How It Works
To use the DecaWatts chain waxing service, you begin by choosing a Starter Bundle. Each bundle includes two to four professionally pre-waxed chains and all required initial supplies.
We offer three options, tailored to your riding style:
Final pricing within each range depends on the chain model you select.
Every chain is treated using the Silca Hot-Melt Endurance System, where we combine Silca Secret Chain Blend with two endurance wax chips per half bag of wax. This process is engineered for maximum longevity, low friction, and superior resistance to contamination.
By rotating multiple chains, you reduce wear, simplify maintenance, and dramatically extend the life of your drivetrain components.
Once you’ve acquired your Starter Bundle, you continue with a monthly subscription, priced as follows:
| Plan | Subscription Price | Intended Use |
|---|---|---|
| Road | From $39.99 per month | Intended for road cyclists, indoor training, and commuters |
| Off-Road | From $39.99 per month | Designed for mainly dry off-road riding with occasional wet or muddy conditions |
| Off-Road Plus | From $59.99 per month | Built for extreme off-road conditions, including frequent mud, prolonged wet rides, and high-contamination environments |
Understanding the Chain Waxing Subscription
Every DecaWatts chain begins with a level of cleaning that no home setup or bike shop can replicate. Each chain is fully reset through multiple ultrasonic cleaning stages over a two-hour cycle, removing all oil, grime, wax residue, and embedded contamination. This deep decontamination is the foundation of true chain efficiency, longevity, and consistent performance.
The DecaWatts Chain Waxing Subscription was created to make the benefits of professional-grade Silca Hot-Met Endurance waxing accessible to riders of all disciplines without the time, mess, or ongoing effort required to maintain it at home.
Hot-melt waxing delivers exceptional cleanliness and durability but requires removing the chain and immersing it in molten wax. While highly effective, this process is impractical for most riders to repeat regularly. Wax-based drip lubricants now exist to extend the performance of pre-waxed chains between hot-melt treatments, but they come with a tradeoff.
Compared to hot-melt wax, drip lubes attract slightly more dirt and contamination over time. As these contaminants accumulate, efficiency declines and wear increases, making periodic full chain stripping and decontamination necessary to achieve proper longevity and performance.
This is where DecaWatts stands apart. Our multi-stage ultrasonic cleaning process returns every chain to a contaminant-free, bare-metal state before rewaxing, a level of precision cleaning no rider or shop can replicate.
The subscription removes all guesswork. Once per month, subscribers return one or two chains using the included prepaid shipping label, install their spare chain, and continue riding while the returned chain or chains are serviced. Every chain sent to DecaWatts is ultrasonically cleaned, fully decontaminated, and re-treated using the same Silca Hot-Melt Endurance wax trusted by competitive riders, with shipping included both ways.
By combining lab-level cleaning precision, proven Silca Endurance wax performance, and a simple rotation-based subscription model, DecaWatts delivers exceptional drivetrain efficiency, cleanliness, and longevity without requiring specialty tools, mechanical skill, or time investment from the rider.
The Case for Chain Waxing
Chain waxing offers compelling advantages for cyclists across all disciplines:
- Waxing can extend drivetrain lifespan by up to 10×, dramatically reducing long-term maintenance costs.
- A properly waxed chain can last 16,000–20,000 km, depending on conditions and maintenance.
- Waxed chains exhibit significantly lower friction than traditional lubricants—saving up to 10 watts of power.
- Wax forms a dry, clean coating that repels contaminants and keeps drivetrains significantly cleaner.
- In dry road conditions, one application of wax can last up to 1000km
Selecting the Appropriate Subscription Plan
Choosing your subscription is simple:
- Select Road if you primarily ride pavement or indoors.
- Select Off-Road if you ride gravel, dirt, trails, or mixed terrain, primarily in dry conditions, with only occasional wet or muddy rides
- Select Off-Road Plus if you regularly ride in extreme off-road environments, including frequent mud, prolonged wet conditions, or consistently high contamination
If you plan to use one Starter Bundle across multiple bicycles, or regularly ride more than one bike, please contact us with details on each bike, your riding habits, and estimated monthly mileage.
This allows us to confirm compatibility and provide personalized recommendations or applicable bulk-pricing options.
For best results, bikes sharing the same chains should have similar chainstay lengths and gearing to ensure consistent shifting performance.
Maintaining Your Chain Between Professional Cleanings
Proper maintenance between professional cleanings is simple and essential for preventing rust and minimizing drivetrain wear. Reapply your wax-based lubricant:
- Immediately after any wet, muddy, or heavily contaminated ride, or
- Whenever the chain begins to sound dry
- After the initial wax life is reached, approximately 700 km in dry off-road conditions or 1,000 km in dry road conditions.
All DecaWatts subscriptions include Tru-Tension BananaSlip Tungsten All-Weather Lube, a premium drip lubricant selected to complement the Silca Hot-Melt Endurance wax system.
Below is a detailed step-by-step guide for re-lubricating with Tru-Tension to ensure consistent protection and optimal efficiency.
Tru-Tension Application: Road Conditions
Chain Maintenance: Road Conditions
In road conditions, no maintenance is required until approximately 1,000 km after installing the chain in dry conditions. The instructions below explain how to apply Tru-Tension once this initial wax life is reached.
After the first application, reapply Tru-Tension every 200 km, or immediately after any ride in wet or rainy conditions, to maintain optimal longevity and wear protection.
Step 1: Clean the Chain
Before applying Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube, it’s essential to remove any dirt, moisture, or contaminants from the chain. This ensures proper wax adhesion and optimal performance.
What you’ll need:
- 99% isopropyl alcohol (available at most pharmacies or online)
- A clean microfiber cloth
- A small spray bottle (to apply the alcohol)
Instructions:
- Shift into a straight chainline: the middle of the cassette and the largest front chainring.
- Spray one full coat of isopropyl alcohol directly onto the chain while turning the cranks backward to cover the entire length.
- Lightly spray the alcohol onto a clean microfiber cloth.
- Hold the cloth at the bottom span of the chain (between the lower pulley and the crankset), and rotate the cranks backward 15–20 times, allowing the chain to pass through the alcohol-soaked cloth.
- Wait at least 5 minutes for the alcohol to fully evaporate and dry.
While the chain is drying, shake the lube bottle thoroughly. Wax-based drip lubes contain friction-reducing additives that settle over time—shaking ensures everything is fully mixed and ready for use.
Step 2: Apply Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube
- Apply one drop to each roller (the small rotating pins between chain links).
- Do this on the lower section of the chain, between the jockey wheels and chainrings.
- Maintain a straight chainline (middle of cassette, large front chainring).
- It’s okay to use slightly more to ensure all rollers are evenly coated.
Step 3: Work the Lube Into the Chain
- In the same chain position, pinch the top and bottom of the chain with your fingers and rotate the cranks backward 15–20 times.
- Shift into the smallest front chainring and smallest rear cog, and backpedal 15–20 times.
- Then shift into the largest front ring and largest rear cog, and pedal forward (or backward, if your setup allows) 20 more times.
This sequence helps distribute the lubricant thoroughly through the internal surfaces of the chain.
Step 4: Let It Cure and Remove Excess
Dry Time: Let the chain dry for 10–15 minutes.
Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove excess lube from:
- The chain
- The chainrings
- The cassette
- The pulley wheels
Tru-Tension Application: Off-Road Conditions
Chain Maintenance: Dry Off-Road Conditions
In dry off-road conditions, no maintenance is required until approximately 700 km after installing the chain. The instructions below explain how to apply Tru-Tension once this initial wax life is reached.
After the first application, reapply Tru-Tension every 200 km to maintain optimal longevity and wear protection. If at any point the chain is exposed to rain, mud, or very wet conditions, follow the Wet or Muddy Off-Road Maintenance Guide before applying Tru-Tension.
Step 1: Clean the Chain
Before applying Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube, it’s essential to remove any dirt, moisture, or contaminants from the chain. This ensures proper wax adhesion and optimal performance.
What you’ll need (included in your starter bundle):
- 99% isopropyl alcohol spray
- A clean microfiber cloth
- Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube
Instructions:
- Shift into a straight chainline: the middle of the cassette and the largest front chainring.
- Spray one full coat of isopropyl alcohol directly onto the chain while turning the cranks backward to cover the entire length.
- Lightly spray the alcohol onto a clean microfiber cloth.
- Hold the cloth at the bottom span of the chain (between the lower pulley and the crankset), and rotate the cranks backward 15–20 times, allowing the chain to pass through the alcohol-soaked cloth.
- Wait at least 5 minutes for the alcohol to fully evaporate and dry.
While the chain is drying, shake the lube bottle thoroughly. Wax-based drip lubes contain friction-reducing additives that settle over time—shaking ensures everything is fully mixed and ready for use.
Step 2: Apply Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube
- Apply one drop to each roller (the small rotating pins between chain links).
- Do this on the lower section of the chain, between the jockey wheels and chainrings.
- Maintain a straight chainline (middle of cassette, large front chainring).
- It’s okay to use slightly more to ensure all rollers are evenly coated.
Step 3: Work the Lube Into the Chain
- In the same chain position, pinch the top and bottom of the chain with your fingers and rotate the cranks backward 15–20 times.
- Shift into the smallest front chainring and smallest rear cog, and backpedal 15–20 times.
- Then shift into the largest front ring and largest rear cog, and pedal forward (or backward, if your setup allows) 20 more times.
This sequence helps distribute the lubricant thoroughly through the internal surfaces of the chain.
Step 4: Let It Cure and Remove Excess
Dry Time: Let the chain dry for 10–15 minutes.
Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove excess lube from:
- The chain
- The chainrings
- The cassette
- The pulley wheels
Chain Maintenance: Wet or Muddy Off-Road Conditions
The Wet or Muddy Off-Road Maintenance Guide ensures optimal chain and drivetrain longevity under wet or contaminated conditions. If the chain is exposed to rain or muddy conditions at any point—even when brand new—follow this guide.
After the initial application of Tru-Tension, reapply every 200 km or after any subsequent wet or muddy ride. If a Tru-Tension reapplication is required solely due to reaching the 200 km interval and the chain has not been exposed to wet or muddy conditions, follow the Dry Off-Road Maintenance Procedure instead.
Step 1: Rinse the Chain
After a wet or muddy off-road ride, it’s essential to remove water, grit, and embedded contamination before applying Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube. This process protects the wax coating and ensures optimal performance.
What you’ll need (included in your starter bundle):
- 1 liter wide-mouth bottle with a raised bottom, pre-filled with 500ml 99.9% isopropyl alcohol
- A clean microfiber cloth
- Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube
- Access to running water (pressure washer, hose, or a sink if the chain is removed)
First, rinse the chain with clean water to remove surface mud and debris. This can be done in one of two ways:
- While the chain is still on the bike, by spraying it thoroughly with water
- After removing the chain, by running it under clean, flowing water
The goal is to remove all visible dirt before proceeding.
Step 2: Alcohol Bath
Place the rinsed chain into the provided 32 oz (1 L) bottle containing 500 ml of 99.9% isopropyl alcohol.
- Shake the bottle to dislodge remaining contamination
- The chain may remain submerged indefinitely with no harm to the chain or wax treatment. For immediate reuse, shake the chain in the alcohol and allow it to soak for 3–5 minutes, then reinstall and apply Tru-Tension.
When you are ready to ride, remove the chain from the bottle and reinstall it on the bike.
Once the chain is back on the bike, immediately proceed with the Tru-Tension application steps below.
Step 3: Apply Tru-Tension Tungsten All-Weather Lube
- Apply one drop to each roller (the small rotating pins between chain links).
- Do this on the lower section of the chain, between the jockey wheels and chainrings.
- Maintain a straight chainline (middle of cassette, large front chainring).
- It’s okay to use slightly more to ensure all rollers are evenly coated.
Step 4: Work the Lube Into the Chain
- In the same chain position, pinch the top and bottom of the chain with your fingers and rotate the cranks backward 15–20 times.
- Shift into the smallest front chainring and smallest rear cog, and backpedal 15–20 times.
- Then shift into the largest front ring and largest rear cog, and pedal forward (or backward, if your setup allows) 20 more times.
This sequence helps distribute the lubricant thoroughly through the internal surfaces of the chain.
Step 5: Let It Cure and Remove Excess
Dry Time: Let the chain dry for 10–15 minutes.
Use a clean microfiber cloth to remove excess lube from:
- The chain
- The chainrings
- The cassette
- The pulley wheels