If you look at the Velo chain test (done with Friction Facts) you see that NFS finished 11th overall for friction with 3 of the top ten being hot melt paraffin waxes and 1 being olive oil, with the other drip lubes all having low to very low life expectancies. So the real story comes in the durability department, where the NFS formulation proves to be considerably more durable that most anything else..if you look at the Friction facts data for friction and then for durability you see that there is really no overlap between the best in each category, you either get low friction (typically very low viscosity), OR you get good durability (typically high viscosity)... With the NFS formulation you get a product that is in the top 10 on both charts.
Now, for SILCA, we are using a custom formulation, so I'd recommend you try both and see what you think, or selectively use both depending on application, we've chosen to emphasize drivetrain efficiency a bit more which means slightly less durability..though still nearly best in class. Overall, I am thrilled to say that we have a product that lasts longer than AND has less friction than ANY of the major lube brands you can name off the top of your head.
Lastly, partnering with NFS really brings the best of both worlds in terms of our business values and ideals. Josh at NFS has experience and contacts within the major high-end lubricant manufacturers so there is access to research, data and real technology, yet NFS is a small scale formulator which can focus on precision, quality, customization, and ingredient selection in ways that no large manufacturer is willing to do. I liken it to a craft brewery...anybody can buy grain, hops and yeast from the same major suppliers (of which there are very few) but the key is really in what you do with it after that as all of the components have to come together in the right way and in the right proportions at the right time to maximize results.
Lastly, as a close analogy to this chainlube (and a blatant plug..) we also launched a coffee which is. Very similar to our working with NFS, we worked with a local roaster where we selected beans all the way back to the farm co-op in Ethiopia, chose the way the beans were processed (naturally fermented in the sun..no chemicals, no machines) and then dialed in the hand roasting, which is done weekly so the beans will be only a few days roasted when you get them. The result is something otherworldly if you are a fan of fine coffee.
Enjoy
Josh
http://www.SILCA.cc Check out my podcast, inside stories from more than 20 years of product and tech innovation from inside the Pro Peloton and Pro Triathlon worlds!
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