Chainstay protectors on road bikes

[simon.r]

What do people use, if anything?

My rides often involve a bit of very gentle off-road and a bit of bouncing up and down kerbs, which is enough to get the chain hitting the chainstay.

When I was MTBing I used the neoprene / velcro protectors, but they seem a bit OTT for road bikes.

Any neat solutions?

 

[Andy_R]

Helicopter tape

 

[simon.r]

Helicopter tape

Thanks. I've heard of that, but had forgotten about it. A quick Google suggests that's the answer.

 

[fossyant]

Or colour coded PVC tape. Helicopter tape is great stuff.

 

[pawl]

Or colour coded PVC tape. Helicopter tape is great stuff.

What is Helicopter tape ? Is it the same as duct tape.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

If you want to be hardcore and get admiring, knowing glances from lesser cyclists with helicopter tape or even, cough cough, custom-made protectors, then you have to use an old bicycle tube. Not just any tube, but a real used one with plenty of patches. Roll this tube along the chainstay by folding the starting point underneath the coil and go all the back to the rear drop-out where you finish it by tucking the loose end underneath. No fake solutions like cable ties or tape. Just pure, unadulterated tube, front to back.

 

[Diggs]

I bought a this, it's a bit chunkier than helicopter tape and a bit more rubbery.
Tricky to keep clean on a white chainstay though
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-frame-protector-set/

 

[Tim Hall]

What is Helicopter tape ? Is it the same as duct tape.

No. Helicopter tape is clear/translucent and designed for protecting the leading edge of helicopter rotors. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side and a dark side and holds the universe together.

 

[pawl]

No. Helicopter tape is clear/translucent and designed for protecting the leading edge of helicopter rotors. Duct tape is like the force. It has a light side and a dark side and holds the universe together.

Thank for that Tim.Is it available in D.I Y stores.

 

[Spiderweb]

Try these, nowhere near as thick as Helicopter tape but they are pre cut, look neat and do the job. Use the smaller ones to prevent cable rub.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=180695815346&globalID=EBAY-GB

 

[Dogtrousers]

Thank for that Tim.Is it available in D.I Y stores.

No. As far as I know its a bike specific product that you get only from bike stuff sellers.

 

[guitarpete247]

I think helicopter tape is best warmed up before applying. I tried without and it quickly came off as wouldn't hold shape but tried to go flat again.

 

[Andy_R]

No. As far as I know its a bike specific product that you get only from bike stuff sellers.

No it's not...it's readily available on 't interweb..it was originally designed to prevent wind erosion on helicopter blades on big "out to sea" twin rotor jobbies that do thousands of hours in the air, but 3M discovered that a whole subset of people wanted to use it to protect cars from scratches around wheel wells, cyclists protecting bike frames, boat owners wanting to reduce mooring markings...I use it to make stencils when electro etching hand made knife blades and axe heads...the list goes on....

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If you want to be hardcore and get admiring, knowing glances from lesser cyclists with helicopter tape or even, cough cough, custom-made protectors, then you have to use an old bicycle tube. Not just any tube, but a real used one with plenty of patches. Roll this tube along the chainstay by folding the starting point underneath the coil and go all the back to the rear drop-out where you finish it by tucking the loose end underneath. No fake solutions like cable ties or tape. Just pure, unadulterated tube, front to back.

I know somebody that wrapped the whole frame like that, to protect it from damage and so nobody would see it was an expensive make for stealing

 

[Dogtrousers]

No it's not...it's readily available on 't interweb......

I stand corrected

Yet again