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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE MAY 16th
HOW DO WE REACH THE OVERALL RATINGS FOR PRODUCTS WE REVIEW?
Silca Gear Wipes Canister
1150g £ 38
The Silca Gear Wipes are a double-sided wipe designed to cater for all surfaces and most cleaning jobs around the workshop. They are surprisingly effective, although as with all products, there's a right and wrong way to use them. Deployed sensibly, they will save time, and I've found them particularly effective on smaller but grottier maintenance jobs. For example, deep cleaning a chain before switching chain lube, or exorcising ingrained grime from light colour bar tapes on otherwise clean bikes.
Pros: Effective, even on surprisingly stubborn grime, versatile, convenient, kind to most surfaces.
Cons: Pricey if not used sparingly, caution needed around matt finishes.
Specification
There are several options, from small sachets, which are arguably most convenient for carrying on the bike, say needing to tackle an oily mechanical mid ride, switching to a different lube on tour etc. Contexts where access to water isn't guaranteed.
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We were sent the workshop sized canister containing 110 wipes. Though primarily designed for the work bench, you could easily whip a few into a zip lock, or similar re-sealable bag and carry along on rides. Otherwise, wipes are plucked from the top rather like a traditional wet wipe - ensure you close the lid afterwards, otherwise they'll dry out.
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As I said in my introduction, these are two sides, the darker side features an abrasive texture for cleaning ground in dirt - chain lube, greases, ingrained patina from sullied handlebar wraps, saddles, soiled hands etc. The softer side is for delicate surfaces and finishes where you wouldn't want to leave swirls, or scratches.
According to Silca's data sheet, they comprise of the following WATER 72% - 94% 0068439-46-3 Ethoxylated alcohols (C9 - C11) 2% - 5% 0001119-40-0 DIMETHYL GLUTARATE 2% - 4% 0000057-55-6 PROPYLENE GLYCOL 0.1% - 1.9% 0000627-93-0 DIMETHYL ADIPATE. Aside from the chemists and tech geeks out there, it's important to know in case of ingestion.
We're assured this is "cosmetic grade" cleanser meaning it should be safe on skin, hands specifically, while still being tenacious and effective. It's worth noting that while no ill effects are expected from ingestion, contact with eyes is another matter; rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, removing contact lenses as appropriate and rinse for 15-20 minutes. Bottom line, store carefully, aware from curious hands and paws and be mindful of accidentally rubbing your eyes afterward. Oh, and pop used wipes in the bin, don't flush 'em down the toilet.
Suggested Uses
Silca suggests they can be used all around the bike, from delicate painted, plated, lacquered and anodised finishes, tyre sidewalls, white bar tapes and shoes through to scuzzy drivetrains and similar "while I'm here" jobs that don't call for sudsy buckets, brushes and sponges. Calling Silca's bluff, I've used ours all over and found other welcome uses for them.
Test Contexts
Ours arrived in December, a very changeable month but often, wet, foggy and dank. Lanes resembled Paris-Roubaix, so chains, rings, derailleur cages, jockey wheels all got a good coating of crud, regardless of whether I was running a wet, or more sophisticated petrochemical middleweight lubes, such as the Wolf Tooth WTG-1 or Peaty's Link Lube Premium All Weather.
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A theme that continued throughout January and February, although the latter turned icy, so road salt and other contaminant were thrown into the mix. Then of course, I was switching tyres, replacing chains and re-greasing contact points, so plenty of everyday use.
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Pulling a wipe from the top, the abrasive side was immediately obvious to touch but no issues with pulling several out at a time. Technique plays an important part in getting the best from them. Our first candidate was Denise's filthy drivetrain. Though the bike was essentially clean, I didn't want to go through the brushes and deep degreaser route, just to change lube.
Performance 3.5/5
I was immediately struck by how quickly the cleanser cut through the waxy gunk, congealed waxy deposits falling from the Deore mech's jockey wheels with satisfying finesse. It's worth noting I'd been running the Wolf Tooth WT-1 which contains detergents designed to float and evict contaminant as you ride. Unlike aerosol formulas that can be initially very effective but evaporate too quickly, the Silca's cleanser hangs around longer, so less effort's required.
A single cloth’s abrasive side stripped chain, jockey wheels, cage and rings. I chose to dry these with a clean rag and remove the ingrained oily patina from my hands before I transferred it to door handles, clothes, woodwork etc. All told, I was ready to re-lube within five minutes.
A similar story with Ursula, although ten minutes given the 2x10 set-up offering more places for gunk to cling and hide.
They've also been a godsend for cleaning crown races before repacking headsets with grease and reassembling and similar small, fiddly jobs.
As for cleaning frames, great for "cat licks". There’s enough punch for cleaning moderately soiled disc rotors (you want your rotors hygienic, but not dinner plate clean), soiled rims, dynamo connectors being another little area easily overlooked and can get gunky, impairing connectivity.
Then of course, removing filmy mud, flung chain lube, PTFE maintenance sprays, or indeed preserves that have leached from a frame's breathe holes. Same story for frame fit pumps and other little accessories that are easily forgotten or ignored.
Cassettes exposed to a waxy, slimy cocktail were a different story and benefitted from being agitated with a toothbrush mid-way, then dismissed with the Silca wipe. A single wipe was all I required to cleanse silicone bar wrap (which is lovely but very easily tainted), two lightly soiled tyre sidewalls, hub cones and a multi tool.
When it comes to bar tapes, I employed the abrasive side first to lift the grime before finishing with the smooth counterpart. At this stage, you can either leave the cleanser to evaporate naturally, or given cold, damp conditions, dry with a clean rag, or microfibre cloth.
Now, I might try and don gloves for most jobs, but I am renown for getting immersed in those “I’ll just tweak” and find myself pulling a partial strip, busting for the toilet and equally desperate not to leave oily calling cards on the door handles, frames, light switches etc as I blunder back indoors.
Grabbing a Gear Wipe and working my palms and fingers through the rougher side dismissed heavyweight petrochemical lubes, residual grease and similar in around thirty seconds allowing me to dash indoors and purge the demon. There was sufficient cleaner and subtle abrasive to cleanse my hands properly having finished the job, but think 30-45 minutes, not two hours.
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True to claims, the gear wipes have spruced moderately shoes and booties fairly convincingly. They will remove ingrained, winter grot, such as that clinging to the MW07 below, but bargain on two (possibly three) wipes. If you’re at this stage a quick blast of bike wash (or degreaser concentrate) soft brush and buckets are the quickest and arguably, most cost-effective move.
Lighter to middleweight grime, such as this fairly ingrained mix of wet lane and dusty trail are more realistic propositions. Admittedly, they’re not showroom fresh, but the pair were more befitting of a social ride within three minutes. It’s also worth mentioning that the wipes will dry out faster and become slightly less effective when the mercury’s reached the mid-20s.
Comfort 3.25/5
Arguably, these aren’t intended to be used for extended periods, especially in bare hands. That out of the way, I’ve gone sans gloves for 30 minutes or so without any dryness, or similar discomfort. I’ve also used them to wipe oily hands following strip downs and servicing. However, I’d still suggest those with sensitive skin minimise their exposure.
Durability/Care 3.25/5
On the one hand, these are single use, but as I’ve discussed earlier, used carefully, they can go surprisingly far. In common with other wipes, its imperative you keep the lid sealed tight and store in a cool, dry place. No issues with premature drying-the remainder are still very moist several months down the line.
Value 3.25/5
£38 for 110 wipes isn’t cheap and being single use, can feel a little wasteful, if you’re not using the sparingly. That said, it’s not outlandish compared with similar products. Kent Products Cleaning Wipes are £25.99 for 70 and are claimed to be “The perfect solution to clean hands, shoes and tools”. By contrast, an 80-sheet tub of decorator’s wipes are around £15, but are less versatile-fine for cleaning grotty drivetrains, removing grease from threads, wiping oily hands, tooling and work surfaces but not what you’d want near a carbon frameset, matt finishes etc.
Summary
While undeniably pricey, the Silca Gear Wipes are versatile, do exactly what they promise in the blurb and to a decent standard. Sudsy buckets, brushes and degreasers should be your defaults for proper cleaning duty. I’d still be cautious around matt finishes and prolonged use can also dry the skin. Used selectively- cleaning a chain, saddle, bar tape on an otherwise presentable bike (not to mention wiping hands and tooling down), they’ll make worthy workshop and when packed correctly, additions to the wedge pack.
Verdict: 3.25/5 Pricey but very convenient wipes for localised sprucing and general workshop duties.
Michael Stening
PUBLISHED MAY 2025
