I’m partial to wax, but with the varied climate and exposure to every environment over the course of 3,000 miles should I go with liquid chain lube instead?
Thank you for your help! You guys (and gals) rock!
by Pastor_Zatx
I’m partial to wax, but with the varied climate and exposure to every environment over the course of 3,000 miles should I go with liquid chain lube instead?
Thank you for your help! You guys (and gals) rock!
by Pastor_Zatx
14 Comments
Don’t think it really matters. Anything is better than nothing. Whatever’s fast and cheap and easy to carry and apply. I’d probably just throw some liquid on whenever it’s looking dry.
Used to go to gas stations and grab an oil jug from the garbage and use the last few drops when touring lol. Maybe less of those on the divide though.
Same question for me just sitting here for an answer 😂
Just take the lube with you and work it every couple days you’ll be fine.
I have not ridden something that’s the length of the Divide, but I have ridden both waxed and oil lubed chains on shorter tours. In extreme conditions, wax hasn’t always been reliable in my experience. I’ve had it fail to stick when reapplying in damp conditions and also become very creaky in very hot and dry conditions. It required nightly cleaning and reapplying drip wax. I didn’t always have spare water to use for chain cleaning. I think oil based lube would be less fussy in this case. If it were me, I’d bring a bottle of Silca Synergetic and call it a day. I like waxed chains on my road bike and gravel day rides but not sure Id trust it yet for a long distance ride like the tour. I would love if someone who’s actually experienced it corrects me.
Not wax unless it’s gonna be dry almost the whole time…..and it’s almost certainly not.
I wax all my chains, but it does not hold up to wet grit at all…..and that’s what at least the first half of the GDMBR is.
I’d start with wax and then use ufo or whatever waxed based lube you prefer to top off after your wax wears off, that’s what I did on the divide and more recently the Tour Aotearoa. It’s worked well for me
I’ve done a 1000km trip and found wax way easier. Cleaning is easy, applying is easy, maintenance is easy and fixing issues is easier. The only real downside is that rain kills wax, you have to remember to apply drip wax before going to bed and it’s harder to buy on the road.
My plan is to start out with a stripped and waxed chain, top of with Silca’s super secret as needed (really it only works overnight in lower humidity environment because it’s a water based emulsion AKA do not try to use it during the middle of a rain storm). It’s good in like 2-4 hour storms, but as other comments have said, won’t hold out to a whole day storm.
If/when that happens, I’m gonna have a small 0.5oz bottle of Synergetic which I’ll switch over to. If I get a new chains or have the motivation to clean my chain, I’ll go back to wax lube. It’s not ideal, but in my testing, car wash cleaning of the bike is enough to go back to drip wax, though it takes 2-3 applications with evaporation time in between.
Wax is kind of useless over that distance. Especially if it’s wet. Wax is good for 400km or so, which will only get you out of Canada. You could use wax lubes after but that kind of negates the benefits.
When I did it it poured rain almost every day until Colorado. Wax would maybe last you a day in those conditions.
I’d start out with a waxed chain and maybe send another waxed one to a post office somewhere along the way since it’s so long and you may likely need a chain change anyways. I would plan to use silica synergetic lube for most of that wet soggy route though. I think it’s what would work best. Look up how to use post office drop boxes. Idk why this isn’t more popular for bikepacking but hikers use them all the time
If you’d prefer wax drip then I would use silica wax to start but then switch to UFO for drip on touch ups down the way. Silica drip is great IF it drys but it will not in any humidity. Even if you’re in a hotel and take a hot shower it’s not drying.
But yeah silica sybergeric lube works great so not much lost there. Just wipe it down and send it.
I rode the divide using the Wolf Tooth Chain Lube, I applied as needed and so many folks wondered how my chain looked so clean..
I carried a bottle of squirt and a bandana and applied as needed.
Go for a liquid chain lube for TD. Maybe you could get away with a wax followed by a drip wax while enroute, but you’d need a dry year for that to work. If it’s wet and muddy, wax will not be an advantage.
Use Silca Synergetic. Very proven in that exact context of TD and with the testing by Zero Friction Cycling to back it up. (Worked for me in 2022.)
Good luck. It’s a fantastic journey.
Wax wears off too fast in bad weather/road conditions, use lube.