Wax for outdoor parked bike?

[JHZR2]

Lots from me on bikes recently. This is specifically about chain wax.

School is starting again in about week, and my oldest likes to bike to school.

There is a bike parking area, but it’s uncovered.

I usually use Triflow on the chain, and we do it often. It’s easy to apply, so a child can do it.

But it makes a mess. Maybe when I let my child do it, it gets over-applied. Maybe. But the chain also appears dry often.

I’m thinking maybe a dry lube? Maybe finish line dry? Would that be better? Self cleaning - but the bike used doesn’t go anyplace dirty. Should stay in place.

Or should we be looking at something wet?

The commuter bike is a Haro or some similar brand BMX style bike.

 

[AZjeff]

Box style = BMX style? The trick to lubing bike chains is to apply the lube, spin it a few revolutions to work it in then wipe the chain off with something like an old washcloth for a few revs. Excess lube on the chain is just messy and attracts dirt. Dry lubes need more attention in my experience.

 

[supton]

I'd think a wet lube would be messy, easy to get onto clothing and the like. But as noted, the dry lube seems to need more frequent application.

Single speed or derailleur? If it's a box store single speed... I'm not sure if I would over think it. Wide fat chain will take a lot of abuse, and no shifting problems to worry about.

 

[rijndael]

IME: Dry lubes don't work great in wet environments. I'm including teflon/dry lubes and a parafix wax. They start making a ton of noise pretty fast.

 

[JHZR2]

Box style = BMX style? The trick to lubing bike chains is to apply the lube, spin it a few revolutions to work it in then wipe the chain off with something like an old washcloth for a few revs. Excess lube on the chain is just messy and attracts dirt. Dry lubes need more attention in my experience.

lol stupid iPhone autocorrect changes things I’ve typed correctly. Yes, “BMX” (fixed it above).

Will look into a better wiping procedure.

I'd think a wet lube would be messy, easy to get onto clothing and the like. But as noted, the dry lube seems to need more frequent application.

Single speed or derailleur? If it's a box store single speed... I'm not sure if I would over think it. Wide fat chain will take a lot of abuse, and no shifting problems to worry about.

Not box (see above). Single speed. Decent bike. Knew they’re like $450-700. Got it at the bike coop for $100 because my kid thought it was cool (and has a rigid mtb for other use).

IME: Dry lubes don't work great in wet environments. I'm including teflon/dry lubes and a parafix wax. They start making a ton of noise pretty fast.

that’s helpful. The discriminator here is that if it’s a rainy day, my child is walking to school with an umbrella (we live in a walkable district).

The risk is when it rains mid-day. We also tend to leave that bike outside (under a roofc but exposed) when at home for convenience. I thought maybe the staying power of a wax and the water isolation/shedding behavior might be better.

 

[JHZR2]

How about rock n roll gold? Some was just delivered to my house…

Here’s what I’m talking about with the single speed BMX bike that has gotten triflow.

On the 24” MTB:

 

[supton]

I've been using Rock and Roll Gold, and I don't think it handles water at all. I think this summer I caught the chain rusting in my garage during a long humid spell where I was biking--or maybe it was because I got caught in a rain. Not sure, but I don't think I'd run it unless if I was oiling very often. I've taken to it as it is attracting far less dirt.

That said, single speed. No shifting performance to suffer. Large wide plates. Pick a wet lube and run it.

Side note: years ago in a bike chain lube thread (on Bike Forums), some one defended their usage of WD40 as a chain lube. !!! He was a year round commuter but only had to go a few miles per day. In the winter time, he'd get home and just give it a hose down to clean off the chain as he was riding in snow and slush. Lousy lube but he was using it daily in harsh conditions. I've always found that one to be an interesting story.

 

[JHZR2]

I've been using Rock and Roll Gold, and I don't think it handles water at all. I think this summer I caught the chain rusting in my garage during a long humid spell where I was biking--or maybe it was because I got caught in a rain. Not sure, but I don't think I'd run it unless if I was oiling very often. I've taken to it as it is attracting far less dirt.

That said, single speed. No shifting performance to suffer. Large wide plates. Pick a wet lube and run it.

Side note: years ago in a bike chain lube thread (on Bike Forums), some one defended their usage of WD40 as a chain lube. !!! He was a year round commuter but only had to go a few miles per day. In the winter time, he'd get home and just give it a hose down to clean off the chain as he was riding in snow and slush. Lousy lube but he was using it daily in harsh conditions. I've always found that one to be an interesting story.

These chains have tri flow. Maybe one would argue it’s not really a chain lube?

Obviously it doesn’t stay on. And it gets black with use too.

 

[JHZR2]

IME: Dry lubes don't work great in wet environments. I'm including teflon/dry lubes and a parafix wax. They start making a ton of noise pretty fast.

So I’ve been thinking about this more.

This scenario:

The chain gets rusty inside and out. It needs something on the outer exposed surfaces. Something permanent. Not just wiping off any protection.

The reality is that if it’s raining in the am, the bike stays home - walking is better.

If it’s raining in the pm, the bike stays or goes depending upon just how wet/hard it’s raining.

At home it’s under a roof or in a shed.

It’s the midday rains that would get it the most wet.

But since it doesn’t really get used a lot in the wet, but may see wet sometimes, wouldn’t I want a wax to coat every exterior surface and keep water off? And
I mean an immersion wax like Silca.

The dried on wax would coat every single exposed surface and keep water off. In the interim between cleaning and re-waxing, perhaps one of those
Wax emulsions maybe would be used.

This bike is used on streets. And in the NE, even if it was taken on a trail, it would be dirty or sandy, not rock dust.

What to use on MTB chains that will get coatings of clay and fine dirt is another question for another day.