Why wax your bike chain?

Brain fart of points why to wax your chain - wax Products

• A drip or wet lube coats all of your chain (inside and out) everytime you pedal the chain is under tension, squeezes the lube out from inside, gets covered in dirt, then gets sucked back into the internals of the chain with the dirt to create a grinding paste.
• A wax lube is solid and stay inside the chain creating a barrier to stop dirt getting in, as you pedal under tension the wax becomes polished and creates a very low friction running surface.
  
• All my cycling life I presumed you lubed your chain to coat the surface between the chain and cassette/chainrings to lower the wear and friction caused by them rubbing together.
  
• This is not the case, the wear/friction comes from inside the chain, where the chain bends and winds its way through the drive train. The internal roller bearings in the chain is the only place you need the lubrication.
• What about wet weather? its easy to just slap on some wet lube!
• True but if you start with the wax chained it will prevent water dirt getting in, if its that extreme then any lube is better than nothing so, use whatever you have on you then when you return home reset your chain again back to new with wax.
• Sounds like a lot of hassle!
• It does but it isnt, like anything you just neeed to have a routine and follow these simple steps

1. Has it been a dry ride? Yes, wipe down with a dry lint free cloth (done, finished), No, see continue with point 2
2. Remove the chain via the quick link, wash your bike and replace with chain number 2, best practise is to have 2 chain in rotation (it will save you lots of money long term)
3. Wipe the chain down and pop it in either a slow cooker with the Silca wax in or a pot of hot water with the silca wax bag in (put the chain side the bag). Leave until the wax melts, take the chain out fater a quick swish and a few minuites to rest in the wax (you can easily make a hanger out of an old spoke to thread the chain onto to allow for easy removal) See picture above.
4. Allow to drip and cool over the wax pot or bag. Put the chain to one side, its done.
5. Before putting the chain on either run the chain through your hands or over a rounded wooden or plastic surface (bike stands are good for this) to break off any loose wax.
6. The chain will take around 20 minutes to reach optimum performance.

• If the chain is really muddy, put the chain in a bowl and pour hot water over it, this will remove all of the dirt and old wax ready for a fresh coating.
• Quick tip...put a nail/screw in the wall (in the shed or garage not in the living room!) above the pot to allow the chain to drip and cool hands free while you take a shower.