On 2018-06-12 11:13, sms wrote:
On 6/9/2018 8:13 AM, Joerg wrote:

Wax isn't a good lubricant but most good wax oils like mine are a mix
of synthetic oil and wax. Has to be mixed up before each application
by vigorously shaking the bottle.

It's rather amusing that after it was pointed out, by numerous experts,
that wax is not a good lubricant, suddenly the narrative changed and now
it's "wax mixed with oil."


I've used this stuff since years. It works.

A friend uses wax only and it works well for him but it is a much more
tedious process than mine. Also, he only rides on clean asphalt and much
of that on bike paths. It takes a very long time for a chain to become
dirty on a segragated bike path.


So once you lose the advantage of wax not attracting dirt, dust, etc. by
adding in the oil for lubrication, how much of the benefit of the
cleanliness of wax is retained? I admit, I never tried the wax/oil
mixture, but I have tried pure wax. I have also tried pure oil.


The mix is nice. After cleaning the chain I dab it on via Q-Tip. By now
I figured out how to do 5-6 links in one stroke so it's much faster than
in the early days. Chain squeal is immediately gone probably because the
oil in there is very runny. At the end I wipe down the chain with
Kleenex top and bottom which leaves a bit of a wax sheen. I found it
attracts trail dust less than oil-only.


I found Sheldon's statement spot-on: ""Downsides of the wax approach
include the fact that it is a great deal of trouble, and that wax is
probably not as good a lubricant as oil or grease." But it's true that
there were no greasy socks, legs, or pants.


I wear shorts and no socks, which avoids those problems.


I don't believe in recreational bicycle chain maintenance. I don't want
to remove the chain from the bike for cleaning and lubrication. I don't
want to use a toothbrush to individually clean each link. I don't want
to drip drops of oil on every link or use a propane torch to melt was on
every link.


I wouldn't want to use a propane torch either. Cleaning each link is
simpler than it seems when using the sturdier kind of interdental
brushes. The curvy kind that Costco sells. Need them anyhow for clean
teeth, Afterwards they get rinsed, dried and placed in a plastic box for
bike maintenance purposes.


I do want to clean the chain on the bike, and get it clean, inside and
out. I do want the lubricant to get onto the pins and rollers and not
just be on the outside of the chain.


The Epic Ride stuff seems to penetrate below the rollers and into the
links quickly because the chain noise immediately stops.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/