Chain Waxing Start Up!
It all begins with an idea.
Howdy, y’all! I am Camden Stone, a 16-year-old entrepreneur. I have been building businesses for over 8 years—yes, since I was in 3rd grade. I have always been interested in business and working for myself so I can work when I want to prioritize my cycling dreams.
I have learned from all these businesses that I am very determined and will finish what I started. No matter what challenge is thrown my way, I will step into the challenge, pushing hard to overcome it. I have creative solutions to problems and always build companies that help others in some way. Whether it is having a cleaner and more estetically pleasing house, teaching others how to improve their biking skills, or making their bike cleaner and more efficient. Most of my business endeavors include something to do with cycling, which is my biggest passion.
This blog is going to explain my struggles, challenges, successes, and interesting things that come along through the building of this business.
In 2023, I switched to chain waxing. I chose this for many reasons. As a semi-pro and up-and-coming cyclist, I chase being as fast as possible to get the best results in racing. All of these small benefits add up, and chain waxing is faster and more efficient, but also cleaner, and it triples my drivetrain longevity.
The benefits of chain waxing are tremendous, so I wanted to create a company that can provide this awesome service to everyone! Most people charge ~$35 to ~$70, and most bike shops don’t even offer this service. I wanted to bring a top-of-the-line quality service affordably because cycling is an expensive sport, and I didn’t want this to only be for the cyclists with lots of money.
By 2035, Stone Chain Waxing will have dozens of facilities across America and Europe with the capacity to wax over a Quarter million chains per year, at only getting 1% of my target audience.
I am excited to have this blog, where I am going to be able to share stories along the way with you! I am also excited to see where I can take this company because I believe that it can have a huge impact on cyclists worldwide. I hope you enjoy what is to come!
What I Want For Stone Chain Waxing & Its Customers
It all begins with an idea.
First, I want to share a company’s story that has impacted many million cyclists. I have always admired the way Silca has done business. Their constant pursuit of speed and performance gains have deeply impacted me and my racing.
Some of you may have heard about this brand and the story behind it. If not I think that it will intrigue you. Silca was founded by Felice Sacchi just outside of Milan, Italy. The company grew quickly and popular as the first company to produce pumps with gauges. They also kept innovating by becoming the first company to make a valve-controlled CO2 inflator, we now take these on every ride in case of flats. The company values have stayed true since the start with durable materials, traditional craftsmanship, and innovation. Most of the pumps made by Silca in the 1960s and 70s are still in use today and Silca continues to sell replacement parts for those very pumps! How many things do you own that work amazingly from the 1960s and 70s?
What I love about Silca is its lasting, high-quality products. Unfortunately, this spectacular quality comes at a steep cost. The main problem for customers is how expensive the shiny point of the spear is. Cycling is already a very expensive sport. Waxing chains, one of Silca’s many product specialties, is also expensive. Just purchasing the equipment to professionally wax your chain can cost lots of money.
I want Stone Chain Waxing to bring affordable chain waxing to everyone because it is so incredibly helpful. I wax my chain for many reasons, and you should too! Here is why:
To have a grease-free and much cleaner drivetrain
To have a faster and more efficient drivetrain
To lower bike maintenance (especially if you use my service!)
To triple the lifetime of my drivetrain
Proper and professional Chain Waxing requires lots of specialty equipment and knowledge. Over the past years, I have crafted how to best wax chains.
The main goal of Stone Chain Waxing is to bring affordable chain waxing to everyone. I want my service to be convenient, easy to use, and not a hassle. I hope this blog has given you some helpful information. Do you have any recommendations for my company and the service process?
Why Waxing Your Chain Is The Best Investment For Your Bike
It all begins with an idea.
As a cyclist, I am always looking for ways to go faster, take a smoother line, and make sure my bike is working in perfect condition. One of the simplest and most impactful upgrades you can make is switching to a waxed chain. It saves you lots of power (watts) while simultaneously extending the lifetime of your drivetrain, keeping your drivetrain cleaner, and runs faster.
Every watt counts in the pursuit of speed, whether you’re racing or just out for a fun ride. A properly waxed chain dramatically reduces friction compared to traditional oil-based lubes. Tests from Friction Facts and other independent sources show that chain waxing can save you 3-8 watts compared to regular lubricants. In a sport where even a 1% improvement matters, those extra saved watts could be the difference between winning the Tour De France or the sprint in your group ride.
Have you ever finished a ride and found your chain covered in black, grimy sludge? Regular lubes attract dirt, dust, and debris, which turns your drivetrain into a mess. Waxed chains stay much cleaner. The hardened wax repels lots of dirt, which keeps your drivetrain much cleaner. That means less time cleaning your bike and more time riding. Also, a clean drivetrain is a fast drivetrain.
While chain waxing does have a higher investment compared to regular lubes, the long-term benefits of a waxed chain make it worth the cost. A waxed chain can last 3 times longer than a traditionally lubed chain. Since there is less friction and grime grinding your components, chain, cassette, and chainrings wear out much slower, which can save over a thousand dollars! Over the years, that can be a new bike's worth of money saved!
If you want to ride faster, keep your bike cleaner, and spend less money on the drivetrain, chain waxing makes all the since in the world. It isn’t just for the pro cyclists–it is a game-changer for anyone who rides. That is why I started Stone Chain Waxing: to make this top-tier performance upgrade accessible and affordable for all cyclists. Once you try chain waxing, you will never go back to regular lubes!
For more information on my sources, check out these awesome links!
🔗 In The Know Cycling - Is Chain Wax Faster, Better, and Cheaper?
🔗 VeloNews - 30 Chain Lubes Lab Tested for Efficiency