Did we miss any tricks? Let us know in the comments 👇
@spardamustdie479 ай бұрын
After lubing on each pins and rollers I would run 2 fingers( kind of like pinching the chain) while back pedalling a couple of revolutions just to make sure the wax lube penetrates deeper into the rollers.
@foxy17069 ай бұрын
with drip on wax i seem to be getting more surface rust. even tho i wipe down chain after rides. whats the easiesy way to avoid this. or is just a case of deep clean each time and rewax after rain
@stevetroyanovich22369 ай бұрын
Yes, you missed a trick. At 5:39 when you said to wipe the chain with a microfiber rag--top and bottom-- you wiped the outside surface of the chain twice, NOT the outside and then the inside surface of the chain where it makes contact with the cassette and the rings. C'mon, Ollie, we expect so much more from you ;-)
@wplg9 ай бұрын
I thought it was better to apply the drip lube on the bottom, not the top of the chain? Applying the lube on the side where the rollers meet the chainring makes more sense.
@PoulHansenDK9 ай бұрын
It must be even more effective, to warm the chain after the 2x dripwax has dried.
@3WalkingPoles9 ай бұрын
When you clean the chain with microfiber cloth (5:33) from the bottom and from the top, you're cleaning exactly the same side. What am I missing?
@ABHI-dl4dc7 ай бұрын
Just grab the chain 😂 I don't know why he did like that
@bigfutus5 ай бұрын
He drips the wax on that side, so maybe that's why.
@DamirUlovec3 ай бұрын
True. Misleading. Obviously someone else is lubing his chain, that's for sure.
@ltu429 ай бұрын
A test I've seen on some Russian channel about whether the chain needs to be rewaxed: drum on it with your fingers, and if you hear the rollers rattling like a string of beads, it;s time. If they're muted, there's still enough wax. It is a pretty conservative test in my experience, but better than "just listen to your chain, you'll know".
@MrLuigi-oi7gm9 ай бұрын
I've been using Silca Hot wax treatments with Silca drip wax between Hot Wax treatments for a long time. Works great. But one thing I do that wasn't mentioned here is after applying the drip-on wax I run a heat gun (or blow drier) over the chain. This does A GREAT job of melting the wax that has dried on the outside surface of the chain (where it is not helping much at all) and allows it to penetrate into the pins and rollers. It leaves the chain much tidier on the outside (no big flakes of wax sitting on the outside of the chain) and better gets the wax where it's needed. Anyway, most everyone has a blow drier and this step takes no more than a couple minutes. I think it's well worth the time. 👍
@SingaporeUntold9 ай бұрын
Have you tried hearing the chain and then drip wax or should it be wax first then heat. I like this idea
@MrLuigi-oi7gm9 ай бұрын
@@SingaporeUntold Hi! I understand your question completely and it's a good one. I always apply the drip wax to no cooler than a room temperature chain, but don't preheat the chain. Applying heat AFTER applying the drip wax gives me great control over the melting of the drip wax so I can apply just enough heat to liquify the wax and have it flow into the pins and rollers. I am guessing that heating the chain BEFORE applying the drip wax would not give me that level of control. The wax might not penetrate as well because it might not liquify enough. Or it might get too "runny" and drip to the floor. I'm also guessing that heating the chain sufficiently before applying the drip-on wax would take quite a bit more time than just heating the wax after applying the drip-on wax. BUT, you've piqued my curiosity and I might try it the next time I apply drip wax. 👍
@SingaporeUntold9 ай бұрын
@@MrLuigi-oi7gm I’ll try your way next time. Thanks for sharing.
@MrLuigi-oi7gm9 ай бұрын
@@SingaporeUntold I hope it meets your expectations. 🤞👍
@SingaporeUntold7 ай бұрын
@@MrLuigi-oi7gm yup tried it. I’m actually using a food torch at a very low setting until it melts the wax and sucks into the rollers. It does indeed work and i tell you, it’s penetrating better than the original viscosity of the drip wax in my case ceramicspeed. I tested it and it seemed to suck it about 2 drops, any more and it’ll drop out of the rollers. So what I am doing is one drop penetration with low heat for the whole chain then one drop normal for the whole chain and spin the crank to get some wax on the cog teeth. Or maybe i should do that in the reverse. Do the spin around first then do the penetration. Hmm. But yes less waste as it goes where it needs to. Actually not just less waste, I think technically should perform same as the crock pot right
@traderz139 ай бұрын
The cross chaining tip is mega and not heard that before.
@philstephens19429 ай бұрын
Lots of tips at Silca Velo channel.
@steve_m.34039 ай бұрын
I’ve been using the drip on wax since Silca first started selling it and asked Silca directly how best to clean the chain if I was removing it from the bike to clean. They responded that I should just put it in very hot water, shake it and rinse it off. I see others commenting here that they do this as well. When I clean it this way I then pour 99+% isopropyl alcohol in the container, pour it out and repeat which allows the chain to dry very quickly.
@gottagetaname9 ай бұрын
I always pre-heat my drip on wax in a Sous Vide hot water bath at 160F. This causes it to reach the tiniest regions of the rollers and contact points! It causes it to freely flow into every nook & crany! IT WORKS!!
@Watermodels9 ай бұрын
If your drip on wax is kind of thick, you could try to heat the (closed) bottle by put it in a buket with hot tap watter. That may helps to get it more liquid and it's therefore easier to apply. Try it out...
@gcntech9 ай бұрын
Oooo interesting! Is this something that you've done in the past? 👀
@chrisgitter32659 ай бұрын
@@gcntech this is what I do with Smoove wax lube -- run it under hot water for 30 seconds before I apply, shake well, and apply. Seems to penetrate better than when I didn't heat it up
@mlee60509 ай бұрын
I bet Ollie don't as "we are sponsored by silica so can't run out"
@khazza9309 ай бұрын
5:35 did Ollie just do the same side of the chain twice?
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
Yeah! c'mon Mr PhD. Surely you just need to wrap the cloth around the chain
@bradcolbeck8169 ай бұрын
Yup, the bottom of the bottom is the top of the top …
@nemethosee2 ай бұрын
That cross-shift trick though! Haven’t thought about it, but it makes so much sense. Cheers!
@markusseppala65479 ай бұрын
Before re-applying hot melt wax I like to put the chain in boiling water, close the lid and shake it hard for a few seconds. Removes a lot of dirt and keeps your hot wax clean.
@gcntech9 ай бұрын
Oooo great hack! Super cool to hear people have their own methods 🙌
@SingaporeUntold9 ай бұрын
One more step is to shake in alcohol to push out the water for fast drying
@PhilDowson-hq3dj9 ай бұрын
I just pour over a kettle of hot water with the chain off the bike, the dirt will have minimal ingress into the chain so you're melting the coating and dirt mix off in no time at all
@ktmrichi8 ай бұрын
ultrasonic cleaner with a heating function 🤩 heats the water to 80 °C while cleaning.
@russellbaker42567 ай бұрын
Dry road use -> straight to hot wax (ZFC)
@potsy99732 ай бұрын
It seems to me that wax would inhibit oil from sticking to the contact points on the metal. It also seems like a lot of trouble. I like the "old fashion way" and will stick to the tried and true oil method and reg. chain maintenance. Yes oil collects dust that is why its good to strip it and re-apply fresh. The whole process takes me 5 minutes or less.
@brandonhoffman47122 ай бұрын
I did some research on wax lubricants. Thanks to zero friction, truly a wealth of information. I read between the lines a little, looking @ the chart data. My conclusions: Molten speed wax is a better performing wax for dry enviornments. Offering less friction upon testing until things get wet. Silca secret wax is better under adverse conditions. It offers slightly more resistance overall compared to molten speed wax. Performs similar in the dry to molten speed wax (same type of curve on chart, just slightly higher friction) but in the wet it starts to shine. And in extreme mucky situations it just keeps on ticking. I will be switching to molten speed wax once I run through my silca supply. I live in southern California, a dry climate. I think the good drip wax to top up in the dry is UFO drip.
@drpaulmartin9 ай бұрын
As with others already commented... The top tip is two (or more) chains. Have one ready to go. Then re wax whenever. As it takes 4-6 weeks of riding (MTB in the wet as well) between changes I can get some time to get it done. Other tip is to always dry the chain when putting it away or you may see some surface rust. Have some drip on. Have never used it...
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
Imagine not lubricating your chain with oil and it literally rusts in front of you then thinking, wax is the best lube for bike chains, smh.
@bikebrain9 ай бұрын
I use a drip on wax and always apply it on the inside of the chain on the lower run rather than on the top. This is so that centrifugal force draws the lube through the chain as it rotates.
@gcntech9 ай бұрын
👀
@QoraxAudio9 ай бұрын
Same here. The inside is the most important part of the chain; the rollers in particular.
@shellderp4 ай бұрын
watch silcas video on why they recommend applying it ontop
@keessonnema9 ай бұрын
I bought drip on wax a few weeks ago, still have to clean my wet-lubed oilly chain (riding indoors at the moment, so have to get it outside to properly clean it). Quite excited as I actually never ride in rainy weather, so the wax will be way easier and way cleaner than oils.
@Mgrant81633 ай бұрын
I waited too long and stretched my chain out on my road bike. The gauge read .75% but I knew it was time looking at the cassette. I ordered a new chain and cassette. I also ordered the Silca hot wax pot and drying rack. It was back ordered at first but in the same week I ended up with my parts, wax and strip chip for the factory grease. First ride on the new chain this week. I did 50k and it was amazing. Smooth as butter and absolutely now chain noise at all. Shifts felt crisper and more accurate as well.
@kevingregoire10429 ай бұрын
I don’t have a wax melting pot. To get best results with drip wax, I hair dry evaporate and permeate it in, doubling it if needed. This is easier done with chain off the bike. With hair drier you literally see the solvent evap and wax liquify and enter the rollers in seconds.
@mylarrito9 ай бұрын
The silca hot wax comes in a "boilable" bag. So you don't need anything extra. If you're already removing the chain I'd say go with that.
@MelanieAston-u5lАй бұрын
So when you apply the drip wax on the chain while the chain is still on the bike, just let it dry and no wiping off?
@lawrencenahlik98059 ай бұрын
Um, Ollie, you showed us how to wipe the bottom of the chain, then the top. Thing is, you were wiping the OUTSIDE both times. Wouldn't it be better to think of it in terms of wiping the outside and the inside?
@stuartdryer13529 ай бұрын
Once you've learned the process, it's just as easy to re-imerse the chain in hot wax and it works better. And no, you dont need to elaborately re-clean the chain each time. The drip version has to be applied very carefully and requires a 24 hr dry period.
@Miles_and_Motions9 ай бұрын
This was my q, so you just wipe down and drop in?
@stuartdryer13529 ай бұрын
@@Miles_and_MotionsThat's it. Use one drop on each link, making sure it goes into the roller.. It can be a bit messy, so put a towel on your chain stay. But don't ride until the next day. Wax is not like other lubes.
@philstephens19429 ай бұрын
@@Miles_and_Motions You can use hot water to flush out old wax if need be.
@jellyfishsalad59269 ай бұрын
It's good to use the drip version though if you are bike packing or on holiday and don't have access to hot waxing equipment.
@stuartdryer13529 ай бұрын
@@jellyfishsalad5926 Definitely, especially if there is any chance of extended rainy weather.
@Mgrant81633 ай бұрын
Even though I'm newly retired, I don't have the patience to put a drop on each link. If I have to wait 12-24 hours for it to dry, I might as well place the chain with boiling water (finally get to use the side burner on my BBQ) then re-immerse/let dry and re-install. I did my first 50k this week on my road bike with a waxed chain (new chain and cassette). I'm sold. Buttery smooth and completely silent. Going to wax my MTB chain this week.
@davidwargin17669 ай бұрын
Finally!! This was something I was always wondering about. Am I doing it right, etc.? Bravo, GCN.
@BrianRPaterson9 ай бұрын
Run 2, or even 3 chains is the best way. So you even out cassette wear, and you've always got a spare ready to go. Once you get the knack, it only takes a few minutes to swap a chain.
@andrewmcalister34629 ай бұрын
Yeah, the longest part is waiting for the wax to melt, so way more efficient to run 2-3 chains in rotation and rewax them together as a batch.
@benp4399 ай бұрын
That, and you'll be more motivated to switch them instead of waiting until the last minute to rewax.
@BrianRPaterson9 ай бұрын
@@benp439 Absolutely!
@gcntech9 ай бұрын
You sound like you've got the waxed chain game down! 🙌
@BrianRPaterson9 ай бұрын
@@gcntech I learned from The Master!
@jameshisself93249 ай бұрын
Why would you apply it to the top outside of the chain? Seems better to apply it to the bottom inside long run so that the wax is pushed into the chain when rotating instead of being flung outward off the chain.
@cb68669 ай бұрын
Thank you Dr O and crew...I did the drip on method yesterday , and I'll ride tomorrow and see how it goes . We are getting flooded right now , time to man the boats and bail ...our town is below sea level , and surrounded by rivers
@davidhughson1899 ай бұрын
Josh, would be proud of you! I also use Silca moist wipes, and wipe off the chain b4 putting the wax lube on
@cracked2299 ай бұрын
For the price of drip on it's easier to buy multiple chains and only do a full immersion wax every few weeks/months depending on how much you ride and the number of chains.
@ad98989 ай бұрын
I was a sceptic of waxing until I saw Shane Miller's vid where he got 15000km with no wear. So jumped in. It's a revelation, chains last endlessly and no gunk on drive chain. Worth the investment I'd say.
@marcussoininen20849 ай бұрын
The complete lack of sticky oil all over the bike is a nice bonus.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
It's bullshit, chain wear is completely random.
@Poof579 ай бұрын
Edit: Currently using wet lube, never used wax Wait what, you mean that wax does not gather dust and other garbage over time ? Driving in a city here and the chain get really dirty really fast like full of dark sticky thing after one exit and that also goes to my pants when I touch the chain with my right leg : ( Doesnt have a garden so washing with water pipe is not possible and its really in need of big cleaning rn 😢
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
@@Poof57 The myths from big wax get stranger every year.
@Poof579 ай бұрын
@@___Bebo___ In case it was misunderstood I wasnt doing sarcasm here, im currently using wet lube, never used wax, and my chain health is crap
@ETengineer9 ай бұрын
"you can do it for both the bottom of the chain and the top of the chain" yeah, but when you wipe the bottom at the bottom and the top at the top, it's both the same (outside) side you never wiped the inside ;)
@ibnchukkara9 ай бұрын
I wanted to say that too, you were first :)
@MisterAndyS9 ай бұрын
Yup!
@dakalla9 ай бұрын
What I do after a wet salty winter ride, is to just shake the chain in hot water. This flushes out all old wax, together with all the dirt picked up from the road. After that the chain is all metally like after the first time degreasing and ready for a rewax. It's one step more, but easy to do and worth it i think. And it's faster than waiting for a drip on to dry.
@wplg9 ай бұрын
I thought it was better to apply the drip lube on the bottom, not the top of the chain? Applying the lube on the side where the rollers meet the chainring makes more sense.
@10ktube9 ай бұрын
Does a device exist that has less than a third of a watt margin of error that can measure wattage loss? Especially for the bike industry? I think this is all getting a bit nuts.
@stephencharles69329 ай бұрын
When using the cloth to remove road dust before drip waxing, a little spritz of isopropyl aclcohol on the cloth helps get the job done even better in my view. *drip wax after every ride then change to a second waxed chain after 500km or so (clean dry conditions only). Then hot melt both together. saves time, keeps rides silky smooth. I actually look forward to the hot melt process!
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
you're immersion hot waxing a chain every 500km and drip waxing after every ride? Completely unnecessary, it's either/or. A hot immersion wax will last 500 km in dry conditions. Drip waxing is meant to replace hot waxing for those that don't want to do it.
@stephencharles69329 ай бұрын
Just not true. They (Silca wax items) are totally designed to compliment each other but can be used separately in isolation too. @@liamgaul * & my rides are typically 50-100km each so a drip wax top up is welcomed by the chain I think
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
Yes, they are designed to complement each other. But an immersion wax lasts about 500km so you don't need to apply any drip wax if you are immersion waxing your chains every 500km. After the immersion wax has run out (approx 400-500km) you could then switch to drip wax, but it sounds like you're then switching to a fresh immersion-waxed chain and adding drip wax straight away before it's run out, unless I've misunderstood. What's even the point in immersion waxing if you're applying drip wax every 50-100km? People have been immersion waxing their chains every 400-500km without drip wax top ups for years.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
Wait until you guys discover mineral oil with high pressure stabilizers. Can ignore your chain for 2000km and it's quieter than wax.
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
@@___Bebo___ how does it last so long? Surely it attracts dirt though and requires cleaning your chain?
@manoz61949 ай бұрын
I just use drip wax but annoyingly sometimes I forget to re-wax it after riding in the rain so end up with a squeaking chain the day after. I really should make a sign as a reminder lol
@harimathur21919 ай бұрын
Oz cycling. Showed how to make top up wax
@milybanily9 ай бұрын
Yeah, he is the master.
@mariosergiodemarchi32389 ай бұрын
Don't know if anyone pointed this out already but, the bottom of the chain is the same side of the chain as the top of the chain, as you showed. You should've gone from the bottom to the top of the same section of the chain. I'm pretty sure you will agree when you realize it!
@duathlete8273 ай бұрын
I thought waxing the chain would keep it clean. Guessing not since your towel showed lots of dirt while cleaning it. Trying some drip on wax this evening and hoping for positive results.
@milybanily9 ай бұрын
One addition to you video. New chains must be cleaned you will be surprised how many shinny particles you get with your expensive chain. This parts mixed with oil or wax are very bad for the drive train. Get out factory oil and manufacture residue before wax chain for first time.
@jedisdad22659 ай бұрын
The drip on Silca Super Secret Wax tends to produce a chain which gets dirty. A hot dip waxed chain tends to remain cleaner. And it keeps your cassette cleaner as well.
@scottyolo19 ай бұрын
I don’t get how people don’t understand this… hotwax everytime.. get 2 or 3 chains if it’s too inconvenient to do 1 at a time. Jesus.
@Afrikakorps689 ай бұрын
Wow! What a relief!! I was worried about GCN not issuing the 26th video (just in 2023) on waxing/lubing your chain...
@FreeKanal5 ай бұрын
I just mix warm/hot beeswax and naphtha then let naphtha evaporate from chain, sometimes i add lanoline to the mix for better corrosion protection but just a little bit because if u add too much wax will become sticky.
@user-cx2bk6pm2f9 ай бұрын
Love the mudguards!!
@user-yx1qk4sk5t9 ай бұрын
Ollie's coif is sponsored and maintained by Silca.
@treyquattro9 ай бұрын
I'm convinced: chain waxing is the way to go. Every video I've watched (many) on the subject uses some kind of electric pot like an instant pot to melt the wax. Can I simply use a pan on the stove, you know, in the old fashioned way? Thanks!
@crooky3408 ай бұрын
You should avoid that, it will be most likely to hot and the wax will evaporate which you don't want. (Wax smokes are highly flammables)
@ABHI-dl4dc7 ай бұрын
Nope bad idea
@HristoMitev1237 ай бұрын
You can use a sous vide bag inside a pot of boiling water though
@BJHolloway19 ай бұрын
I have seen a video on KZbin where a "Waxed Chain expert" stated that the chain wax can be made soluble using IPA. Then use this a a drip on solution. Any comments? Has any body tried it?
@timwong68189 ай бұрын
Spent some time wondering if I need expensive wax lube like Silca's. And indeed is noticeably easier to apply and less nosiy compared to squirt. In this case, you do get what you paid for.
@danielrussell94169 ай бұрын
Your cassette will get some gummy wax on it. I remove the wheel, spray the cassette with isopropyl alcohol and scrub with a brush, then rinse with water. Isopropyl alcohol sprayed on a cloth will also help with the gummy wax stuck on the outside of the chain.
@holovka9 ай бұрын
For full hot wax treatment, boiling hot water will clean the chain beforehand, in a tin or old pot .. leave it in for a few minutes, rinse and Wipe the resistant bits with microfibre cloth then wax bath. No need for extra chemicals to play around with.
@4countach49 ай бұрын
What's the best method to clean off all the wax build up on the cassette and jockey wheels ?
@philadams92549 ай бұрын
Boiling water melts it all off in seconds. Just try and avoid the bearings. I pour it in such a way that it touches only the teeth before dripping off onto the pavement outside
@danielrussell94169 ай бұрын
Screwdriver for the pully wheels. Isopropyl alcohol dissolves wax. For those that wax, it replaces degreaser.
@johngaller2789 ай бұрын
Not using wax....
@1315199 ай бұрын
Wax chain out off bike. And wipe it clean before instalation= no mess, no dust on chain, everything clean
@guntherkainersdorfer78399 ай бұрын
I am still running on oil-based stuff, but as soon as I have finished my remaining stock, I am gonna try waxing (chain, not legs 😁). 1 question: How do I remove all the wax, if i want to change back?
@tintansigloXXI9 ай бұрын
Hello, how many times can you use a quick link, or every time you clean the chain and put a new one in? Thanks and regards
@richardhaselwood94789 ай бұрын
Berm Peak have a good video where Seth explains how to know when a quick link is wearing out.
@rbonn38809 ай бұрын
Brilliant. Big to big good to know. Been waxing my chains for years and love the results! Thanks, Ollie!
@gcntech9 ай бұрын
No worries! Hopefully this video helps you with your waxing needs going forward 🙌
@robertpawliczak56349 ай бұрын
@@gcntech why not small to small? That way there is more movement between links and better spreading of the wax I would say
@sand95779 ай бұрын
Stay at home and not use a waxed chain? I really tried liking waxed chain, but it would always wear off after a weekend ride. I usually ride 200k in a weekend and it was back to re-waxing. I'm not even a serious rider, it really wasn't worth the hassle. Maybe it's good for race day, but for everything else, regular lubing last longer and it's just as good.
@johngaller2789 ай бұрын
hear hear !
@marcussoininen20849 ай бұрын
A couple of hours drying time is enough, I've used drip wax exclusively on my commute bike and fatbike for a couple of years and waiting longer doesn't seem to make a difference.
@beams20029 ай бұрын
The evidence is that with liquid lubes, it might sound like it's lasting longer, but it's not. In terms of wear protection, hot wax is tops, then drip wax, then oils.
@papalegba67965 ай бұрын
SAE non detergent mineral oil is proven to be the most effective lubricant for minimising friction & wear in chains. Not a debate, hundreds of years of industrial research backs this fact up.
@1porkins9 ай бұрын
#AskGCNTech: I'd like to know if there is any benefit if to using ultrasonic bath when applying hot wax. Am I driving the wax in? Is it worth the effortt?
@kziel17 ай бұрын
Unfortunately waxed drivetrain doesn't work in winter where roads are salted
@andrewhussey20026 ай бұрын
Why not?
@SingaporeUntold9 ай бұрын
5:18 how do you wash your micro fiber cloth. My wife will murder me if I used the washing machine
@thibaudepecheАй бұрын
By hand, in the sink
@kevingregoire1042Ай бұрын
@@SingaporeUntold I use a little plastic tray, the cut bottom of a laundry bottle also works, And I use a little laundry detergent and an oxyclean white powder laundry additive, I make it foam a couple of times works great, way better than laundry.
@adambrickley11199 ай бұрын
I love having a hot dipped chain on my roadbike, but i live in the South of France and typically never ride on wet roads. Id need ALOT of convincing to hot wax my mtb chain though.
@richardhaselwood94789 ай бұрын
Apparently, as good as waxing is for riding in the dry, it is an abolute game changer for wet and muddy conditions. Zero Friction cycling have a few very good videos on it.
@lakotamm9 ай бұрын
I love using drip wax, primarily because it keeps my pants clean from any oil stains. It's not great for rainy Copenhagen wheather though, because when it rains for days and days, you have no chance to rewax it and the wax wears off fast. What I am struggling the most with though are temperatures below zero. Whenever it starts to freeze the wax seams to wear down at an enormous rate. And getting it to dry is almost impossible.
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
What wax are you using?
@lakotamm9 ай бұрын
The normal Squirt chain lube.
@mylarrito9 ай бұрын
I'd try with hot wax and have spare chains. I have 3 chains for that and one EPT chain especially for winter due to the amount of salt used. So far so good, I've done 2k km now on waxed and put on my last waxed chain two weeks ago. When that gets noisy I'll rewax all three.
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
@@lakotamm yeah I had this problem with squirt when I started with wax when I lived in Copenhagen! It has penetration issues because it's so thick. I also found so much of it gunked up on the outside and the chain needed a very good wipe down. Zerofrictioncycling has done testing that shows it simply doesn't get into the rollers of the chain unless it's heated and it will have very dramatic wear rates if applied normally. If it's heated first then it will penetrate better and then you get very good wear rates. Your chain needs to be warm too though or the wax cools as soon as it's applied and doesn't penetrate as well. They do have a cold weather specific lube I think. I would honestly just switch to one of the other drip wax lubes on zerofrictioncycling that doesnt have penetration issues.
@cicckany85408 күн бұрын
I recently started to use Silca wax, but I still have some Squirt lube that I used before. Can I use the Squirt lube instead of the Silca drip on wax while it lasts?
@scottyolo19 ай бұрын
It takes less than the length of this video to pop off my chain and re-wax. Hotwax provides far better penetration and winter protection. Don’t worry about Shimano quicklinks, they can be re-used 100’s of times.
@dakalla9 ай бұрын
Can confirm, i reuse my shimano quicklinks for a whole chainlife. On the roadbike its way over 10k km!
@scottyolo19 ай бұрын
@@dakalla 🫡 yes. it goes without saying.. it’s a good idea to do a quick visual inspection for signs of cracking, and avoid any unnecessary bending during your install that will knock down the fatigue life. Otherwise, just send it folks and save your $$. 175 lb rider / 1500 watt sprint and have never had a failure. (DA 11 / 12 speed)*
@saltstein3 ай бұрын
What is the rear fender you’ve got there?
@autisticlife9 ай бұрын
Is there aero chain wax?
@jagsingh19796 ай бұрын
Why are you applying the wax to the top of the chain? Surely you should be applying it to the bottom so it soaks into the rollers (i.e. apply to the side of the chain which is in contact with the chain ring and cassette)
@rowanberry265 ай бұрын
If using drip on wax, how often should I degrease the chain, every time my bike gets a good clean?
@MichalBrat9 ай бұрын
Can you prolong life of the wax once applied properly "indefinitely" by cleaning the surface with microcloth and refreshing it with drops of liquid wax?
@mylarrito9 ай бұрын
I'd think so yes, just depends on how often you drip wax.
@MichalBrat9 ай бұрын
@@mylarrito I can do it every day if it means this takes care of my chain and I dont have to go through various stages of cleaning 😁
@mylarrito9 ай бұрын
@@MichalBrat would never be necessary unless you're riding in extreme conditions. I "refilled" drip lube on hot wax after 6-800km. If you ride a lot in the wet I'd maybe do it after 2-300km, but yeah.
@MichalBrat9 ай бұрын
@@mylarrito thanks for your advice!
@Graps199 ай бұрын
In the video when you clean the top and bottom of the chain with the microfiber cloth you are cleaning the outside only?
@hsmythi8 ай бұрын
At the cleaning part, when cleaned the cain from "top" and "bottom", you just cleaned it from the same side 😀
@IsabelleWhittaker2 ай бұрын
I just bought the SIlca starter pack, which is a stripper/wax prep + the chain coating itself. My chain came pre-waxed on a new bike. Do I not need to use the strip part at all? Just run the chain through a microfibre and then apply the coating? Thanks
@MelanieAston-u5lАй бұрын
Just leave the drip on wax without wiping it off?
@vinnyspeedracerwon46592 ай бұрын
What make rear fender is mounted on this Bike? Thank you!
@guyd40679 ай бұрын
5:36. '..you can clean the bottom of the chain and the top..." OB proceeds to clean the same side of the chain as the "bottom" has now become the "top". Perhaps inner and outer might be more accurate than top and bottom.
@iancollins61049 ай бұрын
It's all gone a bit Jean Micheal Jarre in the audio department. Very nice.
@Dhungerf609 ай бұрын
Im still on the fence about waxing my chain, but this video has helped me understand it a bit more. one step closer.....
@beams20029 ай бұрын
Bit of a faff first time. But if you do 2 or 3 chains at once, it will require less effort.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
Don't do it, use Chain L lube instead. Your chains will all rust with wax, it's inferior to mineral oil. Bottle of Chain L will last 5-10 years of heavy riding, is 10 dollars and is much quieter and smoother than wax.
@brannmacfinnchad90569 ай бұрын
The Big-Big trick is a question I had had for a while. #askgcntech Probably not, but do you have any feedback on waxed chains in the cold? Like...well into negative digits?
@sammycda9 ай бұрын
This morning I added a freshly waxed chain. The bike sat outside in 0 degrees C or 32 degrees F for an hour before I rode it. Until I rode for a few blocks it was stiff and shifted terribly and struggled when I back pedaled. After a little riding it seemed to work perfectly.
@benjyedwards71504 ай бұрын
At 5:35 Ollie tries to wipe the top and bottom of the chain, but because he switches from the chain under the crank and cassette to the chain above those, he's actually wiping the same side of the chain, not the top then the bottom!
@bobbafett19715 ай бұрын
I have used pure candle wax. Very water proof. And last longer.
@tpoljsak9 ай бұрын
Top tip for biggie-biggie for opening the chain!
@thomasb.42199 ай бұрын
what about washing the chain with waterbased bike cleaner first?
@theDude97505 ай бұрын
when I driplube, it always seems to just fall off the chain in a pool underneath. Such a mess
@ime069 ай бұрын
I noticed you applied the drip on wax on the outer surface of the chain. I'd usually apply lube on the inner surface, which is best practice for drip on wax or does it not matter?
@benoitbvg28889 ай бұрын
Pretty sure the one I bought says explicitly to put it on the inner surface. That's how I did it anyways.
@timwong68189 ай бұрын
No difference, the rollers roll when it contacts against the cassette and chainring, that means after pedalling for a bit, the so called 'outer' side will become the 'inner' side. And, besides, I don't want the wax to touch the cassette before it really gets into the rollers. So, either way works and I find myself more comfortable with just dripping on the outer side as I don't need to clean the cassette that much after the application.
@milybanily9 ай бұрын
Maybe in Arizona....
@philadams92549 ай бұрын
Doesn't matter, but it's best to do it on the top if cross-chaining like Ollie does here.
@milybanily9 ай бұрын
@@philadams9254 Not best but easier.
@user-cx2bk6pm2f9 ай бұрын
@6:41... "over" lubing the chain, I'm guilty of that... I didn't realize it was bad though
@marcussoininen20849 ай бұрын
Cold water, without detergent won't take too much wax off the chain, but will rinse out dirt and mud.
@PoulHansenDK9 ай бұрын
It's contradictory to say that "overlubing" with drip wax will give you lesser performance and at the same time promoting dip wax, which must be the most "overlubing" you can do. And as I've said before: You do want some wax on the side of the chain. I rode 20 km on a 2x drip waxed chain and then heated after a sligt drissle had stopped. I put the bike inside the house at 24 C but the next day I had lots of rust patches on the chain. Silca say Smoove has a small oil component, so I might go back to that and accept a bit of dirt instead of rust.
@beams20029 ай бұрын
It's actually the liquid component that's the problem. In the case of oils, overlubing attracts particles and the grinding paste wears on parts. Excess solid wax isn't a problem bc it sheds and any remaining wax doesn't mix with particles to cause wear.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
Wax doesn't protect or lube the chain very well, the one thing it does well is keep dirt off the chain, but this is pretty irrelevant because you can just clamp your bike in a work stand and hit the chain with your chain brush for 30 seconds and its clean.
@Bustergonad96496 ай бұрын
Sorry but after 6months of struggling with chain waxing every couple of hundred miles I've concluded that my time is better spent traing to gain 2watts🤦🤦
@jmallit9 ай бұрын
Does your dehumidifier accelerate the evaporation?
@infocuslearning9 ай бұрын
It’s funny, now that Silca are channel sponsors, that GCN are suddenly knowledgeable about waxing chains when they never used to mention it in the Muc-Off days 😂
@FunMushizzle9 ай бұрын
Swear by this. The brand shown is good but you can make your own for way cheaper too. The liquid top up is good for a quick thing once every 100-200km, leave it at least overnight and you're good to go! Full wet hot melt wax every 500km or so. If it's dirty beforehand, can just rinse it with water, spray bottle or hose doesn't really matter.
@Dimashoey9 ай бұрын
I need info on that nice mudguards
@CS-ep3ku5 ай бұрын
They look like the Raceblade Pro (or Pro XL) by SKS. I have some and love them since they're so easy to put on and remove.
@DrBrandMX9 ай бұрын
I stopped waxing my Mountain Bike because every ride it will come back completely dirty and ended up washing off everything and relubbing with normal oil compounds... is there a way to keep it going after a dirty muddy ride? I didn't get it from the video, thought it was being shared... So what should we do... washoff and use the drip off wax?
@scottyolo19 ай бұрын
Clean with boiling water and throw back into hotwax. Use zero friction cycling to decide what wax performs best in your environment. Always hotwax. Liquid immersive works fine if you’re running in dry clean conditions, but it dissipates quickly in the rain.
@robertmcfadyen91567 ай бұрын
I tried wax before Zero Friction existed . Experimental at first around 2001 .
@DiceySoundAndVision9 ай бұрын
Lots of recommendations to take the chain off to clean it or hot wax it but nobody mentions the cost of a quick link every time or are you all re-using them? They are not cheap!
@marshymarsh4039 ай бұрын
I've had no issues reusing them a few times. Reuse them until they don't make that click you feel when you reattach and snap them back locked.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
lol, this is the most hilarious part of chain waxing. One rough shift and that bent bushing broken quick link is busting in half and going right into your spokes. My suggestion is to get a Wipperman stainless steel master link. These are reusable unlike KMC/Shimano.
@michaelpatrick69509 ай бұрын
P. T. Barnum must have been thinking of cyclists. Anyone who pays $40-50 for wax are suckers. For 4 years I've used Gulf Canning Wax diluted with a little bit of lamp oil (super refined kerosene) to hot wax my chains. The lamp oil is to lower the melting point of the canning wax. I target a 120F melting temperature of the mixture in summer and 100F in winter. I have 2 chains so I swap on a cleaned chain and clean the other at my leisure. I have been using the same wax mixture for the 4 years because I thoroughly clean the chains before waxing. And that process is painless and environmentally friendly as I use ZEP citrus cleaner with a final rinse in 95% ethanol. I put the chain, ZEP and hot water in a bottle, shake it a couple of times, let it sit for a few hours while doing other stuff. Rinse and repeat with a second, clean solution. After the ZEP, a quick soak in the ethanol and then 15 minutes in the canning wax/kero. I get 225-275 miles of silent running depending on the surface I ride.
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
I've had the same bottle of Chain L lube for 5 years and it's quieter than any wax and lasts 1000 miles. Wax users are suckers in general or have too much free time.
@ettman2 ай бұрын
It is the same side of the chain you are cleaning 5:30 min into the video. The same side which is on the bottom first is on the top when you pedal around. So you cleaned the same side of the chain twice. You need to clean the outside and the inside not the outside and the outside again! ;)
@lukeashington19 ай бұрын
Is a waxed chain good or bad for a commuter bike road in all conditions?
@___Bebo___9 ай бұрын
It's bad, what you want is mineral oil with high pressure stabilizers. Chain L is a great brand. My main bike I ride 150 miles a week, I haven't cleaned or oiled the chain in 2 months it is buttery smooth.
@Miles_and_Motions9 ай бұрын
So when you want to immersive wax the second time, do you have to degrease and strip the chain clean again?
@pandatactical45309 ай бұрын
Where did the grease come from?
@edlazda32459 ай бұрын
If you're going to dunk the chain in molten wax, you don't need to clean it first. There won't be a huge amount of dirt anyway, and if you swish the chain around in the wax, the dirt falls to the bottom of the pot. It's no more difficult than using drip wax. If the chain needs attention between waxings, I use a thick liquid solution of the chain wax in paraffin (kerosene) -- 15% or so, put some on a cloth, run the chain through it and leave to dry. Removes surface dirt and leaves a film of wax which stops rusting. Wax being washed out by the rain doesn't seem to be a problem for me, and I don't think Ollie is correct in saying that wax is water soluble.
@jgogl97919 ай бұрын
I think Ollie was saying that the drip wax is wax particles suspended in a water solution, not that the wax itself is soluble (like sugar).
@adadinthelifeofacyclist9 ай бұрын
Microfibres are becoming a serious environmental problem - is there an alternative we can use (and that you can buy in bulk off Amazon) (or somewhere else that doesn't avoid paying taxes)?
@bikeman1239 ай бұрын
I cut up an old towel
@bbgorb5 ай бұрын
i am using smoove wax lub but it is still collecting very thick grease/dirty. is there something im missing? cause i find no solution anywhere i did strip the chain's lub cleanly... left me scratching my head.... anyone got this problem?
@BrightLight1059 ай бұрын
Can I just toss a chain back into my pot after using drip wax? Or do I have to go through the degreasing process again?
@marcussoininen20849 ай бұрын
Still a good idea to deep clean and degrease the chain every so often, like twice a year or so
@adamsteineke46619 ай бұрын
Is rub on wax (wend) the same as drop on essentially after you put some of the "activator" type stuff on top and rub it in?
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
no it's a complete gimmick and doesn't work. You need wax/lubricant inside your chain. There's no way for a solid wax to get inside through tiny gaps
@adamsteineke46619 ай бұрын
Have you seen the product? You rub it on quite thoroughly and then apply some of their cleaner, which chemically melts and seals it. I've used the product for years, I just wondered if there was a good way to "quickly" top it up, versus a full strip and apply.@@liamgaul
@liamgaul9 ай бұрын
@@adamsteineke4661 Is it Wend wax? There's no way that penetrates well enough. The wear rate data for it are shocking: zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Lubricant-detail-review-Wend-Wax.pdf