REX Race Day Drip Product info.
Race day drip is to be used ONLY with Rex Black Diamond.
Race day drip creates a chemical change, turning Black Diamond from being a wet lubricant, to being a dry chain coating lubricant.
This is best used for offroad events. Wet lubricants are not recommended (at all) by ZFC for use in offroad conditions as simply every particle of dirt and dust sticks on contact, and the abrasiveness and friction of wet lubricants in offroad use will increase from KM zero.
Black diamond has demonstrated simply phenomenal treatment lifespan in dry road conditions. Combined with Race Day Drip – there is nothing currently known that matches BD + RDD re treatment longevity in offroad uses.
Whilst offroad is more difficult to give accurate longevity numbers as dust varies so much in its amount / size / abrasiveness – most riders should expect at least around 500km lifespan of extremely low wear, low friction treatment in dry offroad conditions.
Is it suitable in the wet?
ZFC is rating this a negative on this. It is ok, but wet conditions put a severe dent into BD + RDD’s extreme treatment longevity that we see for its use in dry conditions. At the very high cost of using RDD, there are simply much more cost effective options that will last at least as long or longer if its looking wet (Silca Synergetic / Mspeedwax / Silca Hot Melt, and if you are a millionaire, AB Graphenlube).
**VERY IMPORTANT NOTE – Whilst there will be approximately at least 7 applications of RDD per bottle (about 3ml per treatment if applied correctly), RDD can only be used ONCE on a chain before the chain must be fully flush cleaned and reset.
If you apply another treatment of BD when the BD + RDD treatment is reaching end of its lifespan, and then apply another treatment of RDD over this next treatment of BD, it is unable to effect the same chemical change, the lubricant may remain slightly wet, which will gather contamination in offroad conditions.
As such, main uses for RDD – especially considering its cost, is for very long offroad events (24hr MTB, Unbound gravel, Multi day events / bike packing).
As such again, if doing the above, this really should be on your dedicated race chain, where cleaning and resetting post big event should be normal behavior.
I thought REX did a race day spray? What is with the race day drip?
- Correct, their normal product here is the race day spray. But, that is dangerous goods for airfreight, so it would cost a bajillion dollars to get it from Rex to me so the RRP would be through the roof, there are only half the effective applications per can of spray vs bottle of drip, and it would be road freight only from me to you. Its just lose, lose, lose vs getting it in its drip form for you to drip on vs spray on. Sure you don’t get the cool white looking cassette, but no one would be paying the cost of a can of RDS in Aus. I think it is really going to be limited to Europe. The drip in the bottle is obviously the exact same drip that is in the can, and it is much more product efficient to apply it from the bottle vs aerosol spray.
Application instructions
- Apply Black diamond onto a properly cleaned chain as per instructions on Black Diamond Product page (bottom of page).
- Ensure excess BD is very thoroughly wiped off with microfiber cloth. If over lubed, you will need more super expensive RDD to change it from wet lube to chain coating. If you follow BD application instructions, you will be mint re the balance of ensuring penetration but not over applying.
- SHAKE Race Day Drip WELL BEFORE USE
*If possible, Race Day Drip and chain above 20dg Celsius temperature. If chain is very cold (garage etc in cold climates) – even if lubricant is warm, the tiny amount applied per link will instantly cool and thicken. This is true for the vast majority of drip lubricants, best practice for most is warm lube, warm chain
- Apply one drop per roller of RDD, and back pedal at least 4 to 5 times to ensure penetration.
- Allow approximately 15 minutes for RDD + BD to set.
- *Ensure re cap RDD as soon as finished application as the RDD flashes off quickly.
**Remember, as per earlier information, only use Race Day Drip ONCE on chain without doing a full clean reset of chain. A further application of Race Day Drip to chain will be much less effective than the first application.
You can absolutely just re-apply Black diamond when the BD +RDD treatment is wearing low, if you do not need the dry contamination resistance of BD + RDD combined. Applying BD on top of previous BD + RDD is perfectly groovy for just the BD itself.
However, if you try to reapply BD + RDD after the first BD + RDD has reached effective treatment lifespan, the second RDD application simply will not work like it did the first time. To obtain your magnificent ultra long lasting in offroad conditions chain coating of BD + RDD, you will need to properly clean and reset chain, and apply BD + RDD as per instructions to clean, clear chain metal.
Zero Friction cycling offers chains pre prepped with BD + RDD – alas it is not cheap due to both product cost and labour time.
Any other cool things I should know about? Yes.
Ok, so RDD is not cheap (like, really not cheap, and trust me even at this price there are much lower margins than normal for a lubricant sale!).
However in all the hundreds of thousands of KM’s of testing over the last 5+ years, this is very unique product, and unique in a very good way (some products really demonstrate uniqueness in ways not kind to your drivetrain!).
Never before have we seen a product line up where a wet lubricant can be turned into a true chain coating lubricant with highest level dry contamination resistance, but with a treatment longevity that is well above the top competition tested to date.
Is it environmentally friendly?
Rex advise yes, that it contains no PFOA or other nasty stuff. I will be trying to get further information re what it is actually made out of as I do not currently know, but there are no hazardous warnings on the product, which is a good start. When I can I will be expanding this section for all lubricant products stocked by ZFC. In the interim any specific questions pls contact REX directly.
Application Instructions;
- First apply Black diamond to a properly cleaned chain as per instructions on Black Diamond Product page.
- SHAKE Race Day Drip WELL BEFORE USE
- If possible, Race Day Drip and chain above 20dg Celsius temperature. If chain is very cold (garage etc in cold climates) – even if lubricant is warm, the tiny amount applied per link will instantly cool and thicken. This is true for the vast majority of drip lubricants, best practice for most is warm lube, warm chain
