Endurance Innovation

Adam Kerin on Chain Lubrication

Episode Summary

Zero Friction Cycling founder and chief nerd Adam Kerin joins us to provide unbiased advice for optimizing chain lubrication to increase efficiency and reduce component wear.

Episode Notes

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• 2:45 meet Adam Kerin, founder of Zero Friction Cycling
• 8:45 the need for an independent testing facility in the bicycle lubricant space
• 12:45 how much mechanical drag does a chain present?
  • Optimized race chain with top class wax or lube: 2.8W - 3.5W
  • Average chain with average wet lube: 8W - 15W
  • Poorest lubricants: up to 19W
  • Unlubed chain: 20W - 25W
  • Factory lube: 6W-7W but will pick up contaminants easily
• 18:00 wet vs ‘dry’ lubricants
• 20:00 watts you save on drag are watts that would otherwise be eroding your drivetrain!
• 21:45 the cause of chain friction: a deep dive
• 28:15 how do modern higher-speed chains compare with older lower-speed chains?
• 29:00 how lubricants get insider the chain to the roller and why this matters
• 33:30 resetting your chain after a wet ride
  • Wet lubricants require flushing with copious amounts of solvent and reapplied
  • Dry lubricants should be flushed with boiling water and reapplied
• 39:45 costs savings of properly resetting the chain after wet rides can translate to thousands of dollars of savings in drivetrain component replacement
• 41:15 the do-it-at-home 1st time chain lubrication guide - quick version
• 46:15 the value of off-bike chain cleaning and lubrication
• 49:00 if you’re keen on performance, have a race chain and a training chain
• 50:30 guide to resetting your chain - quick version
• 55:45 the case for - and against - using an ultrasonic cleaner

Check out the wealth of free advice and guides for head to the INSTRUCTIONS tab on the Zero Friction Cycling site. Also subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on Instagram.