SILCA Super Secret Chain Lube: What Makes it Super?
The Science Behind SILCA Super Secret Chain Lube
SILCA's Super Secret Chain Lube was a hit from day 1. The biggest reason here is that the tech was more advanced than anything else on the market. SILCA wasn't the first company to offer a wax based lubricant, but the initial penetration was the biggest flaw of the other options that were available. This meant that to get a thorough application, you needed to remove your chain, dunk the chain, and hang to dry. This goes against the purpose of this style of lubricant as it is supposed to be installed on the chain.
We set out to take a formula that we had worked on to help pro cycling's biggest efforts like World Championships, Hour Records, etc. The ability for the lubricant to penetrate the links of the chain was acheived by optimizing the amount of solid wax lubricant and carrier.
Secondly we sought out to create the most advanced and environmentally friendly additive package in cycling. We leaned on nano-scale Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) to create a very slippery surface on the chain. These tiny particles are around 1 micron. This allows them to get into the imperfections in the metal of the chain and fill those dips to create a more smooth surface. These two sides are now two extremely lubricious surfaces rubbing against each other rather than two imperfect metal surfaces.
This allows for increased efficiency as well as a high quality wax coating to prevent dirt from being introduced to the system. This process has left SILCA as the first and one of the only companies with a virtually identical hot wax and drip wax. This way customers are able to pick and choose when they want to do each and they work to complement each other. The finished products here are perfect for road, gravel, mountain bike, commuters, etc.
Key Benefits for Cyclists
1. Extended drivetrain life - by reducing the wear on the chain this elongates the life of the chain significantly. You can get up to 10x the longevity when using Super Secret Chain Lube vs a low quality oil. This means that you will go through fewer chains, which leads to fewer cassettes and chainrings as well. The drivetrain longevity keeps all of your components running better, longer.
2. Cleaner Chains - Super Secret Chain lube doesn't contain oil, which means there is no sticky oil for dirt and debris to stick to on your drivetrain. This means you can grab the chain on the side of the road and your hands don't have that impossible to remove grime stuck on them.
3. Noise Reduction - We are always in pursuit of that perfectly quiet ride. The shifting perfectly dialed, tires inflated, chain lubricated, and you can't hear anything but the wind. Keeping your chain quiet in all conditions was a big goal that we were able to achieve with Super Secret Chain Lube.
Performance in All Conditions
There is not much better in our opinion than a couple hour ride on a nice sunny say with the wind at your back, its warm but not too hot, and littered with beautiful vistas to admire. Unfortunately sometimes the ride is dry and dusty, wet and muddy, and sometimes all of the above in a single day. We have even seen some days go back and forth a couple of times. This means chain lube needs to be able to perform in all of the toughest conditions to make it your go to choice.
Super Secret Chain Lube is perfectly at home in dry road conditions, but also in the dry dusty conditions that many of us see on gravel rides or the local singletrack. The solid lubricant nature of wax means that it repels dirt extremely well.
Super Secret Chain Lube is also a great wet weather option. While the water and more specifically the grit that the water carries will more quickly abrade the wax, it will do better from a lubricating perspective than any oil based lube in these wet conditions right up until the wax is gone. This is why Super Secret can be a perfect go to option for any bike, any condition, on any day.
How to Apply for Maximum Performance
The key to a good application is to first completely strip the chain of any oils or greases that might be there. We have plenty of videos on that process here.
For the Super Secret Chain Lube application, simply shake the bottle really well. This ensures all the WS2 additive is mixed in with the rest of the wax. Then add one drop per link while rotating the chain backwards. Spin the cranks a few times then let the chain sit for a minimum of 4 hours. This will allow all the water in the wax to evaporate, leaving you with a wax perfectly lubricated chain. Do NOT wipe off any excess liquid.
Why Riders and Pros Trust SILCA
Chain lube has long been an afterthought or a snake oil type product. They all claim to clean, lubricate, protect, etc. We have even seen some go as far as claiming one product was a dry lube, wet lube, bike wash, degreaser, rust remover, rust preventer, anti-seize, paint protectant, metal polish, and even leather conditioner. Yes, all one product.
SILCA has always operated on a simple directive, if we aren't going to be number one or two in a category, we don't do it. This is really where the lubricant category was a glaring place for SILCA to help. We saw a place where there was very little research, innovation, and tons of performance being left on the table.
This is really where SILCA's trust is derived. World Tour Teams like Visma Lease a Bike don't just throw anything on their bikes and hope for the best. They look for the absolute best and for companies who can help them win the biggest bike races in the world. That is why we partnered with them after them being a customer for multiple years.
When most companies are shy to try to educate customers on some of the more technical aspects of our sport, we love to lean into that. We think we have some of the smartest customers out there and we like to provide as much information as possible and let them make the decision. When we do that, it makes anybody looking for the best realize that we are probably the best or at the very least one of the best options out there.
Weather it is winning the Tour de France, Leadville 100, Unbound, or the local town sign sprint, SILCA has always been there to try to make your riding experience just a little bit better.
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