Frame Protection?
Author
Discussion

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Afternoon all,

With my new lovely spangly bike, I'm aware that the cables at the front, and the chain at the back, can cause a bit of rubbage and hence a bit of damage.

I've looked at, for example, evans cycles and all the frame protections stuff seems to be carbon fibre or plastic type things that clip on. What I really think I want is something clear (that can't be seen) that sticks round - almost a sticky back plastic! Is there such a thing? I'm almost half tempted to buy 3M White Vinyl wrap at £8 per metre and just cut my own bits out - would that protect appropriately, do you think?!

Thanks
Tony

Uriel

3,244 posts

280 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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Search ebay for helicopter tape. Not that cheap for what you get, but it works.

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Brilliant, that looks like the stuff I'm after - thanks very much!

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
The only two places I acn think of is the chain stay (think that's the correct term - underneath the chain?) and the front fork where the cables rub across as you turn. Is there any other place it would be needed (just a road bike)?

CoolC

4,495 posts

243 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Some people put it on their crank arms to stop wear marks. You could also put some on the underside of the downtube to help prevent damage from stones flicked up by the front wheel. Do you use a car rack or storage hook at all?

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
No I don't use a rack of any sort - the two gear cables run either side of the top bar of the frame on the underside (if that makes sense) so I don't want to hang it on those at all.

Gooby

9,269 posts

263 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Careful with application - really clean the bike and be aware of point where the tape can lift and let crud in underneath.

CoolC

4,495 posts

243 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
I seem to remember reading somewhere that rounding the corners helps prevent lifting. But as already said make sure it is spotlessly clean before aplication.

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Thanks chaps - I'm a bike, well ANYTHING, cleaning freak, so it shall be clean biggrin

Digga

48,065 posts

312 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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FWIW, if a late to the thread: http://www.biketart.com/products/biketape

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
I'd found that exactly one actually - thanks! Have messaged a mate of mine who might have some at work, otherwise I'll get some of that! smile

Matt106

383 posts

193 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Digga said:
FWIW, if a late to the thread: http://www.biketart.com/products/biketape
That's exactly what I use, it's great stuff! I only purchased the smallest amount and it's already done 3 bikes and I have loads left.

As mentioned above take your time applying it and apply a bit of heat from a hair dryer if your working on difficult corners.

Digga

48,065 posts

312 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Used some on the Nicolai mtb and it's very good. Stays nice and glossy and seems pretty 'ding' resistant.

Easy to apply, so long as you follow the instructions. (Try to take shortcuts and you'll waste a few sticky hours swearing. As I discovered.)

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

238 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Standing next to the bike, pull the brakes on one at a time and turn the bars as far as you can in both directions. If the cable is flexing under tension of the brakes being pulled then it will be obvious where you need to apply tape. Also note the full cable length to the back brake, you normally get cable flex near the seat tube and rub depending on how the back brake cable is routed.

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
quotequote all
Annoyingly, on my only 200 mile old bike, I can see exactly where it rubs on the front (surprising how much so!) - but good point about the other bits too!

.Adam.

1,867 posts

292 months

Thursday 2nd June 2011
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I use the Bike tart stuff as well, very good, their frame wrap is also very good for the chainstays, although I guess that might be overkill on a road bike!

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Thanks Adam - yeah that does seem a bit OTT for a road bike. It's just to stop the wear over the few little bits that might get a bit messy as time goes on. Hopefully no massive stones or tree trunks in my way! biggrin

Long Drax

744 posts

199 months

Friday 3rd June 2011
quotequote all
Hi Tony,

I got a new bike 3 weeks back and bought a metre of the 3m
helicopter tape off eBay to protect the bits that'll get rubbed.

Some earlier posters had a few tips on using it, so I'll add mine:

I used 99% isopropyl alcohol to clean the areas before application.

The tape is pretty thick, and tough, so I needed to use a strong
pair of scissors to cut it and round-off the corners.

I softened-up the tape with the heat from the palm of my hand before
applying it, to help ease it around the curves.

As well as putting it on the vulnerable parts of the frame I also
put a strip of it on the outside edge of each pedal - for those
comedy moments when I forget my feet are still attached to the
bike as we come to a halt.

TonyHetherington

Original Poster:

32,091 posts

279 months

Saturday 4th June 2011
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Very useful - thanks! (good idea about the pedals actually too)