If Finish Line Lube is so obviously grossly overpriced, why is it sold in every LBS?

[SMS]

Michael Press wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> I think you're wrong there. Many Believers follow that path to this
>>> day.
>>>
>>> http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/maintenance/chain.html
>>>
>>> Yep, "ferver", that's the right word all right. --D-y
>> That's a pretty old post. Someone would have to be really stupid to
>> still be hot waxing.
>
> If you have to cast twice, you are trolling too hard.

Sorry, it wasn't intended as a troll. When so many well-respected shop
owners and employees explain about the major issues with hot waxing,
it's hard to believe that anyone is clueless enough to still be doing
it. Obviously, from the follow-ups, I was incorrect in this belief.

It is true that a hot-waxed chain is cleaner to handle than a lubricated
chain, but it's incorrect to claim that a hot-waxed chain is lubricated.

 

[velodancer]

On Jan 27, 12:15 pm, SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
> Michael Press wrote:
> > In article <[email protected]>,
> >  SMS <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >> [email protected] wrote:
>
> >>> I think you're wrong there. Many Believers follow that path to this
> >>> day.
>
> >>>http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/techctr/maintenance/chain.html
>
> >>> Yep, "ferver", that's the right word all right.    --D-y
> >> That's a pretty old post. Someone would have to be really stupid to
> >> still be hot waxing.
>
> > If you have to cast twice, you are trolling too hard.
>
> Sorry, it wasn't intended as a troll. When so many well-respected shop
> owners and employees explain about the major issues with hot waxing,
> it's hard to believe that anyone is clueless enough to still be doing
> it.  Obviously, from the follow-ups, I was incorrect in this belief.
>
> It is true that a hot-waxed chain is cleaner to handle than a lubricated
> chain, but it's incorrect to claim that a hot-waxed chain is lubricated.

Can't tell you if hot wax meets your definition of lubrication, but
everyone who uses it seriously notices a huge improvement in chain
life. I get a new chain with a new bike religiously every 10 years
because I have faith that I should replace a chain once in a while.

And waxing, and re-waxing is far easier than cleaning attempts using
solvents and more "traditional" lubricants. The majority who do
minimal cleaning on the bike, and then lubing over that are the same
folks that are saying that you have to replace a chain every 2,000 km.
Chains may be relatively cheap, but I have better uses for a sawbuck
and it hardly seems in keeping with green transportation to be using
disposables that take a significant energy to produce.

What are the downsides to waxing? The sideplates can rust for those
concerned about esthetics. No harm done. Work? Less overall than
traditional methods.

The major downside is that wax does wash off in rain easier than oil
which leads to squeaking. Jobst in his FAQs notes that squeaking is a
sign of a clean chain. A clean chain is more important to chain wear
than any other factor such as lubricity. Jobst further notes that
water is a decent lubricant. When on tour and recent rain has caused
noise, I use my water bottle to abate the noise until I can get waxed
again.

I never have this issue at home as I can hot wax as needed and it is
easy to tell by a slight increase in chain noise when it is getting
dry. On tour it is a big issue and I'm always looking for something
good to use. I picked up several samples of the latest, greatest, or
most popular at Interbike last year and made some serious attempts to
change my "outmoded" ways. All were significantly dirtier than waxing
and presented no benefits that I could see, even for touring.

White Lightning and that ilk I gave up on years ago. Solvent based wax
delivery systems cannot deliver a critical mass of wax. They won't
last for 100 miles without a dry chain. Which is why they are
constantly experimenting with additional additives. With hot waxing
and in the absence of rain, I often go 1,500 miles without waxing
again.

Benefits? Less work overall, and clean chain, bike, legs, clothing,
house, and car. Very addictive.