tomato coupe

"Isn't that uncommon" is still a small percentage of cyclists.

elcruxio

Of all people who ride bikes? Definitely. Of people who consider cycling to be a hobby for them? A significant portion. At least where I live. But we have pretty bad conditions so there's that.

Lombard

That cassette is no cleaner than mine using oil based lube. So much for "clean and quiet".

venturi95

Okay, let's see an honest, un-prepped, un-cleaned picture of your cassette as it now sits. Take a well-lit and in focus picture right now and post it.

Eric F 

I've switched to using drip wax on all my bikes. One thing I have noticed different is how much less time it takes me to clean my hands after messing with drivetrain parts.

yaw

Meh, drivetrain cleanliness is no contest.
Just the fact that it can be touched without messing up fingers is enough.

The MSW brand wax I use is grey because of the friction modifying additives, so the wax residue is grey, that is not the same as the oil, dirt and gunk mix prevalent on grouch bits.

Ultegra cassette and DA chain:


This cassette hasn't seen anything but wax and rinse water when the bike gets washed for 6000km. The no drivetrain fuss claims made by waxists are no joke.

Don't even have to think about this component at all, if anything it just gets a nice thin second hand wax coating for extra smooth shifting.

Edit: While we are at it, here's my lady's 105 cassette with black YBN chain:


Hers is about a year of riding, although much less frequent than mine, without any specific cleaning. Which is good news cause that would be work for me.

tomato coupe

Drip waxing seems more practical than immersion waxing.

Lombard

After how many miles? 200? 500? 1000? 2000?

Lombard

OK, how many miles do those cassette have since you cleaned them?

yaw

I will translate what I already stated as 6000km into freedom units for you, so 3700 miles on the Ultegra shown. Why not more, like the 300k+ miles you get out of your cassette before you clean them, you ask? Because that's when I bought it. Rest assured it will look like this in another 3700 miles. No need to clean it because no dirt sticks to it. Magic. The other I don't really know as my partner doesn't track her rides.

Edit: And for the waxers that get more wax build up on their cassettes, I suggest pulling the chains out with the wax at peak temperature so excess wax runs off the chain. It will be just as lubricated inside and won't flake as much. The DA chain shown is freshly waxed and unridden, so you can see how little it is coated on the outside.

venturi95

I think I was rather clear, what part of "take a picture right now of your un-prepped cassette" don't you understand?

Lombard

OK, I missed that part about 6000km. If you went 3700 miles since cleaning and it looks liks that, that is pretty good.

venturi95

My road bike. 135 miles on a waxed chain. No wiping, no care, no nothing. It wants for nothing, as well.

My all road bike. 87 miles total, 48 on dry, moon dust, horrid chain conditions gravel roads. I hosed the whole bike off twice since waxing because I also commute on it, and it sits in the break room; people have to look at it.
Although most of you probably didn't catch it, I have always been a little obsessive about keeping my oil-lubed (mostly Boeshield) chain clean. I have already saved a (small amount) of time by not cleaning the whole drivetrain.
I am a seasoned mechanic who has spent way more hours over a Safety-Kleen parts washer than most of you have spent working on bikes. I like waxing, it is no big deal if you don't, but please stop spewing hate. Apparently, someone has discovered a mineral spirits/oil based concoction that perfectly lubricates and cleans a chain, and it collects no dirt. Color me gobsmaked.

Eric F 

I haven’t done immersion, so I can’t compare, but I’m very happy with drip wax. For me, it’s no different than my regular routine for oil lube, but way cleaner. I’m satisfied with it.

yaw

Yeah it's not like it stays a bit cleaner, it just doesn't attract or accumulate dirt. I also put carnauba wax on the frame paint once a quarter (a worthwhile 5 minute job), so now my bike cleaning consists of taking the chain off, spraying it with Green Fizz, rinsing it off, and putting the chain back on. Drop of dry lube on the derailleur pivots every now and then. I used to take the bike outside with all the chemicals and chain cleaner tools and brushes, now I do it all in a spare bath tub.

Eric F I used Squirt for a good while before switching to immersive, to the extent where I would preheat the chain and/or wax bottle to allow the thick lube to penetrate into the chain, and then wipe it externally after it had dried. Regardless, it would always produce grey gunk over time that would accumulate around drivetrain bits. I spent a lot of time wiping things and re-applying. I liked it for being reasonably quiet, but it would still leave a sticky residue on the fingers. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the chain life I got out of it. With the new chain came the immersive wax. It's not similar.

Eric F 

I’ve said elsewhere that drip wax might be the gateway drug to a full immersion habit. I’m not there yet. For now, I’m happy enough with drip wax.

venturi95

Like a drug habit, it all started innocently enough. A simple trip to the Goodwill store...

just to see what might be there. I could not refuse the low price, about the same as a burrito.

tomato coupe

A burrito from Goodwill should be a lot less than $7.99.

SoSmellyAir

Speaking of gateway, I just received my first order of PTFE powder.

Eric F 

That sounds like a less-safe meal choice than gas station sushi.

SoSmellyAir

Next time you come down to the OC, let me know ahead of time (to melt wax in Crock Pot), I will wax one chain for you, to get you started on this habit.

Eric F 

”Just try it, man…”. Yeah. I remember how this works.

We have Laguna plans for next May.

SoSmellyAir

By then you will already be waxing.

Lombard

I can tell you I was not impressed with the longevity of drip wax. And it would get components gummy over time.

Eric F 

I'm re-applying drip wax with the same frequency as I did with oil-based lubes. However, I do touch-up maintenance on all my bikes pretty frequently, so it's just part of my normal routine. I'm finding the wax residue on jockey wheels, etc. to be no harder to clean - but less messy - than oil-based dirty gunk.