FAQs about Waxed Chains
By Lennard Zinn
- Why is the wax on my chain fractured and flaky?
answer: Because freed up the waxed links. When a chain cools after being submerged in wax, it is stiff, and the links are too rigid to bend around your gears and derailleur pulleys. We freed up each link individually for you so that it could be installed on your bike. That shattered the exterior wax.
- How do I avoid getting wax flakes on the floor when riding my trainer indoors or when working on my bike in a bike stand?
Answer: Ride it outdoors for an hour before using it indoors. This will bring it up to full, super-lubricated speed as well as allow the loose wax pieces to fall off. Or place a mat on the floor under the bike.
- Can I put drip lube on my waxed chain?
Answer: Yes, and only use one of our four recommended wax-based drip lubes. We recommend these water-based, wax drip lubricants for waxed chains: Silca Super Secret Chain Lube, Effetto Mariposa Flower Power Wax Lube, and CeramicSpeed UFO Drip Chain Coating, or Tru Tension BananaSlip Tungsten Race Lube. Apply these lubes the night before riding to allow the water the wax is suspended in to evaporate.
No other lube is as low-friction as these four, and other wax-based ones have carriers that can attack the wax in your chain.
- How do I optimize my waxed chain?
Answer: Dry conditions: Every 100mi (150km), wipe it off with a clean rag. Every 200mi (or 350km), put a drop of one of the wax drip lubes listed in 3, above, on each chain link; let it dry at least three hours before riding. Every 1,000-1,500mi (1,600-2,400km), have us re-dip your chain in hot wax.
After riding in the rain: Dry the chain, ideally by blowing it out with an air compressor or hair dryer, wipe it with a clean rag, and drip on one of the wax drip lubes listed in 3, above.
Riding all day in pouring rain and mud, like a >100-mile gravel race: While your waxed chain will be the fastest, best choice and will go longer before slowing down due to grit, it will need to be lubed during the event with an oil-based drip lube, since wax-based drip lubes will wash off. The chain will need to be thoroughly cleaned and re-waxed.
- Can I wash my bike without compromising my waxed chain?
Answer: Yes. Rinse the chain with water only and dry it immediately with compressed air or a hair dryer. Avoid getting soap or solvent on it. Ideally, remove your chain before washing your bike.
- Is my chain faster than with normal chain lube?
Answer: Yes. Independent friction tests show that the lowest-friction chain preparation is immersion waxing (after thorough cleaning).
- Will my chain last longer than with normal chain lube?
Answer: Yes. Independent chain-durability tests demonstrate greatly extended chain life with immersion waxing (after thorough cleaning). If you follow the above maintenance procedures, you will get years of fast-running life out of your chain before reaching the elongation point of recommended replacement, saving lots of money on chains and cassettes (scroll down to see cost-to-run comparison).
- Other recommendations?
Answer: Yes; have us wax two identical chains for you and interchange them every 1,000-1,500mi (1,600-2,400km) or when it starts to squeak so that we can re-wax one while you’re riding the other one.
