Narrow handlebars, perfect bike saddles and chain wax: GCN Tech Clinic

Alex Paton and Ollie Bridgewood are in the tech studio to answer some more of your latest bike-related questions. This week there is not one but two questions about waxed chains as well as chain maintenance and the effect of narrow bars on climbing.

How are shifters and brakes set up in the UK vs in Europe?

In the UK bikes come with the front brake mounted to the right-hand side of the handlebars and the rear brake on the left-hand side. This set-up can also be referred to as a ‘moto set-up’ as it replicates how motorbikes are configured with the rear brake on the left.

Most other countries will supply bikes with the brakes the other way around and bikes are commonly designed around the brake hoses being the European way around when it comes to hose routing to the fork or frame. The exact reason behind why bike brakes are the other way around in the UK is open to debate, however a commonly held theory is that it allows riders to signal with their right arm whilst remaining in control with the rear brake.

What is the best advice for someone looking for a saddle who is dealing with prostate issues?

Finding the right saddle for you, regardless of any medical issues is a difficult task and there is no one-size-fits-all rule. Heading to a bike shop that offers a saddle fitting service is the best way to find a comfortable saddle. Being able to try a handful of different saddles in quick succession will mean that you can easily compare them allowing you to choose the best one.

What impact will narrow bars have on climbing performance?

Narrow bars are very much on trend right now, offering riders an aero-riding position by reducing their frontal area. Riding on the flat, narrow bars have been proven to save a significant amount of Watts to ride at the same speed. When it comes to climbing, however, things aren't as clear-cut. With the speeds greatly reduced and more emphasis being put on power production, there are better solutions for comfort and breathing efficiency than narrow bars.

If you are a rider that typically climbs in a mostly seated position on the tops then a narrower bar is not really going to have any effect. Typically, if you ride on the tops your hands are close together nullifying any effect a narrower bar would have. If however, you prefer to ride out of the saddle or on the hoods then a narrower bar will affect how the bike handles, making it more twitchy. There are some arguments that a narrow handlebar can affect how easily you can breathe as it restricts your rib cage from expanding but we will have to do a video on that to find out for ourselves.

If a bike is cleaned and lubricated before being stored over winter will it need lubricating again come spring?

So long as the bike is well cleaned and lubricated properly before it is stored there should be no reason that it will need re-lubricating when it comes to dusting it off and getting back out on it. Oil-based chain lube is a non-volatile fluid meaning it does not evaporate over time so any oil that you put on your chain will still be there after months of storage.

Why do new chain-checking tools have markings for 0.5 and 0.75% rather than 0.75 and 1%?

The reason some chain checkers have different wear markings has to do with the evolution of bicycle drivetrains. With modern 11 and 12-speed groupsets, the working tolerance of all the components is noticeably tighter. This means that chains need replacing at lower wear to prevent accelerating the wear of the cassette and chainrings. As a general rule, an 11 or 12-speed chain needs replacing at 0.5% wear, if you have run your chain to 0.75% or greater it is highly likely that you will also need to replace your cassette.

The same applies for 10-speed groupsets and below just at a slightly higher level of wear. These chains can be run to 0.75% wear before they need replacing and at 1% wear or greater, the cassette will also need to be replaced.

How does Silca’s strip chip work and can I wax more than six chains with a pack of six strip chip blocks?

If you are looking to wax a brand new, packet fresh chain it is possible to ‘degrease’ and wax the chain in one process with the use of Silca’s strip chip. By adding one of these into the hot melt wax it chemically changes the factory grease on the chain into a wax coating. If you are looking to wax a new chain, a strip chip will need to be added for the process but once the chain has had its initial wax with the strip chip it can then be treated the same as any other waxed chain and re-waxed as normal.

Do chains that have lightly been used outside with the factory grease still count as a new chain when it comes to waxing?

If the chain has been used, especially outside then it will need to be properly cleaned before being waxed. A chemical degreasing will remove any dirt, grit and contamination that would otherwise hinder the wax’s adhesion to the surface of the chain. Using a strip chip is only possible on a brand-new, not yet used chain. As soon as it has been used it is important to give the chain a deep clean repeating the process a few times to ensure that nothing is left on the chain.

If you have any tech-related questions that you need answering, head over to this week’s Tech Clinic video on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH. Or leave your question in the comments below.

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