I think wax-based chain lube beats wet lube for road riding in dry climates

I spent 3 months testing both on my commuter bike here in Denver. Wet lube kept attracting dust and dirt no matter how often I cleaned the chain. After 2 weeks the drivetrain sounded like a coffee grinder and I was losing gears. Switched to a wax drip lube from a local shop and the chain stayed clean for 6 weeks before needing a reapply. Shifted smooth and silent the whole time, plus my drivetrain components look brand new still. I know people swear by wet lube for all conditions but in a place with 300 days of sun a year it just makes a mess. Anyone else find wax lube superior for dry weather riding?

2 comments

2 Comments

lucas9726d agoTop Commenter

Biggest thing people miss is that wet lube traps grit and turns into a grinding paste once it picks up road dust. I ride in Phoenix and wax drip lube is night and day for keeping things quiet and components lasting way longer than they used to. If you're not riding in rain or wet roads regularly, wax is the clear winner for less maintenance and cleaner drivetrains.

patricia_wright6d agoMost Upvoted

Yeah exactly this. I ride in Colorado too and wet lube was just awful. Had a chain start rusting after a week because the dirt held moisture weirdly when it got dewy overnight. Wax drip is way less messy too. I just wipe the chain down with a rag, slap more wax on, let it dry for 10 minutes and I'm good for like 100 miles easy. Only thing is you gotta make sure you degrease the chain really well before switching over. If there's any old wet lube left in the rollers the wax won't bond right and you'll get a gritty sound anyway.