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Paraffin: The next secret weapon?
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So Velo just did a test of lubes and the winner was... paraffin wax! I've long been aware that a few eccentric and OCD cyclists would engage in elaborate chain prep rituals involving hot wax, but I always figured it would be too much of a PITA. But now that I'm getting, ahem, a bit older, and I train harder to go slower, I start looking for free speed in whatever nooks and crannies I can find -- such as drivetrain efficiency. The velo test found a 3 watt difference between various lubes under ideal conditions, and a 6 watt difference under dirty conditions.

I know there is regular discussion of marginal exotica such as ceramic bearings, but drivetrain efficiency isn't a very sexy topic even though I've long felt that the difference in efficiency can be substantial between a really nice running drivetrain and a dirty, poorly maintained one.

The velo article really talks up the wax, despite the fact that the best conventional lube, Rock n Roll Gold, was only 1/4 watt slower. There's also some pretty mixed feedback on wax on the interwebs, there are people saying they only get 50-100 miles out of a wax job rather than the 650 miles mentioned in the article. I think very few of us would be willing to do all the work of using wax to gain only 1/4 watt. It seems the real potential for gaining watts is under less than ideal conditions; wax was about 2.5 watts better than Gold when tested under dirty conditions, and over 4 watts faster than some other lubes.

On the one hand, it seems like a no brainer to at least do some simple things to maximize drivetrain efficiency, such as using a faster lube, and if you have a choice between purchasing a chain that's more efficient right out of the box and one that's less efficient, why not buy the faster chain (see the paid reports at friction facts for more details)? On the other hand, if waxing can give me an extra edge, why not? Is it really worth the hassle?

So who's going to be boiling crock pots of wax in search of those last few watts, and who thinks it's a crock of crap?
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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How much racing do you do in "less than ideal conditions?" What are they talking about when they talk about "less than ideal conditions?"

I doubt seriously that for triathlons or TTs that, if you do a reasonable job of keeping your drivetrain clean and lubed, that switching over to wax will make much difference.
Last edited by: bobby11: Feb 5, 13 8:26
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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Back in the day lots of people used paraffin, then dedicated chain lubes came out and it went away. One of the driving forces was modern chains, they don't like to be reconnected and you have to break the chain to use wax.

Now that their are decent reuseable links for most chains its not hard to use wax Buy 2 chains and a dedicated pot. wax both and use one, leaving the other buried in the wax. When its time to switch heat the wx , remove the chain, put in the other and let it sit until the process is repeated. Should take 20minutes every time and you always have a chain ready to go.

The other thing is find one of the small onetime use packets of chain lube and toss it in your saddlebag. With wax it'll go from perfectly quiet to cat in a blender noisy within a hundred yards. Having a small packet of lube will be a lifesaver. A big benefit is wax is very clean on the drivetrain.

Styrrell
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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tttiltheend wrote:
So Velo just did a test of lubes and the winner was... paraffin wax! I've long been aware that a few eccentric and OCD cyclists would engage in elaborate chain prep rituals involving hot wax, but I always figured it would be too much of a PITA. But now that I'm getting, ahem, a bit older, and I train harder to go slower, I start looking for free speed in whatever nooks and crannies I can find -- such as drivetrain efficiency. The velo test found a 3 watt difference between various lubes under ideal conditions, and a 6 watt difference under dirty conditions.

I know there is regular discussion of marginal exotica such as ceramic bearings, but drivetrain efficiency isn't a very sexy topic even though I've long felt that the difference in efficiency can be substantial between a really nice running drivetrain and a dirty, poorly maintained one.

The velo article really talks up the wax, despite the fact that the best conventional lube, Rock n Roll Gold, was only 1/4 watt slower. There's also some pretty mixed feedback on wax on the interwebs, there are people saying they only get 50-100 miles out of a wax job rather than the 650 miles mentioned in the article. I think very few of us would be willing to do all the work of using wax to gain only 1/4 watt. It seems the real potential for gaining watts is under less than ideal conditions; wax was about 2.5 watts better than Gold when tested under dirty conditions, and over 4 watts faster than some other lubes.

On the one hand, it seems like a no brainer to at least do some simple things to maximize drivetrain efficiency, such as using a faster lube, and if you have a choice between purchasing a chain that's more efficient right out of the box and one that's less efficient, why not buy the faster chain (see the paid reports at friction facts for more details)? On the other hand, if waxing can give me an extra edge, why not? Is it really worth the hassle?

So who's going to be boiling crock pots of wax in search of those last few watts, and who thinks it's a crock of crap?


Right...and good ol' cheap and plentiful 3-in-1 oil was within less than 1W of the paraffin as well IIRC. That's GOTTA be the "bang for the buck" leader in the non-paraffin selections

They didn't test 3-in-1 in their "durability" test, but judging on past experience, I know which one I would expect to last longer between applications, if comparing it to paraffin. As they said in the article, you might get about a half dozen rides on the paraffin before having to redo it and when it "goes", it goes FAST.

One other thing I'd have liked to have seen in their durability test is for the chain to be shifted up and down the cassette. IME, that sideways flexing really "works" the paraffin and causes it to degrade and "go away" faster (i.e. flake off).

That said, I might have to dig out that old can of paraffin that I mixed some moly powder into to do some "1 day" chain treatments for "A" events ;-)

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
Last edited by: Tom A.: Feb 5, 13 7:57
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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Wax just doesn't stay on that long. If you are doing short weeks you'll be relaxing once a week, with long days thrown in, more often.

But hey, doesn't hurt to try it out and see what your experience is like.

BC Don
Pain is temporary, not giving it your all lasts all Winter.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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You could always have a "race day" chain that is waxed and use a regular, oiled chain for training... That way you get the efficiency when you need it and the durability when you want it. Just thinking....
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
...One of the driving forces was modern chains, they don't like to be reconnected and you have to break the chain to use wax.


Actually, there's a guy on rec.bikes.tech that claims to be able to rewax a chain on the bike using a small stick of paraffin and a propane torch...oh, and a really good "blast shield" so he doesn't damage the frame or wheel.

I don't think I'd recommend giving that a try...

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
Last edited by: Tom A.: Feb 5, 13 8:21
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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"As they said in the article, you might get about a half dozen rides on the paraffin before having to redo it and when it "goes", it goes FAST."

Actually, they said they're getting 650 miles, which for most of us is a lot more than half a dozen rides. That sounds within the range where I might actually consider waxing. Every half dozen rides, which for me is more like 200-250 miles? No way!

"That said, I might have to dig out that old can of paraffin that I mixed some moly powder into to do some "1 day" chain treatments for "A" events ;-)"

Of course, the problem with that is you'll have to do a really good job of cleaning your drivetrain before you install the chain. Got to admit that swapping a chain in for a very few A events makes more sense than training on the stuff despite Velo's endorsement.

Hey, a Tom A. blog, cool! Now I can go and hurt my head trying to understand maths that are beyond my pay level! When's your paraffin report? ;-)
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Tom A. wrote:
styrrell wrote:
...One of the driving forces was modern chains, they don't like to be reconnected and you have to break the chain to use wax.


Actually, there's a guy on rec.bikes.tech that claims to be able to rewax a chain on the bike using a small stick of paraffin and a propane torch...oh, and a really good "blast shield" so he doesn't damage the frame or wheel.

I don't think I'd recommend giving that a try...

Sounds like a great way to make your carbon frame look like those Pinarellos with the wavey stays!
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
Back in the day lots of people used paraffin, then dedicated chain lubes came out and it went away. One of the driving forces was modern chains, they don't like to be reconnected and you have to break the chain to use wax.

Now that their are decent reuseable links for most chains its not hard to use wax Buy 2 chains and a dedicated pot. wax both and use one, leaving the other buried in the wax. When its time to switch heat the wx , remove the chain, put in the other and let it sit until the process is repeated. Should take 20minutes every time and you always have a chain ready to go.

The other thing is find one of the small onetime use packets of chain lube and toss it in your saddlebag. With wax it'll go from perfectly quiet to cat in a blender noisy within a hundred yards. Having a small packet of lube will be a lifesaver. A big benefit is wax is very clean on the drivetrain.

It seemed to me that if you are going to bite the bullet and wax, swapping 2 chains would be the only reasonable way to do it.

So do you wax your chain?
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [bobby11] [ In reply to ]
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That probably would mean... 'rain'
Which, for a year happened to be never but the last 4 months has been EVERY DAMN TIME

lol

still, no, I am not going to wax my chain.

bobby11 wrote:
How much racing do you do in "less than ideal conditions?" What are they talking about when they talk about "less than ideal conditions?"

I doubt seriously that for triathlons or TTs that, if you do a reasonable job of keeping your drivetrain clean and lubed, that switching over to wax will make much difference.



Kat Hunter reports on the San Dimas Stage Race from inside the GC winning team
Aeroweenie.com -Compendium of Aero Data and Knowledge
Freelance sports & outdoors writer Kathryn Hunter
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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Honestly, I think this thread is doing valuable service to the triathlon community in that, until reading this, a lot of them probably didn't know that you need to clean and wax your drive train. (I'm saying that based on work of done on competitor bikes at Beach 2 Battleship. Folks discovered I'd brought a workstand and a few tools and they were lined up outside my hotel door. I was dumbfounded at the people who would ask me to look at this or that, and would tell me about how this was their "A" race of the year, and while they're telling me, I'm working on their bike that looks like it hasn't had a drop of lube on the chain or even a rag wiped across any part of the bike in a thousand miles. How can people be so clueless about something in which they're so invested?)
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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I just douse a rag in mineral spirits, wipe everything down and spray some ProLink Gold ($15 for several years supply on Amazon). Works fine.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [bobby11] [ In reply to ]
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Yeah, cleaning and lubing the drive train is an easy thing to do, and can save you ~3 watts, and make your crap last a lot longer too.

bobby11 wrote:
Honestly, I think this thread is doing valuable service to the triathlon community in that, until reading this, a lot of them probably didn't know that you need to clean and wax your drive train. (I'm saying that based on work of done on competitor bikes at Beach 2 Battleship. Folks discovered I'd brought a workstand and a few tools and they were lined up outside my hotel door. I was dumbfounded at the people who would ask me to look at this or that, and would tell me about how this was their "A" race of the year, and while they're telling me, I'm working on their bike that looks like it hasn't had a drop of lube on the chain or even a rag wiped across any part of the bike in a thousand miles. How can people be so clueless about something in which they're so invested?)



Kat Hunter reports on the San Dimas Stage Race from inside the GC winning team
Aeroweenie.com -Compendium of Aero Data and Knowledge
Freelance sports & outdoors writer Kathryn Hunter
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [bobby11] [ In reply to ]
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bobby11 wrote:
How much racing do you do in "less than ideal conditions?" What are they talking about when they talk about "less than ideal conditions?"

The slightest bit of rain and your wax becomes useless.

I cannot say I believe that 650 mile figure. I don't get that from regular wet lube and wax based lubes last a fraction of the distance that wet lubes do.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [AmaDablam] [ In reply to ]
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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jackmott wrote:
The oil I am using seems to become useless with a bit of rain too.

Beyond a certain amount of rain, everything will "go," but wax "goes" much much quicker in light rain than wet lubes. Slight, brief rain and your waxed chain will be squeaking while an oiled one seems to be unaffected.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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Same guys that did the test will give you a recipe for a super waxed chain. They recommend re-lubing after 200 miles.


http://www.friction-facts.com/ultrafast-overview


There's a link on that page for a diy solution as well. It's a bit too much work for me though.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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tttiltheend wrote:

Actually, they said they're getting 650 miles...

I ain't buyin' it...


tttiltheend wrote:

That sounds within the range where I might actually consider waxing. Every half dozen rides, which for me is more like 200-250 miles? No way!

Based on my own experience when I've dabbled with paraffin, that sounds about more like it.


tttiltheend wrote:
Of course, the problem with that is you'll have to do a really good job of cleaning your drivetrain before you install the chain. Got to admit that swapping a chain in for a very few A events makes more sense than training on the stuff despite Velo's endorsement.

A Gatorade bottle with mineral spirits in it and a bunch of shaking does pretty well ;-) Plus, I was thinking more along the lines of having dedicated chains for the paraffin, rather than trying to clean and relube a chain that has had other lubes on it.


tttiltheend wrote:
Hey, a Tom A. blog, cool! Now I can go and hurt my head trying to understand maths that are beyond my pay level! When's your paraffin report? ;-)

Yeah, I thought it might be a good idea to put all the stuff I play with in a single location :-)

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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tttiltheend wrote:
So Velo just did a test of lubes and the winner was... paraffin wax!

What was the protocol for the testing? Was it a decent test? Link? Might all the sticky stuff that covers our bikes during endurance racing create what the testers would classify as less than ideal conditions?


C
Purveyor of Crank!
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [tttiltheend] [ In reply to ]
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So do you wax your chain?

Long ago, but it wasn't uncommon then. I likely will for TTs, other than that I don't think its worth the effort, but keeping a chain prewaxed for a few events a year isn't a big deal, although I'll add some rust protectant to the mix.

The theory is sound, my guess is for short events, like track racing a worn in perfectly dry chain would be fastest. The bearing surfaces would wear to each other and any lube at that point actually causes more friction. But that only is true until dirt and moisture, including humidity occur, which is going to be rapid. The wax will get squeezed out leaving only a very small amount, just enough to provide some rust protection, but not enough to inhibit free motion of the chain. But for general ridng and racing even wax just doesn't stick around long enough to be practical.

Styrrell
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [Crank!] [ In reply to ]
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Didn't think Velo needed an introduction. The test is on the home page of the velonews.com site.

Is it a good test? Dunno. The equipment used looks pretty professional. And I don't find the wattage numbers they're talking about for drivetrains implausible (some may disagree but we're not talking large numbers here). A majority of the lubes were essentially the same, within a small fraction of a watt, but there were outliers that were either slower or faster to the tune of one or two watts.

I do question their ability to distinguish the tiny fractions of a watt in difference between some lubes from the noise of different chains and relubing, etc.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [AmaDablam] [ In reply to ]
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I've never heard of waxing a chain before. Would using a fluoronated nordic ski wax improve performance in wet conditions? The fluoros are hydrophobic. This may be cost prohibitive....$70-$90 for 30g-40g of the high end stuff. Low fluoros are much less expensive and much more hydrophobic than basic parafin.
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [Runski] [ In reply to ]
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Those would be interesting to test, but all paraffin waxes are hydrophobic. Its not really hydrophobia ;-) that helps keep a chain from rusting, its the wax forming a barrier and staying put. Paraffin doesn't do a good job of staying put, but I think its a catch 22. The less "stuff" interferring with the links flexing the less watts needed, but the less protection form the elements.

Styrrell
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Re: Paraffin: The next secret weapon? [AmaDablam] [ In reply to ]
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AmaDablam wrote:
jackmott wrote:
The oil I am using seems to become useless with a bit of rain too.


Beyond a certain amount of rain, everything will "go," but wax "goes" much much quicker in light rain than wet lubes. Slight, brief rain and your waxed chain will be squeaking while an oiled one seems to be unaffected.

I read a really well thought out and fact-based article about chain lubrication (which I unfortunately cannot find right now) which concluded that in dry, dusty environments wax-based lubes are better, but in humid/wet environments oil-based lubes are better. The thought is that oils, or any liquids really, will trap particulate out of the air and eventually raise the friction between moving parts with a grindy, sandpapery texture effect. Wax will both attract less particulate and will also "shed" the sandpapery surface as it peels off the chain with use. In contrast, moist environments tend not to have much particulate in the air (plenty of other wet surfaces for stuff to stick to) so the primary friction enemy is moisture getting into the works. In such a case oil, which forms a relatively long-lasting film on the surfaces it's applied to, does a great job of repelling inbound water over a relatively longer period of time.

makes a lot of sense to me, and matches my experience - I was looking this up because I noticed the white-lightning (the lazy man's answer to waxing your chain) I was using didn't seem to be working all that well when I moved to tropical (i.e., dripping wet) south Florida. I switched to Chain-L, and (without any hard data to back this up) it seemed to work better.
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