Should I Wax my Bike Chain? Brought to you by Pedal Durango and our business partner Lolas’ Restaurant
There is always the next craze in cycling, from suspension to full suspension, from 27.5 tires, to 29ner’s. Well there is a lot of discussion on whether or not waxing your bike chain is a good long term solution to lubricating your bike chain. Normally treating your chain to a good cleaning is recommended at least 1x per week. Of course that can vary based on miles and conditions. Does waxing your chain make a difference?Yes, waxing your bicycle chain is a highly effective long-term solution for keeping your chain lubricated — especially if you’re looking for:
Long-Term Benefits:
Cleaner drivetrain: Wax repels dirt and grime far better than traditional oil-based lubes, reducing chain wear.
Longer chain and cassette life: Less abrasive grit means fewer replacements.
Low maintenance once set up: After the initial deep clean and wax dip, maintenance is mostly just rewaxing every few hundred miles (or more, depending on conditions).
Quiet, smooth performance: Waxed chains are often quieter and run more efficiently.
What You Need to Know:
Initial Setup is Key:
You must completely degrease the chain (removing all factory grease and oils).
Then submerge it in molten wax, often paraffin-based, sometimes with additives like PTFE or molybdenum.
Rewaxing Frequency:
Every 250–400 miles for road riders, more frequently in wet/muddy conditions.
Some riders keep a few pre-waxed chains and swap them out for convenience.
Not Ideal for Everyone:
Waxing is more labor-intensive upfront.
Not great in extremely wet/muddy environments unless you’re very diligent.
Alternatives:
If hot waxing feels too involved, drip-on wax lubes (like Squirt, Smoove, or Silca Super Secret) offer many of the same benefits with easier application, though they don’t last quite as long as a full wax treatment.
Rider(s) Spotlight
Photos Courtesy of the Morozowich Family
Sisters and natives to Durango Anna and Leah Morozowich are proving to be tremendous athletes on the National Stage and have shown the country just how good these two sisters really are by both capturing Championship Jersey’s at the recent Cycling National Championships! We wanted to highlight them in this month’s addition so that you will be familiar with their names as they progress in the competitive cycling careers. By the way, their older brother Evan is a distance runner at Fort Lewis College, and their young brother Owen is now also competing at the National level! We say there is a little bit of talent in this family!
Leah Morozowich – Recent Races/Location/Results
In 2024 Leah competed in several National Championships while representing Durango Devo in the Junior Women 13-14 age category. Her top results were winning 2 National Titles: 1 in mountain bike XCC (short-track) in July (Bear Creek, Pennsylvania) and 1 in gravel in September (Gehring, Nebraska).
In 2025 Leah joined the Bear National Team, a well-known program that has developed many Durango cyclists over the years (including Olympian Riley Amos). Leah is now 15 years old and races as a first-year in the Junior Women 15-16 age category. With the support of her new team, Leah won the varsity high school State Championship in XCO and either won or was on the podium in all of her U.S. Pro Cup mountain bike races in XCO and XCC (Vail Lakes, California; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Englewood, Wisconsin). She then raced the road National Championships in early July and earned a podium (P5) in the time trial (Lyons, Wisconsin). And, about a week ago at the July mountain bike National Championships (Roanoke, Virginia) Leah earned 2 podiums in XCO (P3) and XCC (P5)! Notably, she was the youngest racer on the podium and only podium placer that will return to the 15-16 age category next year (i.e., all other podium finishers “age-up” and enter the 17-18 age category next year)
Anna Morozowich – Recent Races/Location/Results
Anna is 13 years old and represents Durango Devo in the Junior Women 13-14 age category. She is a 7-time national champion in mountain bike, cyclocross, gravel, and road.
In 2025, Anna started the season winning the Valley of the Sun Stage Race (Phoenix, Arizona) and was then undefeated in all of her U.S. Pro Cup mountain bike races in XCO and XCC (Vail Lakes, California; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Englewood, Wisconsin). In early July Anna won the road race National Championship (Lyons, Wisconsin) and followed this up about a week ago at the July mountain bike National Championships (Roanoke, Virginia) by winning both XCO and XCC mountain bike National Titles!
What a Finish!!
After a brutal Tour de France Durango’s own Quinn Simmons pops the question! Congratulations Quinn on both a fantastic tour and your engagement.
Photo courtesy of Quinn Simmons Instagram
Come Stay With Us in Durango, and Cycle Your Brains Out!
Looking for a Place to Stay in Durango?
After cycling your brains out in Durango are you looking for a place to stay? Pedal Durango has partnered with 4 unique and bike friendly locations in Durango. From a boutique hotel, to a Bed and Breakfast, to your own suite, to a Victorian classic, each one offers an amazing experience and ALL of them are close to trails, road rides and gravel rides in Durango. In addition to being close to all the types of riding Durango has to offer, they are all close to restaurants and shops to round out your cycling experience. You will not regret spending your vacation time in one of these high quality places to rejuvenate for your next days ride. Starting clockwise;
Wild Chama Races. We’re starting off an annual cross country mountain bike race in northern New Mexico (Chama Area) to benefit the Field Institute of Taos, a nonprofit getting kids on bikes and teaching outdoor education. For more information click on the link: https://www.wildchamaraces.org/home
Local Riders and Teams from Durango Wanted!!!
We are already planning for Race Across the West 2026. The race will start in Oceanside, CA on Tuesday, June 16th and finish in Santa Rita Park between Thursday, June 18th and Saturday, June 20th. Registration is now open. It would be great to get some local teams from Durango particiating in the race. There’s something to be said for starting in California and riding home. Clink the link below for information on representing Durango at this race event.
Registration at: https://www.raceacrossthewest.org/registration
Information about the event at: https://www.raceacrossthewest.org/about
What’s Happening???
Things are really cranking up on the Pedal Durango Social Calendar! Be sure to click the link below so that you are informed about what is happening in our area. https://pedaldurango.com/events/
Be part of our expanding cycling network by joining our business partners in building a stronger cycling community. Contact us at: pedaldurango@gmail.comto learn more
Long-Term Benefits:
What You Need to Know:
Initial Setup is Key:
Alternatives:
