Flower Power Chain Wax - 100ml
FLOWERPOWER CHAIN WAX IS THE BEST DRIP CHAIN LUBRICANT, CONFIRMED BY
INDEPENDENT TESTS!
In 2021, when Effetto Mariposa launched Flowerpower Wax, their chain lubricant
based on natural waxes and without dangerous additives, they knew they had
developed an innovative eco-friendly product which was also highly reliable,
given the good reports in the field.
To
have objective and measurable values, though, an instrumental test by an
external laboratory was necessary. So, they turned to Zero Friction Cycling
in Australia, the absolute authority in the evaluation of bicycle chain
lubricants, and submitted Flowerpower Wax to their long and severe testing.
What is the verdict of the test? Flowerpower
Chain Wax is the best drip chain lubricant!
1. it
guarantees the MINIMUM CHAIN WEAR of all the drip lubricants tested;
2. it is
among the few lubricants to exceed 6000 km of test, without even complete wear
of the chain;
3. it
offers the MINIMUM COST of use of all the drip lubricants tested;
4. it
guarantees HIGH mileage with a single application.
Read
below to find all the details of Zero Friction Cycling approach and the test
itself.
Zero Friction Cycling: where the
"best" lubricants go to die
The
tests at Zero Friction Cycling (ZFC) are aimed at measuring:
·
if the lubricant properly penetrates inside
the chain links;
·
the resistance of the lubricant to dry
(dust, sand) or wet (mud) contamination;
·
the ability of the lubricant to dispose of
the various contaminations through self-cleaning;
·
the performance of the lubricant in case of
extreme contamination (abundant mud).
·
The
full evaluation takes several months and follows a strict protocol of six
blocks of 1000 km each, a real torture for chains that allows to simulate
in a repeatable and controlled way the wear rate of chains in real conditions.
The
elongation of the chain is monitored during the test,
with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. As soon as the chain reaches a total
elongation of 0.50 mm compared to the initial measurement, this is considered
"100% of consumption" and the test is stopped (with this
value of elongation the chain must be replaced, as it becomes harmful to
chainrings and sprockets).
The
test machine is a home-trainer modified for the need, where a motor applies a
constant power of 250 Watts at 100 pedal revolutions per minute.
Over
the six blocks of test, the ability of the sealant to reduce the wear rate of
the chain is checked in the following conditions:
1. no
contamination (block 1, 1000 km);
2. dry
contamination, which involves 5 grams of sand applied
dry on the chain (block 2, 1000 km);
3. self-cleaning
capacity of the lubricant after dry contamination, no
additional contamination added (block 3, 1000 km);
4. wet
contamination, with 500 ml of water sprayed on the chain
during the test, together with 5 grams of sand (block 4, 1000 km);
5. self-cleaning
capacity of the lubricant after wet contamination, no
additional contamination added (block 5, 1000 km);
6. extreme
contamination: the chain is first cleaned perfectly, then
subjected to 1000 ml of water and 10 grams of sand, simulating pedaling in
extreme mud. Few lubricants get to this point, as the chain often reaches 100%
wear during the previous blocks (block 6, 1000 km).
How did Flowerpower Wax do? In two words:
very well.

In
block 1, with only 2.3% of elongation, Flowerpower Wax
immediately placed itself at the top of the ranking, on a par with the best
products.
Starting
with block 2 (dry contamination), Flowerpower Wax
left everyone behind.
Not
only did it pass all six blocks, but it finished block 6 with an
overall elongation of 80%, without the chain being completely worn.
Find
more data and detailed explanations here: https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/lubetesting/
How many kilometers can you travel with a
single application?
The
reduced elongation in this severe test results in low wear and
consequent long chain life. We decided to have also the single
application longevity evaluated.
Once
again Flowerpower Wax proved to be at the top. By reporting the laboratory
values to the kilometers that can be traveled in real life use, we have:
Dry /
road conditions: up to 650 km with a single
application of Flowerpower Wax.
Dry /
off-road conditions: up to 450 km with a single
application of Flowerpower Wax.
Extreme
conditions / mud: up to 100 km with a single
application of Flowerpower Wax.
Usage costs
We
leave this evaluation for last, because it contains some aspects that are not
very intuitive, albeit basically elementary. The relationship between the chain
wear rate and the purchase price of the lubricant is an important variable,
which directly affects the cyclist's cost of using the bicycle.
Assuming
a certain mileage, the number of chains and drivetrain parts that need
to be replaced is highly dependent on the effectiveness of the lubricant.
A
lubricant that reduces the consumption of the chain allows you to travel more
kilometers before replacing it.
Furthermore,
a lubricant that remains effective for many kilometers in a single application,
offers a better yield per quantity used.
Combining
these two aspects, even a very expensive lubricant that guarantees many
kilometers with a single application and extends the life of the chain, could
prove to be more convenient than an inexpensive lubricant which must be applied
often to avoid premature chain wear.
ZFC
also offers an evaluation in these terms, distinguishing between road
conditions (mixed dry and wet), dry off-road conditions (with dry
contamination, i.e., sand) and wet off-road conditions (with wet contamination,
basically abrasive mud).
In
the cost for 10,000 km, Flowerpower Wax is the first among the drip lubricants
tested, in the three applications, offering the best ratio between price and
drivetrain lifespan. This, thanks to the optimal balance between
high mileage per single application, effectiveness to reduce chain wear and
relative cost.
