Lubricant performance in bicycle roller chains

Abstract Lubricant selection plays a crucial role in optimizing bicycle drivetrain efficiency by minimizing energy losses due to friction. The long-term characterization of lubricants over the full lubricant life in cycling remains underexplored. This study evaluates the performance of various lubricants, including immersion-style wax-based and drip-style wax emulsion lubricants under realistic cycling conditions using a custom-designed testing rig. Unused 11-speed chains were stripped of factor