{"id":66616,"date":"2024-07-02T14:39:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T12:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/f226958f-17b5-4eca-9202-1ce34e02435b"},"modified":"2024-07-02T15:25:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T13:25:30","slug":"spotted-lidl-trek-using-prototype-automatic-chain-waxing-machine-at-the-tour-de-france","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/spotted-lidl-trek-using-prototype-automatic-chain-waxing-machine-at-the-tour-de-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotted | Lidl-Trek using prototype automatic chain waxing machine at the Tour de France"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is this \u201cthe holy grail\u201d of chain optimisation? <\/p>

By Simon von Bromley\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 July 2024 at 12:39 PM<\/p>

\n\n

We\u2019ve spotted the Lidl-Trek team using a prototype automatic chain waxing machine at the 2024 Tour de France.<\/p>

The device \u2013 made by Belgian brand, Cyclowax \u2013 is claimed to be \u201cthe holy grail\u201d of immersive chain waxing<\/a>, as it can wax a chain without removing it from the bike.<\/p>

The machine, which looks somewhat akin to a smart trainer<\/a>, holds a bike in place via the rear wheel and slowly draws the chain through a compartment containing melted paraffin wax (and other friction-reducing additives).<\/p>

According to Cyclowax, the device is being used by the Lidl-Trek team at this year\u2019s Tour de France<\/a>, alongside more traditional chain waxing equipment (two heated ultrasonic cleaners), to enable the team to run waxed chains for every stage.<\/p>

In theory, this could offer the team a performance advantage compared to riders and teams using more traditional chain lubricants<\/a>.<\/p>

Prior to the start of the race, we spoke to Cyclowax about how the device works and its ambitions for the machine.<\/p>

An on-bike chain waxing revolution?<\/h2>
Could this machine revolutionise how riders lubricate their chains? – Cyclowax<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Chain waxing is often touted as a watt-saving, wear-reducing goldilocks solution to bicycle chain lubrication.<\/p>
However, according to Cyclowax, one of the biggest hurdles riders face when using waxed chains is the need for the chain to be removed from the bike for re-waxing.<\/p>
Waxed chains typically last for around 300 to 400km in dry conditions before needing to be re-waxed.<\/p>
After riding in wet conditions, waxed chains need to be immediately dried and re-waxed to prevent corrosion.<\/p>
For professional or keen amateur riders, this can necessitate removing the chain<\/a> from the bike for re-waxing after almost every ride.<\/p>
Not only does this require a significant investment in time and effort \u2013 which is difficult for professional team mechanics who have dozens of bikes to clean and maintain every day at races such as the Tour \u2013 but the cost of replacement chain pins or quick-links<\/a> can easily add up over time.<\/p>
With its automatic chain waxing device, Cyclowax is looking to solve this conundrum.<\/p>
How does the Cyclowax automatic chain waxing machine work?<\/h2>
$\"Cyclowax$
Lidl-Trek is using Cyclowax’s prototype automatic chain waxing machine at the 2024 Tour de France. We saw Giulio Ciccone’s bike being put through the machine after his final pre-Tour training ride. – George Scott \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A bike is mounted on the prototype device in a similar manner to a smart trainer or bike stand.<\/p>
A section of chain below the non-drive side chainstay is then placed within a compartment that clamps around it.<\/p>
According to Cyclowax, this compartment contains a small \u2018valley\u2019 of wax, a heating element and a mechanism to slowly pull the chain through the valley.<\/p>
When switched on, the heating element melts the wax, then the chain is automatically drawn through it.<\/p>
As the chain exits the compartment, the wax solidifies on the chain as it cools to the ambient temperature.<\/p>
$\"Cyclowax$
The machine draws the chain through a heated pool of wax, automatically waxing a chain in around half an hour. – George Scott \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
After around 30 minutes, the whole chain will be waxed and freshly lubricated. The waxing compartment will then automatically pop open to release the chain and bike.<\/p>
At this point, the rider simply needs to run through the gears on the bike (on a workstand<\/a>, for example) to free the links of solidified wax and allow the chain to articulate properly before riding.<\/p>
Cyclowax says the device is only designed to re-wax chains that have already been waxed or fully stripped of all factory grease.<\/p>
It isn\u2019t like Silca\u2019s StripChip and Ultimate Chain Waxing System<\/a>, which allows a chain to be degreased and waxed in one fell swoop.<\/p>
For riders who don\u2019t wish to degrease their own chains at home, though, Cyclowax sells ready-to-ride waxed chains for a variety of drivetrains<\/a>, from 10- to 13-speed and for track bikes<\/a>.<\/p>
Chain waxing at the Tour de France<\/h2>
$\"Cyclowax$
With only one prototype automatic machine available, Cyclowax has supplied the Lidl-Trek mechanics with more traditional chain waxing equipment too. – George Scott \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
As an official partner to the Lidl-Trek team, Cyclowax has supplied the team with pre-waxed SRAM Red AXS<\/a> chains for the 2024 Tour de France, and the equipment for the mechanics to re-wax them.<\/p>
As the automatic device can only do one chain at a time (we saw Giulio Ciccone’s bike being put through the machine after his final pre-Tour training ride), the Lidl-Trek mechanics will also\u00a0be using more traditional methods to re-wax team chains.<\/p>
Cyclowax has provided the team with two heated ultrasonic cleaners, to be used in a two-step process.<\/p>
$\"Waxed$
Chains are threaded through a wire carrier and dipped into successive baths of hot wax, before being hung to dry. – George Scott \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The first ultrasonic cleaner contains its \u2018Basic\u2019 wax blend and is intended to flush the chain of contaminants.<\/p>
The second step then involves dipping the chain in a special \u2018Performance Pro\u2019 wax, which is blended with additional friction-reducing additives (Cyclowax is coy on its specific formula).<\/p>
Following this, the chain is removed and stiff links can then be broken and the chain re-installed on a bike.<\/p>
How much does the Cyclowax automatic chain waxing machine cost?<\/h2>
$\"Cyclowax$
Cyclowax’s automatic chain waxing machine is currently only a prototype but the brand says you’ll be able to buy one at some point. – Cyclowax<\/figcaption><\/figure>
As it\u2019s currently in prototype form, Cyclowax told us it couldn\u2019t estimate an eventual price for its automatic chain waxing machine.<\/p>
Given the brand\u2019s standard, off-bike waxing kit (which consists of a 500ml wax heater with an integrated stand) costs \u00a3101, we suspect it won\u2019t be cheap.<\/p>
Despite this, Cyclowax says its sights are firmly set on making the device appealing to individual riders and not simply local bike shops<\/a>.<\/p>
At a glance, we think that\u2019s an ambitious objective, but we can certainly see it as a way for bike shops to offer quick and easy chain waxing services to their customers.<\/p>
Either way, though, we\u2019re intrigued.<\/p>
Cyclowax says it made every effort to get the prototype device ready for use at the Tour, so it doesn\u2019t know when a final, production-ready version will launch.<\/p>
As always, though, when it does you can be sure we’ll bring you all of the details.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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