What must-know bike care tips are we overlooking?

[Flowrider]

"Immersive wax all the things!!!

Thought about this when I put a post out, and @enkei posted this.

First, I've heard of it!

"Immersive wax all the things!!!

Seriously, Adam at Zero Friction Cycling races MTB. Check this out.

My two main road bikes and gravel bike run waxed chains now. I'm not going back.

Once I find a chromed chain for my Brompton that isn't silly money, that's changing to wax, too.

My go-to resources for information on immersive waxing:
SILCA Velo YouTube channel
Zero Friction Cycling (hit the instructions link up top)
Zero Friction Cycling YouTube channel"


So...

What upgrades or hacks could boost our bike’s performance?

Please post any ideas!

[Jake1]

If you clean your drivetrain after every ride it can last for 10000s of miles. Oil, wax, synthetics, etc. won't matter much if it is kept clean and lubed (off the bike service). Check bearing play and chain measurements when new so you have a reference indicating any premature wear. Loose bearings serviced after use in any adverse conditions aside from routine service.

[enkei]

(03-13-2025, 01:26 PM)Jake1 Wrote:  If you clean your drivetrain after every ride it can last for 10000s of miles. Oil, wax, synthetics, etc. won't matter much if it is kept clean and lubed (off the bike service). Check bearing play and chain measurements when new so you have a reference indicating any premature wear. Loose bearings serviced after use in any adverse conditions aside from routine service.

Immersive wax vs wet lubes makes a big difference.

---

(03-10-2025, 08:51 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  "Immersive wax all the things!!!

Thought about this when I put a post out, and @enkei posted this.

First, I've heard of it!

"Immersive wax all the things!!!

Seriously, Adam at Zero Friction Cycling races MTB. Check this out.

My two main road bikes and gravel bike run waxed chains now. I'm not going back.

Once I find a chromed chain for my Brompton that isn't silly money, that's changing to wax, too.

My go-to resources for information on immersive waxing:
SILCA Velo YouTube channel
Zero Friction Cycling (hit the instructions link up top)
Zero Friction Cycling YouTube channel"


So...

What upgrades or hacks could boost our bike’s performance?

Please post any ideas!

I believe these are the areas in which the biggest gains are available:

• Tire make/model and width, tire pressure, tubeless vs tubes (and which tubes), and bike fit can all make big differences.
• If you're aiming for higher speeds, riding position and body mechanics make a massive difference.
• Power-to-weight ratio (AKA your fitness level, sort of).
  

[Jake1]

(03-14-2025, 05:00 PM)enkei Wrote:  I believe these are the areas in which the biggest gains are available:

• Tire make/model and width, tire pressure, tubeless vs tubes (and which tubes), and bike fit can all make big differences.
• If you're aiming for higher speeds, riding position and body mechanics make a massive difference.
• Power-to-weight ratio (AKA your fitness level, sort of).
  

Please post your comment elsewhere. This thread is about "bike care"!

[Flowrider]

Big thanks @enkei

The information you provide on this forum is in-depth and fantastic!

Great benefit to the readers

[Jake1]

(03-16-2025, 08:39 PM)Flowrider Wrote:  Big thanks @enkei

The information you provide on this forum is in-depth and fantastic!

Great benefit to the readers

I agree @enkei provides some good biking advice, and my comment would not have been necessary except that he made an unrelated comment to one of my own comments. My comment was about ebikes and safety. His comment had nothing to do with cycling and was merely an unsolicited response DIRECTING ME TO POST ELSEWHERE. If you disagree with me let the moderators handle it (report me, have me banned; I do not care. This is not my life!); but do not make a meaningless comment that then flags anyone following that thread only to have their time wasted reading unrelated comments (like this one) that should never have appeared. And so here is another meaningless comment. They seem to be approved so go for it!

And again, @enkei your comment should be moved to a thread related to bike fit, set up, and physical conditioning; and should not have been posted in a thread specifically stating "bike care" (aka maintenance). I am quite certain that my "riding position" and "power-to-weight ratio" will have no effect in maintaining my bike's overall serviceable condition. If they do I would really like to know exactly what "riding position" and at what "power-to-weight ratio" my bike will then be cared for better than if I actually do the physical maintenance on it.

Of course you do not need to do wax immersion for everything, nor even anything. It is a personal choice, and if you do a full drivetrain service after every ride pretty much any reasonable lubrication method will work since you are removing that which is causing the wear more frequently than someone who wax immerses their chain (and other parts), but only does it once a week, once a month, etc. Dirty parts with wear causing debris being wax immersed is still causing damage from entrapped grit so continuous use makes wax meaningless if not done every ride. I just keep spare precleaned chains (some waxed, some not) and swap them out. Takes less than 5 minutes.

[enkei]

(03-15-2025, 01:06 PM)Jake1 Wrote:  

(03-14-2025, 05:00 PM)enkei Wrote:  I believe these are the areas in which the biggest gains are available:

• Tire make/model and width, tire pressure, tubeless vs tubes (and which tubes), and bike fit can all make big differences.
• If you're aiming for higher speeds, riding position and body mechanics make a massive difference.
• Power-to-weight ratio (AKA your fitness level, sort of).
  

Please post your comment elsewhere. This thread is about "bike care"!

I don't know what happened. When I spotted the problem and tried to edit the post, the system wouldn't let me.