Silca

I've been waxing chains for a while and there's nothing like it for a clean smooth running chain. The drawbacks are needing the equipment and taking the time to do it properly. Reducing the number of times you need to rewax a chain is an obvious advantage. It definitely increases the longevity, but is it 3X? Perhaps not but that might dependent on your riding (Gravel versus Road, fair weather only or lots of riding in rain). I wax multiple chains at a time so I can put a fresh chain on the bike and set the old one aside until they both need fresh wax, that alone reduces the number of times I have to cook the chains by 1/2. The Endurance Chip means I'll need to do that even less.

I had the Enve/K-Edge single piece computer mount but when I got the Garmin Edge 1050 it wouldn't fit. This Silca titanium mount fit well and was 9 grams lighter (including the bolts, puck, and the light mount - 36g vs 45g). Plenty of space for the 1050. Two annoyances: 1) this is Enve's fault but to change the computer mount you have to completely remove the top front clamp because the computer mount bolt doesn't have clearance. This means you need to mark exactly how your handlebars were set up, fully remove the piece, then remove and replace bike mount, torque it (I did 5nm), then reattach and set up handlebars again then torque the top front bolt and the two front bottom bolts. This was helpful for the sequence and the torques to use: https://youtu.be/jTVowwKnNKs?si=MyntB8diG-SHrS5U

So, what should be a five minute job adjusting one one bolt is more like a 30 minute job.

2) the Garmin 'puck' that comes with the Chisela only works to turn in one direction. I am pretty used to being able to quarter turn in either direction to release. This is Silca's choice and they'll probably say it's more secure or break resistant but it's different from every other Garmin mount I've used.

The light mount works well and has a really nice threaded end to receive the bolt which gives me confidence this will last and not get stripped.

One odd thing - the K-Edge bolt had a metal washer whereas this doesn't include one. If I get rattling I'll transplant the washer.

I've been waxing chains for years, long before wax blends became mainstream, using a basic second-hand slow cooker that worked surprisingly well. After becoming a fan of Silca's Secret Chain Hot Melt Wax, I decided to try their full waxing system.

While the price is hard to justify - especially when a cheap slow cooker does 95% of the job - the one standout feature that makes a difference is the temperature control. The Silca pot maintains a noticeably lower, more consistent temperature, resulting in thicker wax coverage that doesn't drip off as quickly when the chain is hung to dry.

That said, the pot is smaller than expected, and the included plastic lid feels cheap (thankfully, my old glass lid fits perfectly). In the end, this is a luxury item: unnecessary, but nice to have.

If you're particular about your setup and have the budget, the Silca system is worth considering for its control and consistency. Otherwise, a basic slow cooker will serve you just fine.

I had been considering using a wax system for some time, but always hesitated thinking it was 'too complicated.' Was I wrong! Waxing has become a standard on my deep-cleaning days and the Silca system makes it easy. Prepping the wax, treating the chain and finishing is about a 40 minute cycle - just enough time for all the other cleaning and bike maintenance. Best of all, no more greasy/gritty chain - a simple wipe after each ride is all that's needed. Smoother and quieter operation too!