During this test, we were impressed with how quiet the chain remained, especially in the absence of the additives that many other lubes include. When it was time to reapply (after multiple bike cleanings, by the way) we were further impressed with how clean the entire drivetrain was. Chainrings, cassette, derailleur pulleys and, of course, the chain itself were virtually spotless. This also has to do with the fact that we followed Effetto Mariposa’s advice about stripping the chain clean before the initial application, something that’s necessary to get good results from any wax-based chain lubricant. 

Effetto Mariposa claims 600km, about 370 miles, per application of Flowerpower when riding on dry paved roads. Our test period for Flowerpower was extremely wet, so we’ll have to take them at their word there. We can confirm that Flowerpower held on effectively during wet test rides and only needed to be reapplied after 200km of wet conditions riding, which is still quite impressive. We’d expect to go much further between reapplications in dry conditions.

When everything in the bike industry seems to be getting crazy expensive, we appreciate Effetto Mariposa ensuring that each container of Flowerpower exceeds 50% wax-to-water ratio, which means that compared to some other brands, you’re getting as much as 20% more lubricant per ounce of volume. And, even if you only get half of their claimed distance between reapplications, a bottle still lasts a long time.

On top of that, the independent test lab, Zero Friction Cycling, has tested Flowerpower and honored it as the best drip wax chain lubricant available for its wear rate and contamination resistance. It’s moderately expensive but not astronomically priced, won’t hurt the planet, and isn’t a just bottle of mainly water claiming to be chain lube. For all these reasons, Effetto Mariposa Flowerpower our favorite Drip Wax Lube and makes a great choice whether you’re just getting into the world of wax-based lubes, or have been doing it for ages with a different brand.