Cycling Independent

Finally, regarding Chain Lubes. I love the new lubes. Generally, I think you cannot go wrong with any of them; but as I have said before, Squirt is my choice. Yes, I have tried the others. I thought they would be better, but alas, not for me.  

Yes, I tried the hot wax method. In fact, I was hot waxing in the ’80s. Yes, wax in a coffee can and made a double burner on the stovetop to use it. It was way more ‘involved’ back then mainly because there were not quick links, so you had to ‘break’ your chain to hot wax it. Eventually I gave it up and went back to petroleum lube; but even then, I leaned to the ‘dry’ lubes. I tried hot wax again with this new generation. Usually, I still hot wax the first lube of a new chain. After that, a liquid emulsion wax does the trick. I might be giving up a half of a watt. So be it.

What do I like about waxing my chain?

Well, it is certainly not the cleaning and preparing the chain for the application of wax. That part is a pain. That junk they put on it at the factory is thick. Once the chain is prepped (cleaned) the act of hot waxing is fairly easy. It just takes more equipment and time than a liquid emulsion wax. I think that is the case with most things – the act is easy but preparing for the act is the time-consuming part.

What I like about having a waxed chain is that it stays clean, it does not attract dirt, it works well, it does not throw lube all over your rear triangle and cassette, and when you touch the chain … your hands are not black and greasy.

That is one reason I stick with Squirt. I have tried the other ‘more high profile’ wax lubes. They tend to leave a black film. I thought I moved away from that with wax? I understand, that ‘dark’ part is an additive that makes it faster/slicker and I might have saved another 1.236 watts going with those brands. I am good. Thanks for letting me know though.  

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