Flower Power Chain Wax - 100ml
Wax-based lubricants are an efficient and clean way to lubricate bicycle chains. With its sunflower seed wax content, Flowerpower Chain Wax uses natural ingredients for record-breaking performance and reliability, all this avoiding fluorinated compounds, graphene and sulphides.
Features:
- Creates a solid layer of wax between the moving parts of the chain, reducing friction, noise and increasing the life of the chain
- Unlike lubricating oils, it does not dirty clothes and resists contamination by dirt and dust very well
- Thanks to the sunflower seed wax, it is very resistant to water and is ideal in any season, on and off-road
- High wax to water ratio (over 50%!)
- Rapidly biodegradable: it does not contain PTFE, sulphides, graphene or other chemicals harmful to the environment
The advantages of wax chain lubrication
We are all familiar with the classic lubricating oils, traditionally used in cycling. However, these products are subject to rapid contamination during use, collecting dust and dirt (hence the classic trace of black they leave) and over time becoming real abrasive pastes that reduce the life of the chain and – progressively - its efficiency (we are talking about several Watts of precious leg power wasted).
The use of lubricating waxes has become more and more widespread: the chain treated with these products does not dirty, runs silently for a long time and absorbs less power, all this while increasing the number of kilometers traveled before a chain has to be replaced. Water-based wax emulsions, such as Flowerpower Wax, bring great benefits, following some simple usage tips.
How Flowerpower Wax works
Flowerpower Wax creates a solid layer of wax that is interposed between the moving elements of the chain, reducing friction. It’s a water emulsion of natural waxy compounds, with the right viscosity to penetrate inside the chain links, where lubrication is most important. Once the water has evaporated, a thick layer of wax remains firmly anchored to the metal, creating a real anti-friction pad.
The chain will not be dry to the touch - given the layer of wax that also protects the outside - but it will not be greasy or sticky and will not retain dirt.
First application
Wax emulsions require a deep cleaning of the chain before they can be applied the first time. It is essential to remove any oily traces so that the emulsion comes in contact with the metal and can deposit a well-adhering layer of wax.
The thing is very simple using our Allpine Extra - an excellent degreaser designed for this purpose - and the Mangiacatena chain cleaner, equipped with rotating brushes. Thanks to these products it is not necessary to disassemble the chain to clean it thoroughly. Rinse the chain with water and dry it perfectly to complete cleaning.
Once this is done, after shaking the Flowerpower Wax bottle vigorously, apply a drop of product on each link of the chain. When each link has received its drop of wax, slowly turn the pedals (at least 10 complete revolutions) in order to allow the emulsion to penetrate inside. Leave to dry for at least 2-3 hours.
For the first application, repeat the lubrication process described above a second time (one drop of Flowerpower Wax per link, etc.). After waiting again for 2-3 hours to allow the water to evaporate, possibly clean the excess product on the outside of the chain with a cloth and you are ready to pedal.
Successive applications
As the kilometers accumulate, when the chain starts to become noisy, simply clean it with a dry cloth and reapply a drop of Flowerpower Wax on each link. Since the wax retains no or very little dirt, it is possible to continue to lubricate in this way without the need to degrease the chain, which is instead recommended in case of rides in muddy conditions or in the presence of sand. In that case it’s better restoring the initial conditions with Allpine Extra, rinse, dry and then proceed with a deep lubrication with Flowerpower Wax.
In normal use, we recommend lubricating the chain if needed after the usual cleaning of the bicycle, in order to find it ready for the next ride.
High percentage of wax
There can be major differences between water-based wax emulsions. While many competing products are around 30%, Flowerpower Wax exceeds 50%* of wax-to-water ratio. The result is the formation of a thicker anti-abrasion layer for the same quantity of emulsion applied, with great benefits in terms of durability and efficiency.
* percentage by weight (dry residue after evaporation of water)
The strength of sunflower seeds
The wax obtained from sunflower seeds has really interesting characteristics for cycling use. It adheres strongly to metal and is water-resistant, prolonging the effectiveness of lubrication even in the event of rain or involuntary washing (creek crossing etc.). It also has excellent mechanical properties, necessary to withstand the continuous stresses of pedaling.
Thanks to its formulation, Flowerpower Wax is ideal in any season, both on and off-road.
Without hazardous additives
We have decided to avoid adding further additives (such as PTFE and fluorinated compounds in general, graphene, sulphides, etc.) to keep Flowerpower Wax totally harmless to the health and environment, also because the current formula - among other things, vegan - has satisfied the most demanding testers and racers in the long development phase. Together with sunflower seed wax, other waxes of natural origin complete the lubricating mix. The emulsion is water-based without the addition of alcohol.
Format, tips for use and storage
Flowerpower Wax is available in 100 ml and 500 ml bottles. Shake well before use to allow the ingredients to mix evenly.
A single application of Flowerpower Wax allows you to travel about 300 km on an asphalted road, in the absence of heavy rain. Off-road use may require more frequent chain lubrication.
Keeping the chain well lubricated allows you to optimize the life of the drivetrain and its efficiency in terms of power absorption.
Considering that a complete lubrication of the chain requires about 4 ml of product, a 100 ml bottle allows 25 lubrications, for an approximate total of 7,500 km traveled.
Store and apply the product at a temperature between 5 and 35 ° C (41 - 95 ° F). Once applied to the chain, the temperature limits of use are those at which you decide to ride.
Made in Italy
Zero Friction:
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.
