THE GREAT AMB CHAIN LUBE TEST
Ok, maybe it’s not that great. But we test out 7 chain lubes for ease of use, cleanliness and trail performance. Which one will suit you?
As much as our bikes change, they stay the same. We’re still using cranks to turn a chain ring, which turns a chain that drives a number of sprockets in the back. This is an exposed system, and one that requires lubrication – and clean lubrication to prolong the life and performance of the products. Given a new chain, chain ring and cassette could set you back up to $1000 on a top spec group set – getting the right chain lube for your conditions, your riding and your maintenance know how can really make a difference.
OUR CHAIN LUBE 'TEST '
We don’t have an AMB lab, and nothing here was done in a controlled environment or in triplicate. We used 7 brand new Shimano M7100 chains, all but one were completely degreased, dried, then cleaned in methylated spirits and dried again. Manufacturer’s specifications were followed for application, and reapplication if necessary. Each chain was tested on a clean Shimano 12-speed drivetrain across summer in south-east Queensland. The aim was to get to about 20 hours where possible, but this is nowhere near enough to test wear. Just application, use and reapplication – and how user friendly that all is. Take this feedback as a guide. Data? That needs an expert.
INTRODUCING ZERO FRICTION CYCLING
While using the right chain lube is important, it’s not exciting. Unless you’re Adam Kerin, from Zero Friction Cycling. Adam has made a name for himself with a test lab and protocols devised to test chain lubricants and their mechanical efficiency, as well as their wear rates. He tests in clean environments, and dirty ones, for thousands of kilometres. His test rigs use smart trainers, motors and gearboxes to get the kilometres done in a repeatable and consistent manner. He’s recently gone past 300,000 kilometres of testing. But... why?
“Just about every bottle of lube you pick up will claim it repels grime and cleans as it lubes,” said Adam when I contacted him about this feature. They can’t all be magic, and as a committed cyclist Adam was always interested to know where the truth lay behind performance claims. Recently, chain lube options have improved dramatically.
“There have been a lot of high profile, next generation lubricants released in the past 12 months. We have some choices now that we might not have had even 18 months ago,” explains Adam. His lab runs tests for many global brands who want to get hard data on wear rates and friction – and benchmark themselves against their perceived competitors.
For you and I, using a good chain lube is imperative for efficiency and reduced wear. There might be less time maintaining your bike with the right choice, and certainly a large saving of money as well.
“The chain is responsible for the lifespan of the rest of your drivetrain,” explains Adam. “Some people don’t realise how much money they can save by making a good lubricant choice, and following the maintenance for that lubricant.” Adam has done his own calculations based on typical ride times, “the cost to run per year difference is quite enormous. It can be well past $1000.” And as he points out, that could be a new wheel set or riding holiday instead – just by using the right chain lube.
THE QUESTION OF CHAIN WAXING
Adam is a fan of chain waxing, where you remove your chain and cook it in wax to coat it with a low friction wax. It sounds like a lot of bother, but after seeing it done in late 2020 to test the Silca Secret Wax – it’s not that involved, and it worked really well.
“One of the biggest myths out there is that immersive waxing is difficult. It’s just different. You spend time at the front end, but not at the back end. Every time the chain comes out of the wax pot it looks brand new.” Additionally, any grime that has penetrated is gone, so you’ve reset any contamination issues. Using wax tends to let your cassette and chain ring run clean, and cleaning is as simple as melting wax with boiling water. There’s no harsh (or expensive) cleaning products required.
“For most people, a re-wax is four minutes of labour time, on average. But we see 2-3 times the lifespan for a chain and drivetrain.” Of course there is some time in there waiting for the slow cooker to do the work, and you do need a dedicated workspace. But it’s a good point – the time spent hands on is minimal.
Adam is a wealth of passionate knowledge on chain lubrication and maintenance, and if you want to find out more, and see the data he has collected, head to his website: