It\u2019s also claimed to extend application windows (the interval after which the chain lubricant<\/a> needs to be reapplied) to \u201cas much as 800km\u201d, around twice the length of existing wax treatments.<\/p>\n Silca Hot Wax X costs $165 \/ \u20ac199 for a 300g tin of solid wax, making it one of the most expensive bicycle chain lubricants currently available. In comparison, Silca\u2019s Secret Chain Blend costs $40 \/ \u20ac48 for a 500g bag of wax pellets.<\/p>\n The key ingredient in Hot Wax X is Nanene, a new form of graphene<\/a> \u2013 a substance that has threatened to be the next big thing in cycling<\/a> for some time.<\/p>\n Nanene, Silca says, is \u201can ultra-high quality, few-layer graphene produced using a patented manufacturing method\u201d, developed by the University of Manchester.<\/p>\n Josh Poertner, CEO of Silca, said \u201cFrom our first test with Nanene, we knew that real graphene was indeed, the future.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Silca, this addition marginally reduces drivetrain friction<\/a> to the tune of 0.5 watts compared to its previous immersion wax chain treatment, Silca Secret Chain Blend, which is claimed to save \u201cup to 8 watts\u201d versus an untreated chain.<\/p>\n Hot Wax X is also said to last around twice as long between re-waxes compared to Silca Secret Chain Blend.<\/p>\n Claims of \u201cas much as 800km\u201d between applications are likely confined to dry-weather usage only, but Silca says the treatment should prove hardier than its previous immersion wax lubricants in wet weather too.<\/p>\n The reduced friction and increased durability of the Hot Wax X chain treatment is also claimed to extend drivetrain life (because lower friction reduces component wear).<\/p>\n Silca says it\u2019s possible to extend the service life of a single chain \u201cup to 30,000km \/ 18,600 miles\u201d, up from 25,000km \/ 15,500 miles with Silca Secret Chain Blend.<\/p>\n This would likely entail a meticulous approach to drivetrain cleanliness and reapplication of the Hot Wax X treatment, though.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting Hot Wax X is not the first bicycle chain lubricant to contain a form of graphene.<\/p>\n AbsoluteBLACK released its Graphenlube<\/a> drip lube (\u00a3114.99 for 140ml in drip lube form, or \u00a329.99 for 340g in solid wax form) in 2020, with bold claims about its efficiency compared to the competition thanks to its use of graphene.<\/p>\n Silca is also keen to stress that Hot Wax X does not contain any PFAS chemicals (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances \u2013 so-called \u201cforever chemicals\u201d such as Teflon\/PTFE).<\/p>\n These substances, which are common in chain lubricants, have garnered large amounts of negative attention in recent years for their toxicity towards the environment, and human and animal life.<\/p>\n Poertner discussed this topic in greater detail in an episode of the BikeRadar podcast, which aired in September 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n Silca Hot Wax X comes as a solid wax puck, which means it needs to be melted (typically using a slow cooker<\/a>) before a clean chain is immersed in it. The chain is then removed from the wax and left to dry before being reinstalled on your bike.<\/p>\n After the treatment wears off through use, the chain needs to then be removed from your bike and the waxing process repeated, in order to reapply the lubricant.<\/p>\nNanene-infused<\/h2>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>PFAS-free<\/h3>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>How does Silca Hot Wax X work?<\/h2>\n