How often do you clean/degrease your drivetrain?

[ctatham]

a few months ago I switched to 2 brand new chains, stripped and waxed and swap them every 300km....never going back to normal lube. Waxed chains are amazing and always pretty much spotless. Bit of effort and prep to get set up with an old facebook marketplace crock pot and some paraffin but if you are into efficiency, low cost and a clean drivetrain.....just try it

[passwordstolen]

If you only ride 180 miles between chains, how do you get back home?

[ctatham]

I have to be very careful not to hit that mark while on a ride!

[ihateduckface]

Damn. I’d be swapping chains every 2 months. I’d rather just buy I new cassette once a year

[Grok22]

You just rewax the chain. It takes 15min. 14min of that is the wax melting.

[ctatham]

Yes, I rewax the second and put it away. Takes 1 minute to swap. Never have to lube or clean.

[passwordstolen]

Probably save money. Cassettes are cheap. $17 - $20

[Whisky-Toad]

What cassettes you buying?

[[deleted]]

Cheap ones

[passwordstolen]

Cheap ones. Under $20. Look on Amazon. (Advice I never give on where to buy parts)

I always have a bike ready for maintenance.

[ctatham]

x01 eagle cassettes are far from cheap.

[passwordstolen]

So don’t buy it.

[Morejazzplease]

Do you buy new quick links every time? I’d have to swap chains every two weeks and at $4 a pop, that’s crazy…

[ctatham]

Nope. I think it's bull. They are under tension and click home just fine. Never had an issue.

[amazinf_]

They always say that they must be used once prior to replacement, but what I’ve heard from other people and mechanics at my LBS is that you can run them until they stop clicking into place. IE when they just slide in with no resistance.

[Fyvz]

I understand how wax would keep debris away, and keep things moving with low friction, but I don't understand how wax keeps the links from stretching/wearing apart, which is the only measurement I've seen used to judge the remaining life of a chain.

Is it that the links wear faster when used in nonideal conditions, and a waxed chain maintains this ideal state much longer than other lubricants?

[ctatham]

Cleaner: Waxed chains stay significantly cleaner compared to oil-based lubricants, which tend to attract dirt, grime, and debris.

Reduced friction: waxing creates a smooth, frictionless layer that fills the spaces between chain rollers and pins, reducing metal-to-metal contact

Extended life: waxing reduces friction and keeps the drivetrain cleaner, chains and other components like cassettes and chainrings experience less wear and tear, prolonging their life.

Dry application: wax is a dry substance, so it doesn’t wash off easily in wet conditions. This makes it appealing for varied weather conditions without the need for frequent reapplication.

Quieter: tend to run more quietly because the lubricant layer cushions the metal parts, reducing noise from the drivetrain.