Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
You’ve surely heard the saying, “never discuss politics or religion.” When it comes to cycling, I would add “and chain lube,” because it’s one of the things riders disagree about and argue about most. Even when there’s agreement on the type of lube used, debating HOW to use it can result in a ruckus.
With that in mind, my goal today is not to try to convince you that the lube here is better than what you’re using, or the application of it any better either. My only mission is to update you on two new things about Event Gear’s CUBE block wax, one of which I think adds a lot of value.
I first wrote about CUBE in June, last year. Here’s a link: First Look: Event Gear’s Simplyfast Cube Rub-On Wax Lube. The reason it’s back is because I like using it so much and also because, almost simultaneously, I heard from Event Gear and also a reader with a hot tip on another way to use it (pun intended).
Why I Like CUBE
As a quick refresher, my favorite thing with this lube is that you can wax your chain right before a ride because you don’t have to wait for it to dry. There’s no need to have to remember to lube your chain the night before a ride so that the lube has had time to dry. CUBE is simply rubbed onto the links by hand and you’re good to go. I’ve been using it this way on three bikes (road, gravel and mountain).
My second favorite thing is that it can be carried in a pocket or pack so that you can lube a chain on a ride if needed – or your friends’ chains if theirs need lubing. Since it goes on dry and gets pressed into the links as you pedal, it won’t get flung off and make a mess of your bike as you ride, the way wet lubes can (the reason it’s best to let them fully dry before riding).
Also high on my list is that CUBE makes for a nice clean drivetrain that never leaves grease tattoos on you, your hands or anything else like the inside of your vehicle if you carry your bikes that way, like I do. I also feel that the chain is smoother and when freshly waxed even a little quieter.
Last but not least, CUBE is highly effective for lubricating other things, such as cables, pedal mating surfaces (cleats/top of pedals) and threaded parts (that comes in really handy on rides if anyone has squeaking or entry/exit issues with their clipless pedals).
What’s New
Originally the CUBE blocks came in a white color. Now it’s green, which is in keeping with the fact that it is made using all naturally sourced waxes and oils, is petroleum and chemical free without added particulates; and biodegradable too. Even its new green color is actually vegan-derived. CUBE is also 100% lubrication and formulated so that when rubbing it on, ample wax gets onto the chain, something that is difficult to do with harder wax which tends to flake.
Even better, I learned from the company (and from the reader who is also doing this), that with a basic heat gun (available in hardware stores, etc.), you can use CUBE to hot wax the chain too. It makes so much sense I was kicking myself that I didn’t already think of it.
All that’s required is rubbing CUBE on the inside and outside (bottom and top) chain surfaces. Then with a heat gun, it’s quick and easy to go around the chain and melt the wax, which lets the wax penetrate in between the chain parts to more completely coat the chain.
NOTE: Some heat guns can get very hot, so if you do this, be sure not to heat the tire, carbon rim, frame, paint etc. You could remove the rear wheel or shield things from the heat to protect them too.
This entire hot wax job takes only minutes to finish and results in a coat of wax much more similar to an immersion waxed chain. Immersion waxing is done by removing the chain and putting it in a crock pot or other device with the melted wax inside. It’s considered the gold standard for getting the best coat of wax.
Where You Can Get It
If this quicker and easier hot waxing method – or the rub-on approach is of interest, Event Gear’s CUBE wax can be purchased here ($14.99 per 50gram block): https://event-gear.com/simplyfast-cube-lubricant/. In case you don’t already have one, it’s also available with a heat gun, plus 4 blocks for $69.99
I asked Event Gear what their test riders were seeing in the way of mileage per wax job. They said the average is 25-40 miles per application when rubbed on, and that most riders are going to apply CUBE every couple of rides (this concurs with my use of it). And when using the new hot-melt application they’re reporting 200-250 miles before re-application. I haven’t ridden mine far enough yet to know.
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
Are you using this wax lube on top of a waxed chain or is this something you’re using on a typically pre-greased chain?
You can use it however you want Jimmy, but typically you would hot wax a chain and then use this as a quicker more convenient way to keep it hot waxed. Or you could use it as a rub on wax, without melting it with the gun. Ideally you would apply it to a clean chain since if the chain has grease or oil on it, the wax won’t be able to stick very well to the chain.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Only 20-40 miles between rubbed on applications? That sounds like it would need to be re-applied after virtually every ride and might not make it through a longer weekend ride…
That’s what I was thinking.
Thanks Eric,
It depends on how well it is applied, whether you are using it over a pre hot waxed chain, how and where you ride, weather conditions, etc. As I mentioned, it’s designed for you to carry it with you and if you do that, you can add wax on the ride if needed, which means you can keep riding as long as you wish – no mileage limit. That’s the way I use it. But I rarely ride over 40 miles so I just lube it every day. Now, you can carry oil/wet lubes too but if you use those on rides, they typically make a huge mess of your drivetrain because they’re wet. CUBE goes on dry, and it only takes a couple of minutes to lube the chain and get going again on a ride.
Hope that explains a bit more,
Jim
Rub on wax is nothing new, and I still have a tin of Lumpy’s Crack Wax from probably 20 years ago. It’s more the consistency of shoe polish and comes in the same type of tin, with a foam applicator.
The problem with rub-ons is lack of penetration. While the wax will get between the side plates and make the chain quiet, it’s just fooling you into thinking it’s actually well-lubed. It doesn’t reach deep into the pins and rollers the way that liquid or hot wax lubes do. I’m sure that heating it helps, but I’m skeptical that it’s providing consistently adequate lubrication.
I suppose the fact that you apply it before every ride helps significantly in that regard, but how many people are actually going to do that?
In contrast, I can drip lube my chain in less time and be good to go for at least 500 miles. Wiping it down after a ride takes less than a minute, if I fee the need to do so.
Brian-
To your comments:
A. the melt -wax application fully liquifies CUBE, so you have the same penetration benefit of any liquid or immersion wax-lube.
CUBE is not soft or mushy like a shoe polish or paste-wax- it is firm., and dry but soft enough that when put under pressure, it deforms rapidly into the gaps.
We don’t instruct to use CUBE on the sides, as you note as it is ineffective for our use, as there is not anything to push the lubricant into the pins and rollers while riding when used cold. When melted, it fully penetrates links and rollers.
The mini heat gun we supply lets a rider get a fully melt-waxed chain rapidly- typically under 10 minutes – without chain removal.- and delivers the same performance as melt-waxes- which is very good.
With regard to cold ( rub on ) use: surface to surface friction ( chain on cassette/jockey wheels/ crank ) represents about 30% of the friction in a chain- and CUBE is really good at taking away surface friction. It is great for most people as it is rub and ride, and for many riders, this is all that is needed.
The biggest amount of chain friction is from articulation, around 60-65% -and why we love the hot-melt so much, as it delivers very good performance in this area.
However, if you check out Ceramic ‘Speed’s latest testing on their new very sophisticated test unit, the vast majority of friction in the drive system is from gear selection- not the chain lubricant.
The great thing with CUBE in my opinion is that the user can select how it is applied depending on their performance needs.
We started out with a liquid chain -wax emulsion, and disliked almost everything about it. It is messy, it requires a long set up time before use, and there is actually not a lot of lubricant going into the chain -not even 50% as the emulsions are mostly water or chemical carrier. CUBE delivers 100% lubricants!
Everyone is skeptical. Mr. Langely certainly was. But he is right about chain lube being in the same category as religion or politics. You can add ski wax into that too! Cheers!
Does this wax contain ceramic particles?
Thanks for the question Wade. It does not.
Jim
Waxing the outside of the chain might make you feel good, but it does nothing for the chain. Chain wear, or “stretch”, occurs internally between the pins and rollers. Hot melt gets the wax where it needs to be, the interior of the chain. It also prevents intrusion of dirt. That isn’t “opinion”, that’s understanding how it works.
The Silca Endurance Chip really works. I got about 500 miles on my last application of Silca Hot Melt with an Endurance Chip.
I don’t think you read the article or watched the video Doug.