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review
Pedros Ice Wax 2.0£8.99
VERDICT:
Dry lube that performs brilliantly well and will reduce cleaning effort
Weight:
100g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
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Ice Wax 2.0 from Pedro's is a chain lubricant that aims to reduce the time you spend cleaning your chain, by doing it for you in part. A lube for dry conditions, it's perfect for spring.
The wax comes in varying sized bottles depending on your preference. The 100ml bottle is a decent size and should last a while. It has a simple screw cap and the applicator nozzle is small enough that you can apply the lube directly to wherever you want it.
As a dry lube, it is designed for mixed riding, but mainly in dry conditions (it will work with the odd puddle or splash). The wax is supposed to wear off over time, and in the process of doing this, it leaves a cleaner chain by taking off any grime with it.
For the first application, it was applied to an already clean chain. The wax is waterier than other lubes I have used. I thought this would make it harder to apply, but the opposite is true. The nozzle is extremely narrow so no lube is wasted as it comes out fairly slowly, making application simple.
Pedro's recommend waiting at least an hour before you ride after applying, to give the lube time to dry. Because once dry, they say, it gives your chain a protective coating. I added it at the end of a ride, so it was left overnight (Pedros say this is an ideal length of time).
At the end of the ride, the chain looked pretty clean. Over the following week, the routine of light cleaning and lubing the chain continued. One thing that was certain was that my chain stayed looking like a clean chain as opposed to the usual black colour it can go.
The wax is easy to apply and remove. And you definitely start to notice that it works after a few applications. It's also biodegradable which ticks the environmental box.
As a low maintenance lube, this one is perfect for spring/summer riding.
Verdict
As a dry lube, this performs brilliantly well and will reduce cleaning effort.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Pedros Ice Wax 2.0
Size tested: n/a
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
A lube for dry to mixed conditions aimed at all cyclists. Pedro's say "Ice Wax is an advanced natural wax dry chain lube. The biodegradable formula features a solvent-free detergent carrier which goes on wet to penetrate and flush dirt and grime during application. The carrier then evaporates leaving a semi-solid dry wax coating on the surfaces of the chain which provides excellent lubrication, efficiency, and wear protection. Though best in dry conditions the coating of wax also repels water from puddles or stream crossings." I found the wax performed very well on both my road and mountain bike.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Blocks dirt to keep drivetrain clean and efficient.
Advanced biodegradable detergent carrier removes dirt & grime during application.
Dries to protective natural wax coating with excellent lubrication properties and durability.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
10/10
The wax is easy to apply, remove, and it does seem to be doing exactly what it should.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
8/10
A slightly more expensive lube, but it will last and it really does keep your chain in good condition.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
My chain looks like new, the lube absolutely lives up to its designed use.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
I liked that lube was really easy to apply.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
About the tester
Age: 34 Height: 158cms Weight: 61kg
I usually ride: Giant defy My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,
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Add new comment
9 comments
I'm completely converted, really impressed with this stuff. The thicker texture makes it so much easier to apply than all previous wax lubes I've used - no excess splashing all over the place so far more economical.
My drive train is a lot quieter than with the pro gold dry lube or Muc Off wet lube I have been using of late, and no black drive train to deal with either.
In my experience, the problem with wax lubes is that most people aren't obsessive about bike care, don't clean their bikes regularly/ever, and don't read instructions, so wax lubes are not appropriate for most people, but of course the manufacturers probably aren't going to say that out loud.
They get a bottle of this because they read about it or the guy at the bike shop recommends it, and they apply it once in a while on their dirty chain. A year or two or three later when they take the bike for a tune-up the entire transmission is coated in black, sticky sludge that doesn't come off easily.
I use Squirt Wax Lube.... great in wet and dry conditions... reapply every 3 or so rides...chain remains clean and wear is kept at bay... always apply on a clean chain (even degrease new ones before application) and leave to dry .....apply wax and leave to dry (set).... I use it on MTB and Road bikes of my own and also supply customers with sample bottles when they get their bikes back from service...
I await stock of already Squirt coated chains...due in next week...
None of my customers have reported any issues with Squirt and I am guessing Pedros on test here is a similar product...
The challenge with these 'dry' lubes is that they are sacrificial - they work on the premise that any dirt that gets on the chain attaches to the topmost layer, then flakes off under contact with other moving parts taking a tiny bit of the dry substrate with it. White Lightning works the same.
So they do wear off over time. And yes, a wet ride will kill them.
They were/are very popular in the MTB world, particularly in dry, dusty places.
On Britain's roads? Questionable. At the start of a decently-long ride, a passing shower and associated road spray could see it washed off in short order, leaving you with hours of dry, squeaky trip home.
Yes, it works, 30 wet miles kills it, so best for summer only, using it hlfords years.
In winter I use Rock n Roll extreme.
Hey Flying Scot, do you have a current supplier for Rock n Roll in the UK? Seems out of stock at all major suppliers. Can't get it sent via air, so seems difficult to find. Cheers!
I switched to dry/wax/non-oil lubes about 3 years ago and have never looked back. You still get a bit of black build up, but the ease of cleaning has me sold.
No issues with extra wear, 1 minute to apply, quiet drive chain...
About five years ago I was given, as part of a complicated buy/sell/swap arrangement with my LBS, a 2 litre bottle of Pedro's. Since then I have used nothing else, winter and summer, and haven't noticed any increase in transmission wear. What I have noticed is the cleanliness of the bikes, my hands, my socks and my shoes.
Yes, you have to re-lube after every wet ride but it's a two-minute job and the compensation is never having to clean the chain with solvent, merely wiping with a cloth is all it needs.
By the way, I'm only halfway down the bottle; I reckon I will be too feeble to cycle before I run out.
Looks like Squirt Chain Lube.