Ron Ruff wrote:
> Spicer et al tested for efficiency of a bicycle drivetrain and found no
> difference whether the chain was lubed or not:
> http://www.ihpva.org/HParchive/PDF/hp50-2000.pdf
This is what they concluded but it is not what they found. What they
found was that WAX PROVIDES NO LUBRICATION FUNCTION, a cleaned chain
having the same efficiency as a waxed (Castrol Wrench Force Dry Lube or
White Lightning Generation 4) one. With some mixture that may be heavy
oil and other substances (Pedro's Syn Lube), efficiency was improved
about 2% @60RPM/100W. Guessing from the other trends, this figure might
be double or more at other wattages and revs. For a(n unintentionally)
humorous description of Pedro's Syn Lube in use, the review of it from
ePinions is appended below.
One should be aware of some flaws in this study. (1) They did not
demonstrate that their cleaning procedures were 100% effective. They
should have dismantled a chain cleaned by their methods (of which there
were two different ones) and checked for the presence of residual
substances. I have found that getting ALL the oil/grease out of an
assembled chain is very difficult if not impossible. I do not use
Simple Green or kerosene and question their effectiveness in this
regard. (2) There is a discrepancy between table 1 and table 2, where
for the 52-15 combination @60RPM/100W, White Lightning, we see values
of 92.3 and 91.1 respectively. (3) Because they thought there was no
difference between a cleaned chain and a waxed one, they did not
compare at other RPMs and wattages, where the difference with an oiled
chain might have been much greater than the 1.7% recorded. (4) They did
not test the factory lube.
> I would e xpect that chain *wear* would be the best way to
> measure friction.
It is not. Chain wear depends on grit far more than on lubrication.
Since paraffin keeps grit out, and furthermore the treatment must be
redone so often, of course paraffined chains last a long time. I think
if I cleaned my chain every 200 miles and rode only in dry conditions,
my chains might last a long time even if I used molasses on them.
Speaking of which:
================================================================
Pedro's Syn Lube
Manufacturer's Description:
------------------------------------------------------
Improved formula for longer lasting performance and decreased chain
wear. A mid-weight lubricant that electrostatically bonds with chain.
Detergent polymers help break down dirt. Excellent water washout for
those wet and muddy days. A clear favorite among cyclocross racers.
Best for wet conditions or for long distance lubrication.
For best results apply Syn Lube to chain (about 1 drop per link), run
chain up and down cogs, then take a rag and wipe chain.
Available in 2, 4, and 12oz., plus 1 gallon shop size.
Type: Synthetic Wet Lube Conditions: Mixed to Wet Application:
All-Purpose Durability: High
-------------------------------------------------------
Review:
-------------------------------------------------------
When the going gets tough, the tough get Syn Lube. Jan 07 '06 (Updated
Jan 15 '06)
Author's Product Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Pros Great for mud, water, and snowy/wet conditions, keeps your chain
running through it all.
Cons Doesn't work at ALL in the dry, makes your chain collect dirt from
everywhere.
The Bottom Line
Beware, my four star rating is only for Syn-Lube in it's natural
environment. For endurance and other racers this is da' bomb. Casual
and sport riders stay FAR away.
Full Review
Pedro's Syn Lube
Type: Synthetic Wet Lube Conditions: Mixed, Wet, Very Wet Durability:
High
----- It's not for the faint of heart -----
I'll come out and say this right away so you don't find out later, you
don't need Syn Lube unless you're riding your bike in pretty awful
conditions. If you never ride in the rain and mud this stuff isn't
necessary and will actually work much worse than standard Pedro's Extra
Dry Lube lube. I've used Syn Lube for three or so years now, mostly
right before a race when I can tell it's going to be a nasty one.
I can remember one sport race in particular where it was raining
buckets for an hour before start time, I proceeded to take my bike out
of the truck and load up my chain and shifter cables with almost 1/2
bottle of Syn Lube. I raced for three hours that day in the worst
conditions I'd ever raced in. My chain was a black blob as was my
cassette, I couldn't even see individual gears back there. Through it
all my bike shifted civily (although everything sounded horrible) and
kept working through 25 miles of slop and clay. I saw so many other
riders with chains that wouldn't shift, drivetrains that jumped and
skipped on every hill, and lots of racers walking. The moral of this
story is lubes do make a difference in adverse conditions both in
performance and longevity.
Syn Lube also is recommended for long-term rides from a day to multiple
days. Pedro's describes the synthetic material as "a mid-weight
lubricant that electrostatically bonds with the chain" and that it
provides "longer lasting performance and decreased chain wear". Other
benefits include the detergents present in the synthetic oil which
break down dirt and mud and let it work its way out of the chain links.
Syn Lube has excellent water and fluid repellant characteristics thanks
to its bond with the chain links, it also won't become diluted by
fluids splashing onto your chain while riding. Other lubes which are
lighter weight become diluted and ineffective when exposed to lots of
muddy water and dirt. If you're caught riding with standard lube on
your chain you'll actually hear your chain start grinding and become
louder and louder as you ride.
How to use and when not to use Syn Lube:
Applying Syn Lube is very similar to any other Pedro's lube, you do it
one drop at a time. Syn Lube is much thicker than Extra Dry or Road
Rage and reminds me of the consistancy of honey more than the maple
syrup look of the other two. It can be hard to control the drips even
with the dripper nozzle. I usually shoot for a light stream and keep
the chain moving at a steady pace. Once the chain is coated liberally
keep cranking for a bit to let the lube work into each chain link. I
don't even wipe off my chain since I'm planning on getting everything
quite dirty over the next few hours. I will sometimes wipe off my front
chainrings if anything has run down them but that's the extent of my
cleaning efforts.
Do NOT use Syn Lube in anything other than wet, muddy, snowy/slushy,
raining conditions. If you run this stuff in dry weather you will turn
your chain and cassette into something the consistancy of cookie dough.
Syn Lube attracts dust, twigs, and dirt like no other lube I've ever
seen, not even White Lightning which is the 2nd messiest lube ever. As
I said before, this stuff is only for racers or epic rides lasting days
and covering all manner of terrain including water crossings.
----- Bottom Line -----
Pedro's made Syn Lube for a reason, and in its little niche it works
perfectly. I always have a bottle on hand going to every cycling event
just in case the weather changes. I made the mistake of leaving it on
my chain once during a dry and dusty ride which left me cleaning my
drivetrain for over an hour. Not even Pedro's Bio Cleaner worked, I had
to go with Park Tool Chain Brite and scrub like crazy.
Riders that need the best foul weather lubricant should definitely try
Syn Lube, it's been the best I've found for those riding days when most
sane people are watching TV inside. For other conditions select of one
Pedro's other excellent lubes.
============================================
You don't see the inherent contradition in your paragraph?
