[Spectacularspectral]

Funny enough I actually used ski wax since it was lying around, definitely more expensive stuff than paraffin. I haven’t ridden it through its useful life yet but so far I love it! Obviously more work, but I think if I do two chains at a time it’s fast to break the chain and switch.

I am a bit OCD, but it very much manifests in the cleanliness of my drivetrain. This wax system is so much more clean it is mind blowing. The amount of grime and grease I remove after one ride with Muck off dry/wet is equivalent to honestly 6 or 7 rides with waxed chain.

I’d say if you are the type of person who wipes your drivetrain off every ride (like me), you must try waxing your chain once to see if the benefits out way the burden for you, because I may be sold.

Question: Does using a chain tool to break your chain more often lead to quicker chain stretch?

 

[J.B. Weld]

Question: Does using a chain tool to break your chain more often lead to quicker chain stretch?

Do you mean breaking a quick link or pushing out a pin? If it's the latter you shouldn't be doing that.

 

[Spectacularspectral]

Do you mean breaking a quick link or pushing out a pin? If it's the latter you shouldn't be doing that.

I meant pushing pin out. Damn is it really that bad to do it?

 

[834905]

I meant pushing pin out. Damn is it really that bad to do it?

You should cut your chain to length one time and then break it with a quick link every time after that.

 

[Spectacularspectral]

You should cut your chain to length one time and then break it with a quick link every time after that.

I know you “can’t reuse SRAM quick links” but can you reuse SRAM quick links?

 

[J.B. Weld]

I meant pushing pin out. Damn is it really that bad to do it?

On old 6-speed chains it was fine but not anymore. Risky for sure.

Get some quick links, officially they're only supposed to be used once but you can easily cheat that number to several.

 

[834905]

I know you “can’t reuse SRAM quick links” but can you reuse SRAM quick links?

I’ve personally reused them a million times and never had any issues. They do seem to loosen up though so I can see why they recommend getting a new one.

 

[TheOtherOne]

I reuse them as long as they still feel tight when I install/uninstall them. YMMV though.

On my 11 speed road bike I use a Connex Link which is totally reusable and install/removal does not require any tools. But they haven't made one for 12 speed drivetrains yet. They told me spring of 2022 but will have to wait and see.

 

[slimat99]

Breaking the chain won't lead to faster stretch, but you'll increase the likelihood of snapping the chain on the link you fooled with. Like others have said, use the quick link. I've never had an issue reusing either. I've also mixed brands without issues. It's been my experience you can fool with quick links all you want, and reuse them when needed. Start keeping quick links from old chains and pack one. A .75 stretched QL is good as new when it comes to trail side fixes.

 

[Sparticus]

I’ve personally reused them a million times and never had any issues.

Same.
=sParty

 

[IMeasure]

I break 12 speed quick links multiple times to wax. They do get looser over time. Just incase it breaks on a ride I always carry a small pair of chain pliers and a couple spare quick links in both 12 speed and 11 speed (11 speed incase someone else needs a link on a ride)

 

[Sparticus]

I have a riding buddy who decided to switch from wet lube to wax this year.
We live & ride in the PNW.
All summer he rotated between 2 chains -- put the fresh one on whenever circumstances dictated and wax the used chain so it'd be ready for quick installation whenever the next chain rotation time came around.
Then seasons changed. Fall arrived. He'd put a fresh chain on a couple days previous to our first ride in the rain.
His freshly waxed chain needed another wax treatment before that ride was even finished.
Personally I'll stick with petroleum based lubes. Desert dwellers, YMMV.
=sParty

 

[J.B. Weld]

There's something in between petroleum based and hot waxing. Squirt is the best of both worlds, I'm never f-ing with oil again.

 

[dysfunction]

I wax my mtb chains. When they're new. I toss em in mineral spirits, hang out and drink a beer or two clean them and wax. Then I just use a wax based lube mostly. Over all, I like it, but I am in the desert.

For a long time, I just used gear oil on my road bike chain.

 

[Sparticus]

There's something in between petroleum based and hot waxing. Squirt is the best of both worlds, I'm never f-ing with oil again.

I have several bottles of Squirt -- race packet freebies.
Does it work in wet conditions?

For a long time, I just used gear oil on my road bike chain.

I've never employed gear oil for my bike chains but I've used it before. Damn, that stuff stinks!
=sParty

 

[dysfunction]

I have several bottles of Squirt -- race packet freebies.
Does it work in wet conditions?


I've never employed gear oil for my bike chains but I've used it before. Damn, that stuff stinks!
=sParty

Chain-L smells just like it.

 

[J.B. Weld]

I have several bottles of Squirt -- race packet freebies.
Does it work in wet conditions?

I wouldn't know about this "wet conditions" you speak of so I honestly couldn't say.

 

[Mongoguy]

I wouldn't know about this "wet conditions" you speak of so I honestly couldn't say.

I wouldn't know about this "wet conditions" you speak of so I honestly couldn't say.

I live on East Coast and wax both MTB and gravel chains, honestly for me water doesn't seem to be an issue with wax. Usually rode 100-150 miles a week between gravel and MTB. I really like have my 12 shifts when waxed.
For reference I use a crockpot with paraffin and PTFE powder combo and rewax probably every 3rd week.

 

[834905]

There's something in between petroleum based and hot waxing. Squirt is the best of both worlds, I'm never f-ing with oil again.

I got a little bottle of that stuff in my swag bag at True Grit Epic last year. Haven’t used anything else since. Best chain lube I’ve ever used.

 

[6thElement]

I've got a dozen or so of those little freebie squirts from race packets that have sat under my workbench for several years. I really should try it on a fresh chain at some point.