The Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Some Conclusions

NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all.

NOTE: Stan's sent over a bottle of their Polar Drip Wax to Guitar Ted Productions at no charge for test and review purposes. Stan's is not bribing or paying Guitar Ted for this review. The SILCA Super-Secret v2 was purchased for this review by Guitar Ted. All opinions are Guitar Ted's.

It's time to start wrapping up this session of the Guitar Ted Lube-Off. With October winding down, I decided to cut short the test on the SILCA Super-Secret v2 and the Stan's Polar Drip Wax lube. For whatever days I get left to me for testing, I am going to dedicate those to the Triboflux lubricant, seen HERE last. In fact, all three of those hyperlinks take you to the last update on each of the lubricants being tested in this session. 

The image above is from the last time I rode the Stan's Polar Drip Wax lubricant. I will say this lube has been quiet, it provided excellent shifting performance, and - for the most part - I was impressed. However; I did have to reapply the lubricant, which is suggested in Stan's own application procedures which say you may want to apply this twice to start out with. 

Once the second coating was applied things have shown out to be better. No gunk build up, no adhesion of dirt to the chain, for the most part, which was impressive. But....this was with two applications. I have not had to do this with the SILCA product. So, let's see where we are with SILCA Super-Secret v2. 

SILCA Super-Secret drip wax on the chain here after a very dusty ride.

As you can see here, Super-Secret v2 doesn't attract gunk, and it stays fairly clean, despite having a very thin coating of dust all over the chain. This was from an extremely dusty ride, so I am impressed by the outcome here. 

However; Super-Secret v2 is noisier and  perhaps doesn't allow the chain to shift quite as nicely as the drivetrain using the Stan's product. It is very close, but noticeable to me. Out on the gravel it is not a noisy enough chain to hear, but when you pass by a bridge railing, for instance, I can hear a clackety-clackety chain noise. A normal noise, to be sure, but more pronounced than I am hearing with the Stan's lube. 

Who cares? The chain is cleaner, for sure, and any gunk build-up and excessive dust/dirt is what accelerates wear. Noise I can deal with, and again, this is a very minor issue. Also, it should be noted that a pass with a micro-fiber cloth would bring the shine right back to the SILCA treated chain, so a little dust coating is really no big deal. 

Conclusions:

The Stan's Polar Drip Wax lubricant has to be considered somewhat of a disappointment. Partially due to its recommendation to use the Stan's Degreaser as a chain stripping/cleaning step in the application process. If you were to choose to follow the instructions rigidly, this would lead to a massive failure of the Polar Drip Wax to cure and do what it can do otherwise. Which, by the way, is a pretty dcent job. 

Secondly, the Polar Drip Wax instructions suggest a second coating after the initial coating cures. I would make the suggestion that the second coating is required. I saw far better results after the second application than I had with only a single pass of the Polar Drip Wax. 

Of course, it is easier and takes less time to apply only one coating of a wax lubricant, which is precisely what Super-Secret v2 offers the user. The lube is perhaps going to allow a tiny bit noisier drive train, but other than that, Super-Secret v2 is a better lubricant. At least when pegged head to head with a single application of Stan's. 

If you don't use the Stan's degreaser, and if you go ahead and apply two coatings of Stan's right away, I think there is very little separating these two lubricants. However; I'm giving the nod here, so far, to SILCA, just because of those technicalities in regard to the Stan's product. 

Now if the weather holds out, the plan is to close out Fall riding the Triboflux lube and perhaps I'll get a handle on that and be back in a couple of weeks with a final verdict including all three of these wax based drip lubes. 

Stay tuned......
 

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Super-Secret 2.0 Update

 NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all.

SILCA updated their awesome Super-Secret drip wax lubricant recently. This lube in its original form is the current top-of-the-heap lubricant in my tests. I really am impressed with its performance. Super-Secret has long life, great lubricity keeping the shifting good, and it is clean. Really clean. 

SILCA claims it has enhanced all these properties of their drip wax lube in the 2.0 release of Super-Secret. My expectations are high. In this update, I'll give you my thoughts on this lubricant so far. 

The previous update can be seen HERE. In that article I give the application process and why I had to back up and start all over again after running into an issue with a degreasing product. 

This article will look at where I am at after a couple hundred miles of usage with this lube. Most notably, I used this on the recent Ride For Jacob, but I have done other gravel rides with it on the chain. This and local rides over varied surfaces should give a pretty clear picture as to what to expect from Super-Secret 2.0. 

I'll give you my traditional close-up shot of the drive train and from the "Touch-Test" which will help us see what is and is not being drawn out of the chain rollers. This helps determine lubricity and cleanliness of each lube I test. Okay, on with the 'evidence' gathered. 

After the image I'll have some commentary. 
 

Two-in one image: Touch-Test results and drive train close-up.

Comments:

This lubricant is doing really well. Shifting is great. No complaints there. The lubricity is excellent. The chain feels slick and I'm not seeing a bunch of gunk build-up anywhere. The Touch-Test reveals a little side-plate dirt, which I also got from the Stan's Polar Drip Wax, (reviewed yesterday).  

I'd like to address the very minor amount of residue I'm seeing off the side plates on this lube and the Stan's product. My hunch is this is left-over results from using the Stan's BioBased Drivetrain Cleaner. I tried my best to flush out this product using Finishline's excellent (but most likely NOT environmentally friendly) Speed Degreaser. However; without removing the chain I don't think I was able to completely eliminate any influence from the Stan's product. 

Now I wish I'd never used the stuff, but here we are. At least the results are consistent across the two drip wax lubricants so far. Again, this side-plate residue does not concern me much, but it does seem to be more residue than I saw last year using Super-Secret 1.0. At this time, I'm going to run out the tests with what I've got going here and take into consideration that the Stan's and SILCA products are on level playing fields and that the performance where it matters seems unaffected by the Stan's degreaser.  

 However; if I had to do it over again, obviously I would steer clear of the Stan's BioBased Drivetrain Cleaner. Not that it does not work, (it does, and does so well) but specifically to my needs, it isn't a product I would use again. 

Nuff said....

I like Super-Secret 2.0 a lot and I believe it will be the winner, (again) in the Lube-Off, but if Stan's Polar Drip Wax keeps pace, it will be a definite contender. So far, it seems it will keep pace with SILCA's newest lube.  

More riding will be done before any conclusions are made. Stay tuned....

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Final Word On Stan's Dry Lubricant

   NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. 

Stan's BioBased Dry Lube was a contender in the 2025 Guitar Ted Lube-Off which was never really concluded. So, I wanted to give some closure to this and report on my very long-term  findings! 

The lube lived on the chain running the Black Mountain Cycles MCD drive train and was doing okay. Obviously gravel riding was paused for the Winter of '25-'26, but when things got warmer again, the MCD came out and was put back into use. 

Then BRAN came calling and I decided to take the MCD on the week-long multi-surface ride. BRAN, in case you are unaware, is a ride through Nebraska which hits an overnight town every day for seven days, ala RAGBRAI. You start in Western Nebraska and travel East. Each day has a gravel route option, but you also get a fair amount of paved riding as well. 

I did apply a new coating of the Stan's BioBased Dry Lubricant just before leaving for Nebraska. The image above shows you what the chain and cassette looked like when I returned back to Iowa afterward. You can see a bit of accumulation of dust/dirt on the chain links and a fine coating of dust on the cassette. 

Results of the "Touch Test" after BRAN

The Touch Test is where I run my finger across the chain rollers on the inside run of the chain and observe whatever residue I see on my finger. Depending on the residue, more stuff on my finger usually means a lower rating from me. 

As you can see, there was a fine coating of dust which came off on my finger. In my estimation, we rode nearly 400 miles that week, so this would be what you'd see after that amount of miles with approximately 60% of that total being off-pavement. 

In my opinion, the chain was in definite need of a reapplication of lubricant after BRAN. It felt dry, not very slick, and there may have been a tiny bit of metal on my finger there, which I found a little concerning. 

Final Verdict On Stan's BioBased Dry Lube: 

At the end of the day, Stan's Dry Lubricant is merely "okay". It certainly isn't 'bad', but there are better lubes out there. The BioBased Dry Lubricant is not a dirt magnet, it does the job, for a little while, and it is easy enough to use. 

I wish Stan's Dry Lube had a longer span between applications. 300- 400 miles isn't a lot. Again, not terrible, but I have had other lubricants go longer between necessary reapplications. The amount of dust/dirt which was sticking on the chain and cassette is about the most I would tolerate. The fine coating on everything was a bit thicker than I'd like to see. However; I will say this was Nebraska dirt, not the Iowa dust I normally test in. So, this may have played a part in my end results.  

Good - not great. That is my final word on the Stan's Dry Lubricant. SILCA's Super-Secret and Effetto Mariposa's Flowerpower Wax still are at the top of the heap as of this writing. 

Coming Soon:

I'll have an update on the SILCA Super-Secret v2 lubricant in a little bit. Testing has been going on and I have some thoughts to share on it so far.

Additionally, the 'super-secret', secret lube under embargo until September 1st is also being tested and I have some thoughts on it as well. I think this should prove to be an interesting product. 

Finally, I will have an update when the 'super-secret, secret lube is revealed which has to do with another product I was recommended to use for the test. Stay tuned for that - again, after September 1st. 

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off 2026: SILCA Super-Secret v2 Update 1

 NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. 

This update on the testing will focus on the SILCA Super-Secret v2 lubricant. The cleaning procedure and application procedure will be covered in this update. The next update will have the first ride impressions. 

There was a hiccup with the test, and it relates to a product I tried which I reviewed HERE. I'll get into all of what this entails here soon, but first let's dig into this new version of the previous Lube-Off winner, the Super Secret wax based lubricant. 

What It Is: Super Secret lube was developed around six to seven years ago. SILCA was asked by some of the Pro teams they sponsor to revisit this product with the aim to update it. Specifically SILCA was asked to increase the wet weather performance of its original formula. 

SILCA took this feedback, and other feedback from Pro riders, to Purdue University. Over the course of a couple of years of research and development, SILCA now believes it has improved Super-Secret to a level at which they claim the new formula actually works as well as a waxed chain. 

First of all, SILCA did not change the ingredients of Super-Secret, but through their work at Purdue University, they were able to maximize the ingredients to be better at what each ingredient does. So much so that SILCA has now dubbed this as their version 2 of the lubricant.  

It has some pretty heady claims, this Super-Secret v2. Slicker, faster, and longer lasting. And that wet weather performance was improved greatly. So, the expectation here is that Super-Secret will now separate itself from the Flowerpower lubricant I tested in the last Lube-Off. In those tests, the Flowerpower was very close in performance to the original Super-Secret formula. 

Super-Secret v2 comes in 2oz, 4oz, and 8oz bottles at $16.00, $25.00, and $45.00 respectively. Hit the link above to see more details on this lubricant or to purchase some. (I am not affiliated with SILCA in any way.) 

Cleaning and Application Process: 

The Super-Secret v2 has been applied to the XLBird, (after I cleaned it!)

 SILCA requests the lube be put on a clean chain. I tried using the Stan's degreaser product, but it would not dry up, and since I did not want to use water to rinse it out, (this would have required I use something to drive out the water), I ended up going back to square one and using Finishline's Speed Degreaser which off-gasses to leave no moisture or residue. Then I shook the bottle vigorously and applied a single dollop of the lubricant on each chain roller. 

After this I back-pedaled the bike for one minute. SILCA requires the rider to alow the bike to sit for at least four hours. I let it cure overnight. 

The result was a dry chain with a slick feel to it. Perfect! Pretty much exactly how Super-Secret has always worked. So, for now it is smooth sailing and ride testing will commence. 

Impressions So Far: 

I think the application process is easy once you get past cleaning the chain, which can be a hassle if you've not cleaned your chain for a while. A clean chain is paramount to achieving good results, so I was picky about this. 

Disregarding the day I lost due to using the wrong degreaser product, I'd give this lube high marks for ease of application. Even the curing time is reasonable. So, top of the charts on this part of the test from my perspective.  

Next On The Lube-Off:

I'm actually going to throw things back to last year's testing and give you all a final word on a lubricant from that round of the Lube-Off. Look for that this coming week. 

Then I'm going to delve into the Flowerpower lube and give you a refresher on how this lubricant has performed, its application procedure, and what I liked and did not like about it. 

In that same post I will also go over the original Super-Secret lube. As for our new, "SECRET" lubricant, I am not allowed to speak about it until September 1st. My hope is that I can give a very comprehensive look at that lube in one shot. I may even have a winner identified by this point, if rides can be strung together with enough mileage to warrant a final verdict. 

So, stay tuned for all of that! September will be here before ya know it, and this Lube-Off promises to be a pretty intense competition. 
 

 

Guitar Ted Lube-Off 2026

  NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. 

The Guitar Ted Lube-Off 2026:

Welcome to another totally unscientific look at what lubricant passes my tests to see what chain lube works best on dusty Iowa gravel roads. 

Over the years technology has changed tremendously in terms of chain lubricants. Early on it was the old petroleum based lubes that were tested alongside some chemical stews which then kind of took over for a while. Now things have moved on from there to wax based lubricants with a lot less environmental concerns.  

A Note About Chain Waxing: You may wonder why I will not test chain waxing procedures and products. I'll tell you why - It's more hassle, more equipment, and I don't want to do it. So, while taking off a chain and dipping it in some waxy soup might be better, (more on that in a minute), it is not easier than just cleaning the chain and lubing the chain while it is on the bike. 

I like "easy". I also like spending less money. Maybe I'm a weirdo..... 

 This season I am sort of continuing 2025's Lube-Off and melding it in with two newer contenders. One is the new Super-Secret v2 lubricant from SILCA. One is actually now truly"super-secret" as it hasn't been released yet to the public. I cannot show you this lube .......yet. The embargo on that lubricant lifts in about a month from now. However; I am already using it, so I'll have plenty to say about it in September. 

Image courtesy of SILCA

The Contenders:

The aforementioned SECRET lube, which I cannot talk about yet. It's on a bike I have already. Stay tuned for more on it.

The new Super-Secret v2 lube from SILCA. It is an "improvement in every way" over the original Super-Secret lube. I also already have this lube and it is also already on a bike I have here. 

Original Super-Secret from SILCA. Of course, the previous Lube-Off king has to be in this test. Of course, it also is already on a bike I own. 

Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower wax lubricant. I've said this one is so close to Super-Secret lube that it may as well be also a top choice for gravel in dry conditions. Yes, you guessed it, it's already on one of the bikes here. 

Expectations: 

I have a goal of getting 300 miles on the new lubes and whatever I can get on the old contenders. I already know what I have in the older test lubes, so getting a ton of miles in on those isn't a huge deal. But yeah, I want some reference which will be fresh in my mind to remind me what I liked about those lubricants. 

I then expect to uncover which lubricant was best at keeping the chain clean, the cassette clean, the jockey wheels clean, and still is slippery and making my chain "fast".  It should be noted that SILCA claims its newest Super-Secret formula is "just as fast" as waxing a chain in a pot. So, if true, it would be another reason to avoid all that fuss and clutter. 

The Process:

Each chain will be cleaned with Stan's BioBased Degreaser. It's a fairly new product which I have found recently. It does a pretty good job of cleaning a chain on the bike. Using the same degreaser for all the contenders will keep the playing field even. 

Then I will ride each contender in dusty gravel in and around Waterloo, Iowa where I live. The dust here gets into every nook and cranny of a bike and so I know it will challenge each lubricant to the maximum of its capabilities and its claims of performance by the brands. 

In the end, I look for cleanliness. A clean chain, jockey wheels, and cassette mean a faster drive train. IF the lubricant can keep the chain clean, and IF it can do this while still lubricating the chain, that lube is a winner. 

The application process will also be judged alongside these other concerns. Reapplication intervals also matter. SILCA is also claiming the new v2 Super-Secret is able to withstand wet conditions as well. So maybe I'll do a bit of extra testing to see about this. The other lubricants definitely do not hold up in the wet.  

Then whatever process each brand requires for application will be followed. And there are some varied asks of the user to apply the different lubes. So I think you readers will find that part interesting. Then it will just be the riding and hopefully by sometime mid-Fall I'll have results to share. 

So there you go! Stay tuned for the next update on installation for the SILCA, Effetto Mariposa, and the "SECRET" lube, (September update), soon. 

Friday News And Views

Teravail Cannonball 32"ers Available:

Image courtesy of Teravail

The 32" wheel introductions have most often been focused on MTB product. However; gravel usage has been teased by several manufacturers and now we have a true gravel component in 32" diameter. The first "gravel" tire for 32'ers is the Teravail Cannonball. 

The Cannonball design was intentionally focused on gravel usage, so while this tire in a 2.2" width may strike some as still being XC MTB focused, it is by design intentions a gravel tire. 

The 32" Cannonball features Teravail's Superstructure Casing which is made up of extra-fine, hardened Nylon fibers to help reduce punctures but retain a supple riding casing. The rubber compound is Teravail's Fast Plus which is claimed to be Teravail's fastest rolling rubber compound in their range. 

You can check out either the tan wall or black wall version of the 32" Cannonball by clicking HERE. 

From Wilde Bicycle Co. social media.

32"er News From Wilde Bicycle Co. 

Seen on social media this week: A Wilde Bicycle Co. post teasing a new, as yet unreleased 32"er MTB XC bike. The post indicated this is a test mule for possible future production. 

There were no concrete dates or timelines given as Wilde wants to wait on a suitable suspension fork to test the frame with. 

Comments: Again, 32"ers are being jumped on by smaller, more agile companies which don't have to wait on production lines to be geared up for large runs. 

Although, I have heard through the grapevine that current factory production is not anywhere near maximum levels, and this may also play into how smaller companies have been able to push smaller production runs through for 32"ers. 

However this plays out, my theory is that there is a small amount of 32"er curious, bike nerdy folks who are possible sales targets for 32" wheels and once those folks have their bikes? I think any sort of larger, general cycling population being interested in 32"ers won't be as eager to bite on the unknown. Big brands who aren't going to have 32"ers out until late this year or early in 2027 may find the 32"er market has satisfied their appetite for this wheel size by buying from the smaller companies who were able to pivot to 32"ers more quickly. 

And I could be completely off my rocker. We will see.......
 

Image courtesy of SILCA

SILCA Announces Super-Secret v2 Lubricant:

SILCA Super-Secret lubricant has always fared quite well in my "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" tests and it is my current go-to lubricant for my gravel bikes. It does exceptionally well in dry gravel conditions. However; it wasn't all that great in the wet and so I never really trusted it for Spring, Winter, or if things got wet at any time of the year. 

SILCA has now upped its game with Super-Secret v2 lubricant. The claim is that it is faster, longer lasting, and holds up even in wet conditions. So, I bought some and it will be here shortly. Look for more "Guitar Ted Lube-Off" content soon!

And speaking of the Lube-Off, I last updated the testing HERE.  That was later into last year. I haven't been lax in testing since then, I just haven't updated anything here yet. This will certainly change, obviously, with the new Super-Secret v2 coming here soon. 

 I also have another lube which just arrived and is not yet on the open market. I will be testing it as well. So, this new Lube-Off should be interesting and pitted against the old contenders. Those include Super-Secret v1, the Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower wax lube, and Stan's Dry Lubricant. This Lube-Off should prove to reveal the best lubricant ever for gravel riding. 

I know.....big claim. But I think it will be true, and I am excited to try out these two new lubricants over the end of Summer and into Fall. Stay tuned..... 

New Dura Ace C-50 (mage courtesy of Shimano)

 Do New Dura Ace Wheels Point To What Could Come For Gravel?

On Wednesday Shimano released the poorly held secret that they have new Dura Ace carbon wheels available now. 

These are a range of rim depths and a rear disc wheel for road, triathlon, and perhaps cyclo cross usage. They don't have current "fashionable" inner rim widths for gravel. 

However; what we do see are carbon fiber spokes. The total wheel weight for the 50mm deep Dura Ace wheels (shown) is 1,302 grams for the pair. Curent Shimano RX-880 wheels have a 25mm (vs 23mm for Dura Ace) inner rim width and a 32mm depth vs the 50mm depth of the new Dura Ace. The total weight of the RX-880's is just shy of 1,400 grams at 1,397 grams. This is with stainless steel spokes. 

Obviously trends have changed and Shimano, never one to jump on changes right away, may not be pushing the cutting edges of wheel tech with a new RX series wheel yet. But it is hard to discount what Chinese wheel companies are doing now and for the prices they are doing it at, which are pretty incredibly low. 

Should Shimano come out with an even wider inner rim width gravel wheel set with carbon spokes with a total wheel weight of under 1,400 grams, it would be a huge development. Let's say the newer wheel had a 30mm inner rim width, and carbon spokes. Maybe a 40mm rim depth. It would be very competitive, as long as you bought a bike with those wheels already on it. Dura Ace wheels are well over 2K for the pair, and this is not at all competitive with Chinese gravel wheel sets, many selling for well under 1K for a pair.  

With Shimano you do get a company with service, widespread availability of repair parts, and most bike shops understand and can work on Shimano components. Chinese wheel sets? Hmm..... Not so much. But if you are willing to take a chance..... 

Image courtesy of DT Swiss

DT Swiss Revamps 1800 Wheel Range

Usually we talk about the bougie, expensive wheels here on the FN&V, but not everyone wants, needs, or can afford those carbon fiber wonder-wheels. So, what's a regular Joe or Jill supposed to look for?

How about a reliable, durable, and practical wheel set? This describes DT Swiss' 1800 range of wheels to a "T". 

There are three newly refreshed wheels in the 1800 Spline range now with the Aero (A), Endurance (E), and the Gravel (G) 1800 models. In those three divisions there are some options as well, most notably the option to get a front wheel with a DT Swiss branded Shutter Precision dynamo hub. 

Most of the range goes for a little north of $600.00 USD, so these won't break the bank and you can get solid DT Swiss reliability from the 370 hubs to the spokes and the new rims featuring a 26mm inner width. There are separate rims from this range available also for those looking to build some wheels. 

See the range HERE.  

Image courtesy of Ritchey Design

Ritchey Updates Streem Handlebar:

It seems that the old odball tag which used to be used for flared drop bars is no longer valid. No more "alt-bar" descriptions for these drop bars in 2026. 

Especially since a traditional road drop bar like the Streem now has 10° of flare. This road riding bar now has what Ritchey said in their press release is a design which is "...in line with how riders approach road riding today." And this - "....the compact shape, gentle backsweep, and increasing-radius bends give riders a natural interface for their hands when the road goes long or the pace gets honest. So, backsweep and flare. Hmm..... Gravel has made a dent, it would seem. 

The new Streem is available in aluminum construction in the WCS and Comp ranges with the difference being the WCS has triple-butted tubing. Check out the new bars, which have been priced lower than the outgoing models, and all of Ritchey's handlebar options HERE. 
 

Thanks so much for reading Guitar Ted Productions. Now get out there and ride those bicycles! Summer is fading fast! 

Guitar Ted Lube-Off 2025: An Update

 NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all.  

Update: Well, it has been since May when I introduced this year's contenders for the new Lube-Off. (Here is that intro) 

Now it is time for an update. I'll start out with the previous lubes I have used which are in the rotation and conclude with the Stan's Biodegradable lube., First up - The Flowerpower lubed Honeman Flyer. 

I was riding the Honemann Flyer over the weekend and noted the chain was starting to sound noisy. This is a cry for help! I will clean it with a dry rag and hit it again with the Flowerpower lube. I last lubed the chain in May at the start of this run of testing.

This lube was the winner of the last Lube-Off equaling, or in some ways, bettering, the SILCA Super-Secret wax lube. Both are wax based lubricants, but the Flowerpower was just a bit better in terms of dealing with dusty, dry conditions.

The Super-Secret lube is on the Noble GX5. I have done a fair amount of riding on this bike and the lube is holding up well. If I recall correctly, I remember hearing the chain a bit more than usual last I rode the bike, so this one may also be in need of a refresh as well. 

The Stan's lube is on the pink Black Mountain Cycles MCD. I have ridden this bike a bit, but not quite as much as the Noble or the Honeman Flyer. The lube is doing fine. You'll see here in a minute the images of each. I will comment further on all three after the images.

The DuMonde Tech is on my Raleigh Tamland which I haven't hardly ridden at all this year. (Maybe a commute and test ride?) I'll have to get this one out more this Fall and catch up with the results later. I'm not as concerned with this lube though as I am fully aware of how it works and I have had years of usage on various bicycles with which to draw my conclusions from.

Images next. Captions will guide you as to what lube is being shown.

Flowerpower Wax

Touch-Test results for Flowerpower Wax

SILCA Super-Secret wax lubricant

Touch-Test results for the Super-Secret Wax lubricant.

Stan's Biodegradable Dry lubricant

Touch-Test results for Stan's Biodegradable Dry lubricant.

Comments: So the two wax based lubricants seem to be dealing with dry conditions in the same way as I have seen in the past. There is a tiny bit of dust accumulation on the inner chain plates, but the chains wipe clean with a dry rag and the performance is good to great with little chain noise or wear.

It is necessary to note with these lubricants their propensity to be washed away in wetter conditions. So, as an example, if you ride in areas with water crossings, or get caught in intermittent showers often, I wouldn't recommend these as being good lubricants. But for completely dry conditions these two keep the chain happy for a long time with little accumulation of gunk and dust.

The Stan's is "good", but it isn't as good as the other two. I might suggest here the fact of little to no information being provided on Stan's end makes judging this lube more difficult. Is it wax based? Petroleum based? Something else? I don't know other than it is "biodegradable". It may be the Stan's holds up better to wet conditions as well, but I have not tested this out. I may try it if I get the chance, but my main focus here is on the dry conditions. 

So Far... If I called the test over today, the Stan's lube would lose, but this isn't a bad thing. The Flowerpower Wax and SILCA\s lube are just awesome and it would be hard to top these two lubricants. I've seen DuMonde Tech be as good and even slightly better, in terms of longevity and cleanliness. However; DuMonde Tech is harder to apply correctly the first time, and if you don't get it right, it will be an abject failure compared to the two wax based lubes in this test. 

Stan's might prove to be a longer-lasting lube than either of the two wax based lubricants here. This is something I will monitor going into Fall and will figure into my final evaluation. But Stan's doesn't seem as good as the two wax based lubes as of now. Good, but not great.  

Guitar Ted Lube-Off 2025: The Introduction

 NOTICE:  The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all.  

Okay, it is high time to kick off this season's Guitar Ted Lube-Off competition! Last year I tried a new lubricant from Effetto Mariposa called "Flowerpower" which did okay. Actually it did better than okay, it was one of the best lubricants I've tried for dry conditions. The final results of last year's contest can be seen HERE.

This year I have a new contender and I am going to pitch it against the Flowerpower lube, SILCA's Super-Secret lube, and DuMonde Tech, the latter two of the three being perennial "best lubes" in year's past. The idea is to see which lubricant will be best over a riding season in dry, dusty gravel riding conditions.

The Stan's BioBased Dry Lubricant is the new lube on the test and while it doesn't really say what it is, I am pretty sure I am safe in saying this is not a wax-based lubricant. There are no real detailed instructions for application for this lubricant, nor any idea given for what to expect for longevity. Essentially I will be on my own in this regard. My plan was to strip the chain down, (already done), apply the BioBased Dry sparingly, (done), and wipe down the chain after application (done) then start riding, (also done).

I'll have some first impressions soon. I want to log a few more rides before I chime in with any  first impressions. I will say my expectations are that this lube will end up being dirtier in the long run since it isn't wax based, but then again, neither is DuMonde Tech and I have seen really clean results with it in the past. So, maybe Stan's lube will surprise me here.

All chains will get stripped clean, reapplied with their individual lubricants, and then the riding shall commence! One minor point: The Honeman Flyer single speed bike is currently running Flowerpower so I'll keep running that chain as is and do a long-term report with that bike.

So, to recap: Effetto Mariposa's Flowerpower Wax Lubricant, DuMonde Tech, SILCA Super-Secret Lube, and Stan's BioBased Dry lube are the contenders this year. I also will be updating my over all lube post detailing all the different lubricants used for a reference. The last update to the post was in 2022.  

Stay tuned for updates.

Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Final Results For 2024

NOTICE: The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. None of the companies represented in this Lube-Off have any knowledge of this review, nor are they sponsoring me at all.  

Okay folks! The results are in and I have a decision on this year's contenders. This test has been carried out over the past several months on Iowa gravel roads in dry, dusty conditions. Things changed in terms of conditions over the Summer and this played into the results. But before we get to all that I wanted to link back to the previous posts so you can check on how things progressed throughout this test, if you care to do that. 

Introduction, Update #1, Update #2, Update #3, and Update #4. 

 Overall Comments: 

This test was conducted in only dry conditions. Starting out it was extremely dry! We were in severe drought conditions at the beginning which created copious amounts of dust on every ride. But since the month of July we have come out of that and now have had plenteous amounts of rainfall to the point which we have come out of drought conditions completely. 

This has had the effect of returning the roads to "normal" dry conditions with far less dust. The latest results have bourne this out and while that has been noted it did not affect the outcome. So, with all the hoopla out of the way, let's get stuck in......

SILCA Super-Secret Lube:

This was the winner last year and was clearly superior to the contenders last season. I expected the Super-Secret Lube to do exceptionally well with the super-dusty conditions since we experienced similar conditions last year. 

Overall Super-Secret Lube is easy to apply, lasts a long time in the tested conditions, and cleans up well when a micro-fiber cloth is used to knock off accumulated dust. Jockey wheels stay relatively free from "gunk" build-up also, which is nice to see. The same applies for chain rings which saw minimal gunk accumulations over the testing period. Chain wear is normal with Super-Secret lube and the chain rollers seem to self-clean well, which I attribute the low-wear to when using this lubricant. 

The "Touch-Test" revealed a similar amount of dirt/dust which I have seen come off chains I've used Super-Secret lube on in the past. No surprises there! While I was tempted to re-lube this chain I resisted and after several miles in dusty conditions I was not at all surprised to see that this lube, which was applied last year, is still holding up quite nicely. 

Noises in the drive train are normal. You do get a bit more chain noise with these dry lubricants since oil damps vibrations and therefore quiets down chain noise. However; it is not necessarily an indication of excessive wear issues and anyway, on gravel roads, in wind, with all that loose rock, you are not going to hear your chain making noise until it is too late to do anything about it. 

Flowerpower Wax Lubricant:

This was a new entrant to the lubrication choices recently and so I thought, after reading the marketing hype, I should give this a try. So far, it has been a very, very impressive lube.

All throughout the test Flowerpower Wax has shown a cleaner level of performance, in terms of what sticks to it, versus anything I've yet tried. It will accumulate dirt, as I found out after riding Mid-South's red dirt roads, but talk about an extreme condition! That is about as bad as anything I am aware of, and after a wipe-down, the chain was fine. 

Noise was comparable to SILCA's wax lubricant, so that is a wash, and to be expected anyway. The shifting performance was on par with SILCA as well, so no real issues with that either. Longevity of use before needing reapplication? Also on par with SILCA and most other lubricants I've grown to admire and use in the past. 

So, the only real difference I see here is in cleanliness. The Flowerpower Wax leaves very little residue and very little build-up on chain rings and jockey wheels. The chain appears cleaner as well. If I had to tip one way or the other here I think my hand goes for the Flowerpower Wax lubricant. 

Final Verdict: Honestly, either one here is worthy of your consideration for a dry conditions lubricant for chains. Both are stellar in regard to cleanliness, lubricity, and longevity between applications. This may be different when it comes to exposure to moisture or wet conditions, but that sort of thing was not in my parameters for testing. 

I'm very tempted to give the nod to Flowerpower Wax lubricant here, but there is one thing that separates these lubes, the SILCA and the Effetto Mariposa brands, and that is cost and availability. My bottle of Flowerpower Wax came from Switzerland and cost $33.00 with shipping and took a week to get to me. The SILCA Super-Secret Lube cost $25.00 total and has 25ml more lube in the bottle. Plus it took less time to get to me.

SILCA literally spams the cycling social media and you are in for a constant stream of emails if you sign on to their list. Effetto Mariposa? Who can name the last time anyone has seen a post or social media mention for them? I know we all grow weary of constant bombardment from brands, but tell me, how else do these brands get any notice? We don't employ paper, physical media anymore so advertisements are dead. There is no radio, T.V., or other mainstream way for brands like this to get their messages out. So while you might not agree, I have to tip the hat to SILCA for at least being the brand you've heard about and maybe even trust. Effetto Mariposa? Meh... Not that their stuff is untrustworthy, no! Far from it! But you are not going to find them unless you specifically seek them out, maybe even due to this post! 

Considering all angles this is a tie. If I only look at it from my perspective? Flowerpower wins the day. Again - both lubricants are excellent. You cannot go wrong with either one, but Flowerpower does cost more. So, choose according to your needs and values there. 

 Thus ends another season for the Guitar Ted Lube-Off. I'll be back again next year with another run at it with something else that hits my radar here in the field of chain lubricant. If you have any suggestions for lubricants let me know in the comments or you can always reach me via my email at g.ted.productions@gmail.com. 

Thank you for reading Guitar Ted Productions and as always, keep ridin' those bicycles!

Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Mid-Summer Update

NOTICE: The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. None of the companies represented in this Lube-Off have any knowledge of this review, nor are they sponsoring me at all.  

The last update was way back in June which you can read HERE. The contenders, once again, are the Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower Wax Lube, DuMonde Tech, and SILCA Super-Secret Lube. Since that time I have not re-lubricated any of the chains. I have not ridden the Raleigh (DuMonde Tech) all that much since then but I did start riding the Black Mountain Cycles MCD more which has the SILCA Super-Secret Lube on the chain. This time I'll contrast the Super-Secret Lube against the Flowerpower Wax lube.

Flowerpower Wax: 

The weather went from drought conditions to flooding in the last period between updates here. Interestingly, the Flowerpower chains looked like they did at the last update when all the riding was done in very dusty conditions. 

I thought that the Nobel GX5, being the geared bike I have set up with this lube, was noisier than I recall. The single speed King Fab bike seemed about the same, but it is a single speed, so... 

Compared to the Super-Secret lube the noise was a bit louder and I also thought that the Super-Secret felt slicker during the Touch Test. which didn't show much dirt off the rollers, but none of the chains did, really. I did wipe all the chains down with a cloth afterward and a strange finding was seen on both Flowerpower Wax chains. I saw a fair amount of black residue and some with a red tint. This was odd because I haven't ridden in red dirt, with the exception of the single speed, at all. Could that have been some rust? 

It's like - why bother with this test?

I checked all the chains for wear and both geared bikes barely register any wear at all while the single speed chain shows about 30% wear. Odd that, but the chain is a lesser quality piece on the single speed. 

After wiping the chains down with a cloth, neither the Super-Secret or Flowerpower Wax chains seemed to need lubricating, but I may do that and then go through the rest of Summer before I get to my final verdict. 

The red residue puzzles me. The single speed was ridden on red dirt roads in Oklahoma, but the GX5 has not been anywhere near red dirt, and yet it showed the same residue. My only conclusion is that this was caused by the Flowerpower Wax somehow. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this as the test goes on. 

SILCA Super-Secret Lube:

This stuff works great but this time the chain for the Super-Secret lube looked worse than the other two with the Flowerpower Wax lubricant.

The dust was caked on a bit thicker, especially in the inner plates area. This did not seem to bother anything, but it was notable. As stated above, this chain also does not show any wear. 

This chain, when wiped down, did not show any red residue, but it did show a little black residue. Much less residue than the Flowerpower Wax lubed chains. I will say that this bike has been running this Super-Secret Lube since last year, so the lack of chain wear is impressive.

I am finding it a bit strange that I am seeing more residue now than I was when things were dusty and dry. Perhaps the moister roads have caused this? That would be my guess. It certainly doesn't seem to matter in regard to the Touch Test which shows almost nothing on all three chains. 

Just because - Here is the Honeman Flyer's chain.

So Far... 

The differences between these two lubricants are minimal. The residue issues notwithstanding, both work about the same and both have about the same longevity in terms of time between lubing. As stated, the Flowerpower chains seemed a bit noisier and maybe less slick than did the Super-Secret lubed chain. 

The accumulation of dust is surprising on all three chains. I will be paying attention to this in my final analysis. I also hope to get the DuMonde Tech chain back in the mix before I end this round of the Lube-Off, but we will see. 

I am looking at the beginning of September for the final word on this round to be written up. Until then I don't see a lot of major changes developing between the three lubricants. They all seem to be pretty good, so far. 

Stay tuned...

Guitar Ted Lube-Off: Update On Testing

NOTICE: The Guitar Ted 'Lube-Off' is a comparison of different lubrication products for bicycle chains that is undertaken in 'real world' conditions in a set way. Then I compare and contrast the results with past 'Lube-Off' products to see "which one is best for me". This is done for entertainment purposes and the reader should apply their own reasoning and discernment while reading my 'Lube-Off' entries. What works for me may not work for you at all. None of the companies represented in this Lube-Off have any knowledge of this review, nor are they sponsoring me at all. 

It has been a while since I've posted anything concerning the latest Lube-Off testing so I thought it would be a good idea to touch base with how things are coming along. You can check in on the last update HERE if you'd like. A brief recap: The Honeman Flyer and the Noble GX5 got the new lube, the Flowerpower lube, and the Raleigh Tamland Two has DuMonde Tech, my old #1 choice, while the Black Mountain Cycles MCD and the Twin Six Standard Rando v2 have SILCA  Super-Secret lube on their chains. 

The Raleigh has been run a fair amount already this year, as well as the Honeman Flyer, so we will definitely be looking at those two bike closely in this post. The Noble GX5 has a few rides on it now, but not as much as the others, while I have yet to really get out on the T-6 at all this year. The MCD has seen very few rides as well. Gotta get that changed here soon though! 

Flowerpower on the Honeman Flyer's chain

Flowerpower: 

This lube, from Effetto Marip[osa, is pretty impressive so far. Keeping in mind that this is the same application from the very beginning of the test and the red dirt of Oklahoma was all over this chain at one point, I have to say that this Flowerpower stuff is very good. 

You can see from my "touch-test" that it doesn't leave much residue on my finger after wiping a section of the chain. In fact, I had to swipe the chain twice to get anything to appear on my finger! 

I think one thing to keep in mind here is that what the side plates of the chain - both inner and outer - look like is of much less concern than how the rollers look. That is the business end of a chain, so to speak, and the part that is important to have lubricated. Now, having the side plates clean is a goal worth having, but dust here means nothing. A build-up of gunk, however, is a different matter. I'll have a bit more to say about Flowerpower in a bit here....

DuMonde Tech on the Raleigh Tamland Two chain.

DuMonde Tech: 

This was my #1 lube for years. It still is really good, but it is very hard to get on correctly. I'm pretty sure I put too much of it on when I applied it and I tried to only put on one drop on each roller. It doesn't take too much of this lube to cause a bit of build-up, as you can see from the bigger image. 

However; the touch-test showed little to be concerned about. I will say that this lube feels tackier to the touch than either the SILCA or the Flowerpower does. 

Again, it still is a good lube and I recommend it, but you have to have a clean chain and you cannot use too much. A little DuMonde goes a long way. That said, the SILCA and the Flowerpower lubes are easier to deal with during application, although again - you must have a pristine, clean chain. 

Any of these lubes are still easier and less equipment intensive than waxing a chain. So, if you are thinking of that as an alternative which is better, maybe it is, but it takes more futzing around, which I rather would not have to do. 

Flowerpower lube on the Noble GX5 chain.

Flowerpower (again):

This time I took a look at the chain on the Noble GX5 since I just did a 30 mile ride on it the other day. It was pretty dusty, but not crazy dusty, like Mid-South or how it has been here for the majority of the last two years. 

Also, it should be noted that I have not ridden the Noble near as many miles as I have the Honeman Flyer this year, so far. That may change here in a hurry as there is another test being done that requires the use of this bike. So, miles will accumulate on this lube/chain combo soon enough. 

With all of that, I still am pretty impressed here with what I am seeing. I should also note that the chain shifts really well and is pretty quiet. Of course, that cannot be determined from the Honeman Flyer since it is a single speed bike, so this was of note to me. 

So Far... Okay, well I think we have a very strong contender here in the Flowerpower lubricant. The SILCA Super-Secret lube is going to have some stiff competition here. The current #1 lube is on my MCD and Standard Rando bikes and I'll have to get those two out to start making some comparisons to the Flowerpower lube. The MCD will for sure get into the mix because it has a couple of components being tested on it right now as well. 

Stay tuned! I'll be back with another Lube-Off update this Summer!