Tools, Lubes
This chain wax is amazing. I followed the Silca videos and stripped the chain of all factory grease then submerged it in the super-secret wax. No need for a croc pot, heat the wax, clean it up/ or have the time and space for that process etc... the drive chain is very clean all the time and wipes clean with the Silca gear wipes (after several hundred miles or after a ride in the rain). After cleaning with the gear wipes, I let it dry and apply the super-secret from the drip bottle. After 500 miles or so ill removed the chain and stip the wax with only degreaser, let it dry then re-submerge in the wax... I used the Smoove Lube, this is a lot better. Completely stripping the factory grease with Silca's instructions and submerging is the way to go. if you find yourself tired of trying to remove grease from all parts of the drive train....this is worth it.
These are just short enough to fit neatly into my saddlebag, unlike the other master link pliers I looked at. And very light. Have yet to break a chain on the road, must test them at home next time I wear out a chain.
A trick: slide a short piece of old tube over it (28-32mm size fits snugly onto this tool). This will keep it closed and so eliminate any possibility of losing your spare master links, and if you cut the piece long enough the end will keep the "teeth" at the business end of the tool from poking through other items (spare tubes?) in your saddlebag.
I was excited to upgrade my old Park Tools stand and get my hands on the pro elite clamping mechanism. The quality and operation of setting up the stand and clamping a bike in the jaws are flawless. However (and I should have anticipated this) the lightweight aluminum that makes the stand so portable also makes it wobble and bob like crazy when you're trying to do any work on it. This stand would be fantastic for light work and cleaning tasks in the field, but this doesn't pass muster as a solid home repair stand -- I can't imagine putting any kind of force on it to remove/install a BB, say; trying to adjust shifting with the bike bobbing around is tough enough. I think the Feedback Pro Elite Commercial Clamp paired with a Park Tools professional stand might be the ideal solution -- until I get more space to work in, it's back to my old folding Park stand.
As the name of the tool indicates, I used it to scrub the chains of our two bikes. I used to pull the chains, open a link, soak them in solvent, brush the chains by hand, before putting them in warn oil bath for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes in the oil bath, I'd fight with the well oiled, slippery chains to put them back together; and then put them back on bikes. With the Park CM-25, I left the chains on the bikes, ran them through the scrubber while simultaneously using a spray cleaner on the cogs and chain rings to ensure the entire drive system was clean. Took about 10 to 15 minutes per bike the first time, and I suspect it will take less time in the future. The chains well cleaned and, with a bit of lubricant, the bikes were ready to roll. Money well spent.
