Wax or lubricant for your chain: which one to choose?

Wax or Chain Oil, Which to Choose?

This may seem like a simple question, but it requires some thought, and the answer isn't the same for every cyclist. Your habits as a user, your experience, and your mechanical aptitude will influence your choice of lubricants and how you apply them. In this case, we are primarily addressing performance and recreational cyclists who mainly ride gravel, road, or mountain bikes.

First, let's talk about drivetrain efficiency.

Drivetrain efficiency is one of the most discussed topics lately, after tires and aerodynamics. Every drivetrain incurs losses, and we seek to reduce them as much as possible to gain speed.
Chain lubrication has the most significant impact on drivetrain efficiency. Indeed, the friction that reduces efficiency comes from metal-on-metal contact between the inner surfaces of the chain and the outer surfaces of the chainrings, sprockets, and pulleys. Lubricants, therefore, act to prevent this metal-on-metal contact using various strategies.

Dry or Wet Lubricants?

Traditionally, two types of lubricants were used: dry lubricants and wet lubricants. Dry lubricants are used most of the time when road conditions are ideal, meaning in dry weather and on a relatively "clean" road surface. Wet lubricants, on the other hand, are mainly used for mountain biking, gravel biking, and by urban cyclists who ride regardless of the weather, on rainy days, muddy trails, or very dusty gravel roads.

And then came wax...

A third method involves waxing the chain. Its mode of action, however, is entirely different. Wax is a solid lubricant, meaning that as it dries, it fills the metal interstices with its blend of wax and highly effective friction-modifying agents, such as the WS2 used by Silca. Thus, the two surfaces in contact with each other form a layer of wax.
This solid lubricant has some limitations: it will eventually wear down due to debris and the metal itself. But as long as there is wax, it will remain the most efficient lubricant on the market. Its solid nature also gives it the much-appreciated cleanliness. If the chain is entirely coated with solid wax, dirt and debris cannot penetrate it.

As you can see in the video below, the chain exhibits some movement during operation, even when new. These movements generate metal-on-metal friction that can be reduced by adequate lubrication. Oils can penetrate the interstices, but they also bring impurities with them. Wax fills these interstices, giving a sense of rigidity when stationary, but under load, it offers an extremely efficient and lubricated surface.

What are the best practices for optimizing your drivetrain's efficiency?

The most important actions for achieving maximum drivetrain efficiency are fortunately quite simple.
Firstly, choosing a quality lubricant is the essential first step. This will greatly contribute to the smooth operation of the entire system, the longevity of components, and the fluidity of gear changes.

Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, it is crucial to keep your drivetrain clean. Dirt and debris accumulated in the chain can increase power loss from 3-4 W (when the chain is clean) to 15-20 W (if your chain is dirty), meaning it will not only be slower but also wear out very quickly and become extremely noisy.

The choice of gearing (ratio - chainring vs. cog) also plays a major role. Larger gears are more efficient than smaller ones because the chain angle is less pronounced at the rear. In other words, at the same ratio, friction is lower when chainrings and cogs are larger. This is a compromise to find with chain alignment. If you have a 54-tooth chainring, using a 30 or 32-tooth cog at the rear would result in less friction than with a 50-tooth chainring and a 28-tooth cog, for example. The expected efficiency gain from a shallower gear angle far outweighs the disadvantage of chain crossing. The ideal is to find a ratio that primarily places you in the middle of the cassette.

How to Measure Chain Performance?

There are several methods for measuring chain performance. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. At SILCA, they used the following three methods to develop their lubricants and chain waxing system.

1. Laboratory Tests: Using high-precision laboratory equipment, we can isolate the lubricant from a chain and determine the percentage of power loss for different power values.
2. Chain Wear Test: This test is commonly used as an indicator of efficiency and is much simpler to perform. While the equipment needed to measure efficiency is rare, wear is easy to measure. zerofrictioncycling.com is a perfect example, and this method can prove very reliable. As it is relatively simple to make a very thick and inefficient lubricant that reduces wear, and conversely, almost impossible to make a very high-performance lubricant with very rapid wear, this test has some limitations. It is an important test, but certainly not the only one to use.
3. Real-World Tests: Several real-world testing methods, such as the Chung method, can determine drivetrain efficiency. What seems most useful to us is that these tests are the best way to confirm the lubricant's lifespan under various conditions, especially regarding noise. Chains can become a little noisy while maintaining their efficiency, but that doesn't mean a noisy chain is desirable on your bike.

The chain should be a secondary detail during your rides, and we prioritize real-world tests to determine the normal lifespan of the lubricant before your drivetrain becomes noisy.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Lubricants

Dry lube

Advantages: Very versatile, dries quickly, attracts less dust, penetrates small spaces well, keeps the drivetrain clean longer, offers good efficiency.

Disadvantages: Short lubrication duration (must be applied before each ride), evaporates faster than wet lubricants, not very resistant to rain.

Wet lube

Advantages: Perfect for dirty conditions, winter, or rain, stays on components for a long time, protects well against rust.

Disadvantages: Attracts dirt, very messy for the user, can become abrasive to components if not thoroughly cleaned regularly, the least efficient lubricant.

Wax

Advantages: Performs well in almost all conditions, the chain remains almost clean at all times, offers the best component longevity, and is also the most efficient lubricant of all.

Disadvantages: Long preparation and curing time required, demands a certain number of tools and products to be self-sufficient and diligent in its application and maintenance.

In conclusion...

The wear and loss of efficiency of your drivetrain largely stem from metal-on-metal contact, contaminants between the different parts of the chain, and other components such as chainrings and cogs. Thus, keeping your bike clean and choosing the best lubricant for your habits and riding conditions remain the key to success for a quiet, durable, and high-performance bike. These are good habits to develop to save those hard-earned watts!

At Maglia Rosa, no matter what your preferred lubricant type is, we have the best lubrication and cleaning products available. We also offer chain waxing service and the full range of Silca maintenance products. Still hesitant? Our technicians are always available to advise you and share their experience, so don't hesitate to stop by and say hello.

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