Ceramic Speedwax Lube

19/01/2024

Gearing Choices: Should You Run Larger or Smaller Chainrings/Cassettes?
One of the main sources of friction in a chain is the contact between the inner plates and the rollers. This friction losses occurs every time the chain links bend. The less amount a chain has to bend as it engages and disengages the pulley wheels, chain ring and cassette, the less friction is produced.

For example, a 53x11 and 48x10 gear are more or less the same ratio of 126 gear inches. While it’s the same gear, the 53x11 combination is 6w faster than its smaller 48x10 competitor.
Bending your chain around a 55t chain ring has less severe bends than a 48t chainring, this also means you might be in the 15t in the back instead of the 10 or 12, which means it`s bending less severe there as well. The big front chainrings also improves chainline, by allowing you to use a sprocket closer to the middle of their cassette. Now add a pulley wheel that is 19t instead of a standard 10t pulley wheel, there are again less severe bends.

If you’re looking to go faster for less energy it would be logical to have the absolute biggest chain rings and largest cassette options available to you. Less friction also means bigger chain rings/cassettes and pulleys tend to have longer lifespan.

You can also improve the lifespan of your bike’s drive train by using wax based chain lubricants. Independent tests eg. by zerofriction, have consistently shown wax-based lubricants to be among the most efficient and that they also typically do a great job of resisting wear-increasing contaminants.
Ceramic Speedwax L**e Ceramic Speedwax L**e is a specifically formulated and good value wax based chain l**e, available at selected bike shops:

Upperhill: The Bicycle Garage (10 Masaba Road) - 0702 709729
The Bike Village (Bunyala Road) - 0721 549655

Mombasa: Memon Sports Shop (Koinange Rd)- 0 797 005903

Langata: TopTeam Cycles & Fitness – 0706994999

Ruiru: Bike it or Hike it (The Nest Business Park) - 0738 196843

Umoja: Race Pace Bicycles (Kangudo Road) 0727209636

Baiskeli_Centre (Kipande Road}, 0746 726202

Parklands: Urban Rock Cycles (Taarifa Road)

Pangani: Memon Sports Shop, (Northview road) 0713358228

What size cogs does it take to be successful in the Tour de France? We take a closer look at the gearing choices of the pros

11/01/2024

Ceramic Speedwax L**e is an advanced ceramic bike chain lubricant that keeps your chain running smoothly, even in wet conditions (with maximum rust protection).

Ensures silky smooth gear shifts and ultimate drivetrain efficiency and rust protection.

Available at affordable rates at selected bike shops:

Upperhill: The Bicycle Garage (10 Masaba Road) - 0702 709729
The Bike Village (Bunyala Road) - 0721 549655

Mombasa: Memon Sports Shop (Koinange Rd)- 0 797 005903

Langata: TopTeam Cycles & Fitness – 0706994999

Ruiru: Bike it or Hike it (The Nest Business Park) - 0738 196843

Umoja: Race Pace Bicycles (Kangudo Road) 0727209636

Nairobi CBD: Baiskeli_Centre (Kipande Road}, 0746 726202

Parklands: Urban Rock Cycles (Taarifa Road)

Pangani: Memon Sports Shop, (Northview road) 0713358228

01/01/2024

When To Replace Your Chain and What To Consider Before Buying A Second-hand Chain

The chain is often made from the hardest material when compared with the other drive train parts.
When the chain is “out of spec” it quickly wears the other components to “out of spec” status also. And parts will not mesh well together, thus problems arise.

It helps to establish what counts as ‘out of spec’. A chain is worn enough to affect transmission efficiency when it lengthens by 0.75% but has some life left if extended mileage is the aim, in which case it should ideally be replaced when it lengthens by 1%.

Always measure chain wear before purchasing a used chain. There are several chain-checking devices available in most local bike repair shops that make a fast, accurate assessment of chain wear. Or you can check with a ruler by measuring across 24 rivets: unworn, they will cover 12 inches; worn by 1 percent, 12.12in (12 and one-eighth inches).

It is simpler to replace an ”out of spec” chain when worn by 1% or 0.75%. Chains wear out at a faster rate than chain rings and cassettes. If you determine early enough that your chain has started to wear or stretch, you can replace only the chain, which will save you a lot of money. If you’re really on top of things, you may go through two or three chains before you have to replace the more expensive chain rings and cassettes.

While most manufacturers quote 4,000 kms as an estimated life of a new chain this varies based on how well the chain is cared for (cleaned and l**ed) and how the riders pedals – soft spinning or more powerful efforts.

Ceramic Speedwax L**e enables you to clean your chain cheaply and efficiently with soap, water & a brush, instead of elaborate, time-intensive and costly degreasing required by some bike l**es. It contains rust inhibiting additives for maximum rust protection.

Ceramic Speedwax L**e is available at affordable rates at selected stores: The Bicycle Garage (10 Masaba Road), Baiskeli_Centre (Kipande Road}, The Bike Village (Bunyala Road), Bike it or Hike it (The Nest Business Park, Ruiru), Urban Rock Cycles (Taarifa Road), Memon Sports Shop, (Northview road), Pangani and Memon Sports Shop (Koinange Rd), Mombasa

22/12/2023

Tips On How To Increase The Longevity Of Your Drivetrain Cheaply

One of the main leading sources of friction and drivetrain wear is the contact between the chain`s inner plates and the rollers. (illustrated in the attached photo).

As the inner plates and rollers wear against each other, the chain becomes longer because there`s more of a gap in each link and leads to rapid wear of other drivetrain parts. This friction happens each time the chain links bend, every time the chain moves around the cassette, chain ring and both pulley wheels. Interestingly, this contributes more to chain wear than the friction between rollers and the teeth of chain rings, cassettes and pulleys.

The space between the inner plates and rollers is also one of the hardest portions of the chain to clean and to lubricate. Dirt trapped in this space leads to increase wear and reduction in efficiency. One of the main reasons dry l**es perform poorly is their inability to adequately lubricate this space.

Our best advice is to give your chain a deep clean at least once a month (depending on your riding frequency). A simple cleaning with a dry brush with the addition of a few drops of l**e on a few chain links is adequate in between the deep cleaning.

Ceramic Speedwax L**e enables you to clean your chain cheaply and efficiently with soap, water & a brush, instead of elaborate, time-intensive and costly degreasing required by some bike l**es. It contains rust inhibiting additives for maximum rust protection.

Ceramic Speedwax L**e is available at affordable rates at selected stores: The Bicycle Garage (10 Masaba Road), Baiskeli_Centre (Kipande Road}, The Bike Village (Bunyala Road), Bike it or Hike it (The Nest Business Park, Ruiru), Urban Rock Cycles (Taarifa Road).

16/12/2023

Ceramic Speedwax L**e is a specifically formulated, good value, all-weather l**e which provides a silky-smooth and clean running ride with excellent anti-wear and rust protection properties.

Ceramic Speedwax L**e takes advantage of microscopic, high-penetration ceramic flakes that create a uniform, tough coating on treated surfaces and ensure long-lasting lubrication.

Every time the l**e is applied to the chain, the ceramic coating is enhanced forming a tough, compact and uniform barrier against water, dirt and oxidizing agents. The ceramic coating has greater durability and wear resistance than PTFE (PFA).

This good value, PFAS-FREE l**e is available at affordable rates at selected stores: The Bicycle Garage (10 Masaba Road), Baiskeli_Centre (Kipande Road}, The Bike Village (Bunyala Road), Bike it or Hike it (The Nest Business Park, Ruiru), Urban Rock Cycles (Taarifa Road).