5 winter rides have had no sqeaks, or rust, and added some of the SSSCL to the chain. Had tried using it on road bike chain and it seemed to run off, so added two M6 nuts and shook for 20-30 seconds, then warmed bottle in a cup of hot water; it went on the freshly dried MTB chain very well using the backpedal and drip onto chain on largest cog method. No need to drip on each link... Has dried well and filled in the gaps and super smooth running. This stuff is great.
I use this on road and mountain bikes, and it's awesome. Definitely notice the reduced watts, super quiet, and stays clean. I reapply it about every 250-300 miles. Is it an effort to apply? A bit, but its absolutely worth it.
With the advent of quick-links for our chains (finally!) taking the time to periodically clean and lube your chain thoroughly has never been easier. For years I never thought there was a whole lot of difference between lubes as long as you used something, but then came FrictionFacts.com showing us the massive difference between lubes and chains and I started paying more attention. For those of you who do the hot wax thing, this stuff sure looks similar when you're done with the process, and it is certainly more conveniently than having to cook.
For my everyday riding I am not that persnickety but being a serious time-trialist, when it comes to my time trial bike I spare almost no expense. So after watching Silca's vids and reading about this product I bit. I took the time to clean my chains (I bought a second so I could quickly rotate) as suggested and applied the SSSCL by completely submersing the chain so the stuff could penetrate deep into the pins and rollers.
I squeegeed it off and hung to dry as instructed. Upon reinstallation my drivetrain felt "like buttah." The question now will be how durable the stuff is. If it indeed lasts roughly 200 miles after a completely thorough cleaning and application, then the higher cost can certainly be justified for everyday use. If you are careful during the process, you really use very little per application. For right now I plan to use it only on my TT bike, but that might change going forward.
I just raced with this lube yesterday in the state championship 40k TT here in NC. Everything I did and used was near identical to last year on an identical course, and I was almost one minute faster. And at 61, I ain't getting any younger! Was it the SSSCL? Who knows for sure, but I can't stop using now! Wait for a sale and give it try.
Easy to apply. Lasts 250-350 miles. Keeps your drive train much cleaner and quiet.
I have been using this for over 2 years, drivetrain is clean and works well.
I can only surmise those saying their chain gets dirtier with this lube are not doing proper prep and application. When done correctly with a new chain, maintenance if so easy and the drive train function is excellent. After each ride, wipe down the chain, chain rings and give the cassette a quick pass with a rag. I get roughly 200 - 250 miles then reapply, usually when i wash my bike. I use Silca brake and drive train cleaner on the chain, rings, cassette, pulley wheels, brakes. That gets the drive train sparkling while leaving the wax lube in place. I then reapply as per the Silca video (largest cassette cog, big chain ring, applying at apex of rear cog when at max separation), leave it overnight, and good to go. Super quiet and smooth. There will be some splatter at first until you get it down as to the application -- one drop per pin, run the chain through your fingers, let it completely dry). If there is any, it wipes off easily. Used in combo with new chain stripping/cleaning, initial soak, then wipe/wash and reapply, and you are golden.
I use this every third or fourth ride after "Hot waxing" a chain!!
I use this in between re hot waxing the chain. It's a little tricky to properly apply. It's best to see the latest video from silca
I can't comment on the lower friction claims, as I don't have the equipment to measure that. This lube makes my chain and gears very dirty, black and greasy. It's way to much work to do a proper after bike cleaning. I generally re-lube every other ride, for optimal performance. I wipe down the chain and gears before re-lubing, and after lubing to remove any excess lube.
I'm going to stick with Boeshield, even if there is a little more drag. I get about 4000 miles per chain, on the road, with only slight wear/stretching.
works great between hot waxing and works great in wet condisions
I use super secret in between hot waxes. The reduction in chain wear is amazing and makes this stuff a real bargain compared to oil lubes. Plus it feels so nice to ride a clean and silent waxed chain! I'm never going back.
I�m sold on the Silca waxing system. Noticeably less chain friction and no more chain tattoos. .
I�m sold on the Silca waxing system. Noticeably less chain friction and no more chain tattoos. .
I began hot waxing the chains on my Tri bike and my road bike. This is the recommended product for maintaining optimal chain lubrication in between waxing. It is a little pricy, but the technology is what it is. You either subscribe to the idea or you don't. There's no real in between stance with hot waxing chains. I find that this goes on fairly well, but it does drip off the rollers a little too readily. It's a little tricky to get it to sink down in the tiny little spaces. The best you can do is double drip on every roller as you rotate the pedals backward. There are videos out there with tips and tricks. Good luck.
This chain wax is amazing. I followed the Silca videos and stripped the chain of all factory grease then submerged it in the super-secret wax. No need for a croc pot, heat the wax, clean it up/ or have the time and space for that process etc... the drive chain is very clean all the time and wipes clean with the Silca gear wipes (after several hundred miles or after a ride in the rain). After cleaning with the gear wipes, I let it dry and apply the super-secret from the drip bottle. After 500 miles or so ill removed the chain and stip the wax with only degreaser, let it dry then re-submerge in the wax... I used the Smoove Lube, this is a lot better. Completely stripping the factory grease with Silca's instructions and submerging is the way to go. if you find yourself tired of trying to remove grease from all parts of the drive train....this is worth it.
