Cleaning your cycle, how far do you go?

[PaulSB]

I was referring to hot waxing, i.e chain off in some sort of warm tub/pan/bath which I can't be arsed with. Hadn't considered dribbling wax 'cos I don't know much about it.

I've been using Fenwicks All Conditions chain lube It seems to work well, better than the Finish Line wet lube I used to use and way better than the Muc Off dry lube I tried for a bit. Not tried anything else beyond those though.

The commuter obviously gets filthy this time of year and I do try to remember to at least wipe it once a week but I'm not very organised and I often don't. It can be a few weeks between lubings too.

One thing I don't really understand is how it could be much less filthy with wax. The road film, salt and spray isn't going to be magically repelled by a forcefield.

Also could the silent drivetrain that's touted as clear evidence the wax is doing a better job as a lube, just be a damping effect of thicker jollop on the moving parts, and leading to a placebo effect? I don't know, don't mean to deny other folks' experiences, I'm just wondering.

Oh, I agree. Hot waxing isn't for me. I have a couple of friends who do this.......life is definitely too short!

I don't commute but ride in most conditions. The liquid waxes I use, Squirt or Silca, leave everything dry. All the lubes I've tried leave some sort of sticky residue, it's this that debris adheres to. Wax is dry, nothing for the muck to stick to.

I can't say I've thought about chain noise. I know my is silent, I just have that down as a nice clean chain running on clean cassette and chain rings.

 

[Binky]

What a strange link that (I presume) the forum has inserted for "always riding" (https://alwaysriding.com/) - I could not find a single product for sale.

Yeah, wasn't me!

 

[Webbo2]

Oh, I agree. Hot waxing isn't for me. I have a couple of friends who do this.......life is definitely too short!

I don't commute but ride in most conditions. The liquid waxes I use, Squirt or Silca, leave everything dry. All the lubes I've tried leave some sort of sticky residue, it's this that debris adheres to. Wax is dry, nothing for the muck to stick to.

I can't say I've thought about chain noise. I know my is silent, I just have that down as a nice clean chain running on clean cassette and chain rings.

I saw a thing on the GCN tech show where they explained how drip wax worked. In order to be able to drip it on the chain it needs liquid in its constitution, it then drys out. However if it gets wet it turns back to liquid and then will get washed off.
Their description was much more scientific as the presenter Olly has a PHD in chemistry.

 

[PaulSB]

I saw a thing on the GCN tech show where they explained how drip wax worked. In order to be able to drip it on the chain it needs liquid in its constitution, it then drys out. However if it gets wet it turns back to liquid and then will get washed off.
Their description was much more scientific as the presenter Olly has a PHD in chemistry.

That's interesting, I'll look for it. I run full guards in winter but nothing in summer. I guess the guards give a lot of protection as I don't feel I've experienced the problem. Certainly not in a noticeable way.

 

[Dadam]

All the lubes I've tried leave some sort of sticky residue, it's this that debris adheres to. Wax is dry, nothing for the muck to stick to.

Summer dry dust absolutely, but winter road muck tends to be wet and so will stick to anything via surface tension. It's a lovely cocktail of water, salt, rubber from tyres, brake pad particulates, pollution and gawd knows what else.

I guess the wax might help it bead more and hence be more likely to be thrown off, like car wax does with rain, but that would depend on it being buffed into the surface. Oil based lubes would do much the same with mickling, albeit the film might not last as long.