Anyone using or have tried a 'dry' or wax chain lube?

[Retrorockit]

The Squirt was a good choice at the time and I used it for a while. but there is a new wax I just tried. It was tearing up the lube charts at Zero Friction Cycling.
ZFC Review.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Lubricant-detail-review-Effetto-Mariposa-Flower-Power-Wax-v1.2.pdf

It's big step beyond all but the hot melt waxes.
All lubes compared.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/lubetesting/

Pricey stuff, but you apply it less often so that equals out, and parts last 2x as long compared to other similar lubes. They actually have a cost/mile chart there. "Effetto Mariposa Flower Power" sunflower wax. I degreased and waxed a Wippermann 11sE chain ( so I care a lot about chain life) and installed it. The skinny Connex 11s link lasted one ride. So I got it riveted up and broke in the new chain. When I did the first drip wax after a week the difference was very noticeable. Especially since I have the zip tie mod, so the chain is moving all the time. That is some slippery stuff. The only downside is that it turns black, so cleanup is more like oil than the Squirt wax. I'm also testing an 11s chain on an 8s bike (9s chain ring) to try for extended wear that way. So far so good.

[KevRos]

Using a 'dry' or wax-based chain lube for a bicycle chain can be a good idea for certain riding conditions. Dry lubes, especially wax-based ones, are excellent at repelling dirt and debris, keeping the chain clean, and reducing friction. However, they may require more frequent application compared to wet lubes in wet or rainy conditions. You can find out more info about it here https://www.bikertricks.com/rusty-bike-chain/
I want to say that it is important to consider the weather conditions and riding environment to determine the most suitable chain lube for optimal performance and longevity of a bike chain.

[Retrorockit]

I noticed that the first time I waxed the new 11s chain all the lube went into the chain. I did the second coat the next day, and it all went into the chain too. But now the whole chain is coated with a clear layer.. It does seem to penetrate very well. Still waiting on the cassette to try it out.

[Retrorockit]

I had a shift cable issue. When my BBSHD was broken I started riding my XC bike. During one ride it shifted OK then got harder and harder until it was a 1 speed. The end of the rear cable housing just grabbed onto the cable and wouldn't let it move.I had some Jagwire Elite Link shift cable around. I put that on and the bike shifted better than ever. i'd been having some issues with upshifts and downshifts behaving differently. trying to adjust the derailer so it would hit all the gears up and down. The cable housing was the problem. new cable didn't fix it.

[73Eldo]

I had some weirdness with Squirt today. Probably my fault but perhaps worth noting. This is the 4oz bottles of the E bike formula. I remember at some point noticing I was down to like 1/3 of the bottle so ordered more when I was at my LBS. Was that this year? Last year? Dunno.

Took off on my first street bike ride in several weeks. Got about a mile away from home and was having all sorts of shifting and chain issues. Remember that happening one time on the previous ride weeks ago. Tried to adjust the cable but no go so turned around and limped it back home. I do remember riding through some deep water months ago. Did I lube after that? Or even ride since then? Dunno. Used up the last of what was in my Squirt bottle but was not worried since I remember ordering another one at some point. Put some lube on the derailleur pivots. Put some lube on the cable especially up by the seat tube where the shift sensor is located, that area was very stiff, possibly got wet in the flood? Had to re adjust the cable but after that all was well.

Today I had a chance to ride the other bike with my new clutch derailleur and I knew this chain was overdue for lube and I remember that I emptied the bottle I had been using. Went looking for the new one. Found one and tried to shake it up which didn't seem to do much. Tried to apply it and it was coming out like grease. It was then that I looked at the label and its from a place I have not ordered from in a long time and the bottle I just emptied was the most recent one. Now I'm thinking that there must be another 1/2 a bottle roaming around somewhere and maybe this one is almost 2 years old and has possibly froze at least one winter? I transferred it into the other empty bottle leaving more room for shaking then back into its bottle and applied it. It seemed thicker than usual but it looked like it got into where it needed to go and the creaminess went away in about the usual half hour or so.

[Retrorockit]

I waxed my new Wippermann11s chain today. Did it by the book following ZFC procedure and materials. UFO Drivetrain wax remover to strip the factory lube off of the chain. Soak,shake rinse, blow dry, and lube with Mariposa flowerpower sunflower wax. It's thinner than Squirt and soaks in better. They say 2-3 hours and reapply. The 2nd coat will happen tomorrow. This is for a 1x11 conversion of an XC pedal bike. They sent a M5100 derailer instead of an M5100 cassettte, so I'm stuck anyway. I decided to clean and wax the old chain while I had the chemicals there. This is a runout chain from the Ebike @.5% stretch. UFO stuff cleaned it up easily. Wax is tough to remove. Degreaser usually won't do it. I put it on the bike dry and waxed it there. Boy is that Mariposa stuff slick! I took the quick link out after waxing it and had a hell of a time getting it back in with the wet wax there. I managed to get a 46t Wide Narrow ring in the center position on a a vintage XT triple crank. It took some hand fitting. not all 104BCD rings have the same ID. Inner and outer on the XT are differnt, I guess 1x is too. ZFC is excited about this wax. They're known for trashing a lot of popular lubes. The only bad thing so far is the squeeze bottle is a little too hard. Kind of tricky to get it to drip the way you want.

[Retrorockit]

I might be heading for a situation where I can lube the chain and adjust the BB7 brakes once a week.Flat tires and chain drop seems to be solved also.
I think I actually found an 11s master link.Not one of the tool less things with egg shaped holes. One with 2 welded pins on one side, and a plate with 2 round holes on the other with a spring clip. The 8s drivetrain may have room for this??

[Retrorockit]

I haven't tried it yet. I just went out yesterday and got some UFO chain wax remover. ZFC says your fingers get dirty. How much IDK.. I have a new 11s Wippermann to play with. It's going on the XC pedal bike. But I don't have all the parts yet. I might try it on the 8s Ebike to see what happens, but I don't want to cut it because i can't rivet 11s back together. It will be a little long for that bike. maybe I'll strip and lube the 8s chain. But it will be a whhile before I know anything. I'm guessing the lube won't keep me form folding up chain rings, or bending teeth on the cassette. But maybe the zip tie mod, and toothed chain guide have put that in the past?

[73Eldo]

How is that stuff for if you have to handle the chain for any reason? So far with Squirt I'm not seeing any worse wear than when I was using regular lubes but what I really like is that when I do have to handle the chain what does come off on my hands fairly easily mostly wipes off with a dry cloth. You sure can't say that about typical lubes. For me so far that is a big reason I'm sticking with Squirt.

[Retrorockit]

Zero Friction Cycling has lot's of charts and info on lubes and chains. Some of it is Science Friction, but much of it is about wear.
They also have procedures shown for removing factory lube to install wax lubes, and how to clean old wax lube off of a chain.
They do summarize by cost/mile to see if expensive lubes provide any benefit.

Here's their take on Mariposa Flowerpower.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/latest-zero-friction-cycling-news-effetto-mariposa-flowerpower/

Further down on this page is a cost per 10,000km chart for this lube including parts worn.

https://www.cantitoeroad.com/flowerpower-100ml.html

[Retrorockit]

From me it was definitely trolling.

[AZguy]

Figure it's just a troll... but with some folks ya never know lol

[Retrorockit]

That won't work for me I'm retired.

[AZguy]

For a $20 chain?

[Retrorockit]

I found a new Wax at Cantitoe Road (Wippermann vendor) called Effeto Mariposa Flowerpower. it's italian and made from sunflower wax. Don't laugh castor oil is actually very good lube.
Zero Friction Cycling tests chains and lubes and it does great there.

https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/lubetesting/

But when I broke my BBSHD ver. A I put a new chain with fresh Squirt wax, and just about everything else too. Tires, brakes. So it might be a while before I get to try it.

https://www.cantitoeroad.com/Lube-Sprays-and-Solvents_c_377.html

There seem to be lots of vendors in Europe, but not so much here. ZFC says it's cost effective due to long lube life, and long chain life.