Juice Lubes Chain Juice Wax

Juice Lubes Chain Juice Wax is another super-clean-running brew reckoned to cope really well in hot, dusty conditions, without scarpering at the first hint of wet roads. Autumn testing has certainly proven itself soggy enough to challenge these claims...

Like most lubes these days, it doesn't play nicely with others, so you need to get your chains and cassettes spotlessly clean first. A less than meticulous solvent cleaning saw ours clash with some pre-existing ISO oil/PTFE lube, which prevented the wax penetrating. If in doubt, leave them marinating an extra few minutes in your chosen lube stripper.

Find your nearest dealer here

Buy this online here

Otherwise, it's a question of parking the bike(s) outside, drizzling a little into every link, rag hovering beneath to catch the milky overspill.

Consistency is similar to other brands and a healthy dollop tainted my patio for several days, despite rains of biblical proportion.

Juice recommends a single helping, left for five minutes or so before scooting off. That may be fine in mid-summer but during a damp and sometimes cold autumnal start, doubling up doesn't go amiss. In any case, my Holdsworth's stainless track variant is a notoriously slippery customer – lubes of all consistencies have a tendency to migrate beyond the rollers.

Once cured, friction is minimal, even compared with some of the sophisticated polymer types.

After 170 dry miles it had all but scabbed away, though enough remained to keep things sweet for another 20 miles or so. Light showery rain and damp roads have meant top-ups every 100, which is broadly in keeping with my initial expectations.

>> Need to clean and lube your chain? We show you how here

Dirt-repelling properties saw similar performance when it was applied to my cyclo-cross bike and subjected to dry, dusty fire roads and farm tracks, although deep puddles and spray from passing vehicles licked the links clean in 50 miles.

On the one hand, topping up doesn't require any preparation, save for drying the chain, but on the other, some emulsion types run just as cleanly and last longer – even when the gritting lorries are out.

Overall, the chain wax seems quite good in primarily dry and dusty contexts – summer mountain biking, or just enjoying sunny days – but once moderately wet weather strikes, its staying power is decidedly average.

Verdict

Very clean with similar staying prowess to other wax formulas, but expensive and can be messy to apply