Reasons to wax your chain
Cleanliness – Wax keeps your chain and drivetrain clean because it doesn’t attract dirt, unlike traditional wet lubes that can turn into a grinding paste when contaminated. This cleanliness makes storing and transporting your bike far more pleasant, no more worries about black chain grease getting everywhere. This seemingly small difference is actually most often cited as the main reason why the average cyclist that tries wax prefers it to oil-based lubricants.
A few extra watts – This is the most contentious point. On one hand, independent tests show that wax-based lubricants are better at reducing drivetrain friction than classic oil-based lubes. On the other hand, the differences are really small when talking about a clean, freshly oiled or waxed chain. But the thing is, oil-based lubes in real-world scenarios attract a lot of dirt even during a single ride. And that dirt is what makes most of the difference. So, if you’re willing to degrease and deep-clean your drivetrain about every 200-300 km (or have a team mechanic to do it for you), switching to wax probably won’t make a difference. But if you’re like many amateur cyclists that degrease and properly clean the drivetrain once a year at best, then running a waxed chain will certainly save you a few watts compared to that dirty oiled one.
Cost savings – The fact that wax attracts less dirt doesn’t just improve efficiency, it also reduces wear and tear. A clean drivetrain lasts significantly longer than a dirty one. Many cyclists report chains lasting up to 3x times longer when regularly waxed, and the same applies to those expensive groupsets. Over the lifespan of a bike, these savings can be substantial, particularly for cyclists on a budget.
Easier maintenance – Another advantage of a clean chain is simplified overall bike maintenance. After most rides, a quick wipe-down with a microfiber cloth is enough to keep your chain clean. So, if you have to adjust the shifting or change brake pads, you don’t have to worry about spreading that black drivetrain grease around. The fact that cleaning your bike isn’t a big job requiring a degreaser and a whole lot of mess could make you more likely to clean and tend to your bike more often which further helps its longevity.
Downsides of chain waxing
Annoying initial setup – Switching to wax means that you have to completely remove all grease from your chain as well as your entire drivetrain. When it comes to your chain, a regular degreaser is not enough, it takes special chemicals or an ultrasonic cleaning device. If you’re not thorough enough, the wax won’t not stick well and you risk it rusting. This step is actually the most common reason why regular cyclists are reluctant to make the switch. Some bike shops offer prepping your bike for waxing as a part of your yearly maintenance, this is probably the easiest way to get over this hurdle.
Higher initial cost – Though waxing saves money in the long-term by protecting your chain and drivetrain, there’s a higher upfront cost. You have to pay to get your chain ready for waxing or buy the chemicals and equipment to do it yourself. And if you want to do “hot waxing”, then you have to buy a crockpot or a special melting device and a large amount of wax to submerge your chain in. And even some of the drip-on wax products are not exactly cheap compared to oil-based lubes.
Not ideal if you often ride in wet conditions – Wax tends to wear out much quicker in wet and muddy conditions. If you ride in those conditions very often or plan to do marathon-length rides like that, oil-based lubes will do a far better job.
Who should start chain waxing?
As you can see, chain waxing is not always the superior option and it’s not for everyone. If having a clean bike that’s easy to keep clean is attractive, then waxing makes a huge difference and you should consider it. Cyclists that keep their bikes inside the house with little kids or pets around may find this particularly beneficial. If the idea of extending the lifespan of your components excites you, waxing is certainly the way to do it.
On the other hand, if you don’t store your bike in your bedroom and don’t mind a regular degreasing and cleaning process, then there’s not that much for you to gain from switching to waxing. And similarly, if you live in a place where you ride in wet conditions most of the year, you will be better served by oil-based lubes.
