whatever happened to immersing thye chain in hot wax for a dry lube?granted, i didn't ride everyday for years, but the chains i treated this way stayed clean and are still sevicable after a long time.and no black streak on my calf when i bump the large ring into it, as I seem to do for some reason...I bought some "syn lube" lately, figuring i'd get up on the new good stuff...my chain looks like it belongs on a garbage truck! black gunk, and grit, just like on my old bike when I was a kid and lubed it with vaseline! I'm 48 years old, by the way, and not likely to change my ways...

I tried chain wax (I think that was even the brand name, but not sure) at least three times and always went back to messy traditional lubes. The reason was that although the chain wax kept the chain much cleaner than regular lube, it made pedaling a lot harder for me. I thought it might just be psychological, which is why I give it a second and third try (at least). But the result was always the same: noticeably harder pedaling. I'm not a champion athlete, and some of the hills in this town are steep, so I don't need to make things harder for myself!

I'd love to be able to have that cleaner chain (you're sure right about what the synthetic lubes produce, awful black gunk after just a few miles!), but I doubt that I'll go with the wax again, because it just hasn't worked for me in the past.

By the way, I have found plain olive oil to be a good lube. It probably ought to be replaced very frequently, but it's very cheap. And it doesn't gum up any worse than the synthetic lubes, and maybe not as bad.

However, I generally use Finish Line Cross Country lube, because I'm apt to be riding in the rain now and then, and it does hold up well.

The old-school hot dip wax treatment is waaaay passe', Alice.
There are a bunch of "new" lubricants (White Lightening is one, I believe) that use paraffin (wax, not kerosene, for any Brits out there) as the primary active ingredient. Except they use chemicals rather than heat to keep the wax in solution form. Douse your chain right on the bike, and the solvents evaporate leaving the wax. The chain stays clean, but over time there's a pretty big build-up of wax on the cogs and what-not.
But I'm with JonR on this. I think petroleum products in liquid form are better lubricants, mainly because instead of just wearing off the contacting surfaces, a liquid can flow back on to surface. And I, too, notice a difference in pedaling resistance There are no bearings in a chain, just lots of metal to metal contacts that are at their absolute worst when you're pushing the hardest.
My personal choice is Tri-flow for my semi-pampered road bike, and the Finish Line X-C stuff Jon mentioned for my commuter.

All that said, my opinion is that wax-based lubricants seem like a good choice for off-road bikes (since grunge doesn't stick) if you treat the chain often enough. (Warning: you may not want to take off-road advice from a roadie.)

I swear by white lighting. Been using it for about 6 years now. It worked great for super wet swampy conditions in Alaska and bone dry dust here in Boise. It is also clean, rarely get any chain marks on my legs or pants (commute). My shifting works flawlessly on all bikes, I rarely use my chain cleaner as the lube is allegedly self cleaning - yeah you get a little build up on the idler wheels, but my chain maintenance is essentially zip. I commute, MTB ride, and road ride and like it for all 3 uses.

BTW they have improved their filtration process since it first came out, no more plugged nozzles. I like the regular, better than race day.

Still use a light Teflon based lube for cables and pivots.

I highly recommend White Lightening, especially for MTB. I've been using it for years. It doesn't attract dirt, which makes for a smooth running chain and less cleaning. Also, it doesn't wash off like the liquid lubes. So if you ride through lots of streams (like me) or ride in the rain, this is a good thing.

Initially, you have to apply liberally, so if you didn't do this it may be why some of you seem to notice more pedalling resistance.

BTW, I have tried the Pedro's Ice Wax on several occassions and found it to be to thick and didn't penetrate into all of the nooks and crannies of the chain like the White Lightening does.

I can't apply WL in the cold, it just solidifies on contact, even above 10 C they state on the packet. Apart from that, its good stuff.

There are a couple of good chain-wax recipies out there. One used 50% paraffin 50% silicon wax with some added teflon and Molybdynum Disulphide (where the heck do you buy that ??).
The slipery stuff actually bonds to the metal surface. I think motorcycle chain wax dips use this kind of mix, but you can only buy them in huge tins.

You need a clean new chain to start with and soak it in melted wax for a few hours.
This technique probably works better if you alternate 2 chains (use a power-link, not breaking the rivets). You can then re lube at leisure.

In wet weather you have to keep the ouside of the links coated as well as lubing the inner bearing surfaces. A lot of teflon dry lubes are not good for this kind of use.

Michael -

Keep the WL inside the house where it's warm and you won't have a problem putting it on. I used to always keep a container in my car in case I forgot to lube my chain and was riding a trail I had to drive to. One winter day I got to the trail, went to lube the chain and had the same problem as you. Now I just try to remember to lube my chain ahead of time

I'm a big fan of Pedro's Ice Wax. It does a great a job and it keeps the chain very clean.

Hey Rider, quick question totally unrelated to this thread. How often will you be publishing you Webzine?

Joe -

Plans are to publish quarterly (although this is offset from a standard calendar quarter), so the next issue is scheduled for sometime in the last half of July.

Have something to you want to contribute?

Rider,

No I don't really have anything to contribute. Remember I'm the full-suspension advocate but I enjoyed reading the last issue and was wondering when the next one was going to be published.

Poz (secretly covets a singlespeed bike)

The number one mistake that people make when lubing their chain is leaving it wet. Wet is just a magnet for dirt. After applying the wet lube, let it sit for about 30-seconds and then wipe the chain as clean as possible to remove the excess lube. The lube only does it job in the rollers and the contact areas of the plates. By removing all the excess lube you will greatly reduce the amount of dirt that sticks to the chain.

Check out www.rocklube.com for some great products.

Oh, by the way, I hate White Lightning. NEVER ride an indor trainer with this lube unless you enjoy scrubbing black spots out of your carpet and off the walls.

Marc

Thanks! I was trying to get an answer on White Lightening wax lube as to performance on the bike. It might be cleaner, but I'll be working harder. No thanks. I'll clean and lube with Finish Line dry.

I have a bottle of pedros ice wax i got several months ago, for one week per month per month i say to myself "okay last time was just bad luck, lets try it again" So i clean clean and clean my drivetrain till its spotless and apply the stuff. Well i dont think it lubricates as well as tri flow, that gunk it accumilates is gross, and i still seem to get dirt on my chain

The hot wax treatment reminds me of a bizarre incident way back in the late '60's when I had a Velocette motorcycle in Australia. The "ye olde" owner's manual recommended to soak the chain in melted refined lard or beef dripping. That may have been OK in the cool climate of England but in the Australian heat it had the drawback of attracting swarms of flies to the chain after the bike was parked for a while. Then again, maybe the dripping I used wasn't refined enough. Needless to say I stopped this "natural" wax treatment after several college girls rejected my offer for a ride on the fly infested machine!

^^ LOL. I've heard (in an old Bridgestone catalog maybe?) of using Butter.. or even olive oil. Lard takes the cake though..

Finish Line dry works very well for me. I use it very sparingly. I'd rather have a slightly dry chain than an overly wet one, doesn't seem to affect the life or shifting of the chain.

Only a little to add to this. I've used an indoor rower for over ten years. It very accurately measures power output. When the chain needs lube (every 5 to 10 hours use) there is a big drop in power output.

I seem to remember one of the recommended lubes is indeed olive oil! Of course this chain is always indoors.

Perhaps it's me....

Perhaps it's humid, cold Michigan weather...

But Pedro's Ice Wax converts my nice, freshly cleaned (soak overnight in degreaser and scrub in the morning) chain into a black, sticky mess within 15 miles of riding. THick black gunk accumulates on the chain rings and derailleur.

And the thing still squeaks!

Grr!

Nope, not just you. Even if its humid out the stuff washes right off in 15 or less minutes

Thanks. <sigh> Good to know, I guess...

I'm so fed up with Pedro that I went out and bought a container of several lubes I've read about here on the forum. I'll use a different one each time I clean and see what happens.

To be honest, I"ve started with the "cheap" ones... and I'll go up from there as necessary. I've already subsidized Pedro's education and the education of his offspring. My experience with Pedro leads me to believe that most lubes I find at the LBS will only fund the retirement of it's manufacturer.

At this point, I don't see how 3-in-1 or motor oil could be any WORSE than Pedros Ice Wax, and I already am familiar with cleaning the chain...

There was a great thread back a while about things folks use for chain lubrication that weren't "meant" for bikes or were not sold in LBS...

3-in-1
Chain Saw lubricant
Motor Oil
Melted Parafin plus a dab of whatever-oil-grabs-your-fancy
Graphite

I'll try them all in turn until something works well. If something works VERY well, I'll let you all know.

I'm a W.L. woman, tried Tri-flow and it turned my chain into a dirty greasy mess.

Off-topic: Sylvan, I grew up in East Lansing, and am going to be there next week. Do you have any recommendation of a good LBS around there?

Moxfyre,

I can unreservedly recommend Central Park Cyclery over near Meridian Mall. Good selection, honest answers to questions. Denny's Bicycles on west Saginaw is a sister shop to Central Park Cyclery. Same good service, less floor space. I have not encountered any BS while shopping at either of these.

I do not recommend Velocipede Peddler. I have been dissapointed with them in several instances.

I have heard good things about Holt Cyclery, but have not personally visited them.

If you're looking to ride while you're here, check out the biketcba.org website and click on ride list.

Welcome back! I hope your stay is pleasant.

Thank you, I'm looking forward to it! I've been to Velocipede Peddler as a kid, and looking back I think they fleeced me...

I don't think I'll be able to stand not biking for a week, so I'll probably the Trek 820 w/slicks out of the garage. I really love riding in MI, the roads are so much more peaceful than out here (and flatter!). Maybe I'll need some spare parts, or maybe I'll just spend an afternoon at a shop and ogle the road bikes

I tried the old-school parafin wax method recently, and I'm a convert.
With oil-based lubes, I always found one of two things happened -- either the lube attracts dirt and turns into a black, sticky mess, or it washes off the first time it rains and my chain rusts.

I got a new chain about two months ago and dipped it in a mixture of 80% parafin and 20% beeswax. My chain has stayed clean and quiet ever since, and I haven't noticed any increased resistance when pedalling.

However, after solid week of rain (commuting daily) my chain is full of grit and starting to squeak (though it's still clean externally). So clearly the wax is not invincible.

Pros of wax:
Holds up somewhat better than any oil lubes I've used (especially when it comes to protecting the exterior of the chain from rust)
Less mess when applying the lube or handling the chain after
More fun to apply, and smells really nice for about a week after ;-)

Cons of wax:
Somewhat more work to apply. (After the wax dries, the chain will be stiff, so you have to work each link back and forth until it moves freely.)