Independent Friction Tests: How Revolubes Performs in ZFC Lab Trials

What Is Zero Friction Cycling (ZFC)?

Zero Friction Cycling (ZFC) is an Australian testing lab known for being super thorough and independent. They combine lab work and real-world riding to see which bike chain lubes really live up to the hype.

ZFC put Revolubes through its paces to see how well it holds up on the road, gravel, and MTB trails – testing how long it lasts and how smoothly it keeps your drivetrain running.

If you're curious about ZFC in general or want to dive deeper into the test protocol, head over to their website at 👉 www.zerofrictioncycling.com.au

SAL Test Explained: One Lube, Three Conditions

The Single Application Longevity (SAL) Test by ZFC shows how far you can ride on just one lube application. It’s split into three parts to simulate dry road, dusty gravel, and harsh wet conditions – helping you decide if a product fits your riding style.

Part 1: Dry Road Simulation

Simulates dry road riding and checks how long the lube lasts in clean conditions.

The chain is cleaned from factory grease, and lubricant is applied ULTRASONICALLY. Check measures are completed every 150km. Test runs 100km of flat simulation and 50km of hill simulation. Part 1 test concludes when chain has worn 0.1mm from net start measure.

Part 2: Dry Off-Road/Gravel

Mimics gravel or dry MTB rides, with added dry dirt to test lube resilience.

The chain is re lubricated via ultrasonic application, and follows the same test protocol as in part 1, however 5 grams of contamination is added at start as well as at end of every 150km hill & flat simulation set. Part 2 test concludes when the chain has worn 0.1mm from wear measure taken at the end of Part 1.

Part 3: Muddy Off-Road Trails

Simulates brutal conditions like wet and muddy gravel or CX rides, to see how well the lube protects under stress.

The chain is ultrasonically cleaned and then lubricant ultrasonically applied. Same test protocol as per parts 1 & 2 however 1000ml of water and 10 grams of dry contamination added at start and at end of each 150km flat and hill simulation set. Part 3 test concludes when the chain has worn 0.1mm from wear measure taken at the end of Part 2.

Wear, contamination and data

Wear is precisely monitored by averaging data from over seven measurement points along the chain using a digital tool. This captures even small differences in wear, providing extremely accurate results.

A total chain elongation of 0.5 mm is classified as 100% wear, so every 0.01 mm represents 2% wear.

ZFC uses sandy loam as contamination – a realistic mix of dirt – and apply it dry and wet, since different lubes handle each type differently.

The chain is run on a smart trainer to simulate real terrain: flats and hills, with a realistic power load to see how wear adds up over time.

Since the test machine runs at a steady power, rather than sinusoidal one, real-world results will likely be about one-third of the distances shown in the test.

Revolubes Results: Road, Gravel & MTB

Dry Road: Consistent Wear-Free Mileage

In the dry road test, Revolubes barely showed any wear over time. Unlike some lubes that suddenly degrade after a point, Revolubes stayed consistent and smooth the whole way through.

Each check showed only 1–2% wear – far below the limit. Even after 2250km, it still had room to go, proving just how long it can last.

Even after 2250 km, Revolubes showed just 12% of the acceptable wear range — no drop-off point observed.

They also tested using a simple dropper instead of soaking the chain – results were just as good, showing that Revolubes doesn’t need fancy application methods to work well.

Key takeaway:

✔ One application lasts up to 700 miles
✔ Deep clean every 3 applications
✔ One drop per link = enough – no soaking needed

Gravel/MTB: When Less Means More

Dry off-road riding also went great – with less wear than expected and much better results than when re-lubing too often.

Because Revolubes lasts so long, reapplying too often may actually make things worse by pulling in more dirt. It's better to lube less often and clean properly. Less is more — apply smart.

If you're riding off-road, clean the chain thoroughly before re-lubing – otherwise, you might push grit deeper into the chain.

Key takeaway:

✔ One application can last up to 300 miles off-road
✔ Use just a little and wipe off excess
✔ Deep clean every application

Muddy Trails: Get Extra Shielding

In wet and muddy rides, Revolubes Clear Blend still works well but needs a little boost to block out dirt – especially since the chain is already worn from earlier tests.

To improve sealing, ZFC mixed Revolubes Clear Blend Chain Lube with Revolubes Bearing Grease and applied it as a paste where the chain links meet – this doubled the wear-free distance in mud. 

The mix is currently available as the Revolubes Heavy Blend

Key takeaway:

✔ Use Heavy Blend on top for seal-off effect.
✔ One treatment lasts 100 miles in mud
✔ Deep clean it before every reapplication