Scratched Paintwork - aaaargh!!

crafty

Really enjoying my new GT XCR. Just what I wanted.

Took a ride up to Symonds Yat rock to see the Falcons and then took the direct route back down to Monmouth throught the woods. A nice fast ride back! We swapped bikes at the top and my mate went down first on my bike. When I got home, I found he'd ridden with his jacket undone and the hanging zip fastener had scratched the frame as he descended. Not such a big deal but the bike is 2 weeks old and I'm really carful about such things. Anyway. Is it possible to polish the scratches out using T-Cut or will I make it worse? The scratches aren't too deep.

Ta.

Ed

Guy Brooke

T-cut should work. I used it on my forks once, which made a difference.

Scratches are a way of life tho. They make a bike what it is, they're like battlescars, memories and polaroids to your bike. each scratch/dent/scuff/stain has a story to tell (yeah I'm weird...)

crafty

Yeah, I know what you mean.

My other GT is covered in scratches, made by me. My beef with the new bike is, I didn't scratch it but a mate did. The first battle scars should come from the owner, not his hungover buddy..

Why that should make a difference, gawd knows. Damage is damage, I guess.

Ed

Guy Brooke

yeah I can understand that. he christened your baby for you, which is always a bit .

Just lie about it and say it was you who damaged it. if you keep lieing enough eventually you'll believe it too .

dunker

i have small scratches and chips all over mine, there's some great ones on the underside of my fork arch too, battlescars!

stumpyjon

Be careful with T-cut, you can end up with bits of the frame shinier than others if you don't do the entire frame. I understand how you feel but it's either a case of cover the whole thing in copter tape or live with it.

dhutch

Its a git isnt it.
- I was gutted when lost the first paint on my bike, on its first proper trip out, on the bike rack geting there (mates shitey rack). Annoyed.

I very nearly got some 'scractch and chip' touch up apaint matched to it to fill it.

However saddly it now well past that, scraches on chain stays from rocks and when i left the disk on it on the back of my car, and all the gloss has gone off the top tube from my shorts rubbing mud against it.
- Used the be a properly shexy candy blue coat, now its matte, scratched, and looking like every months of its year old self!

Still, i love her very much. And when im bored, she does get a wipe over with the turtle 'instant shiny' junk which has enough filler in that she just about comes up shiny till in next gets wet!


Daniel

Milkie

Get the Mrs to keep an eye out for a nail varnish that's the same colour as your frame.

I did loads of little repairs when I had a purple Raleigh M-Trax, eons ago!

Drfabulous0

The first scratch or chip is always annoying, however it happens. But rest assured there will be more to follow soon and you won't be so bothered. Once it's looking tatty treat the frame to a respray and new decals.

smithy220

my kona is covered in battle scars and i touch up the stone chips with a touch up pen,but if you want your bike to stay in concourse condition you cant ride it,and where would the fun be in that

crafty

I popped up to Bitton station (in Bristol) a few days ago and locked the (still new) bike to a stand while I purchased a rather tasty sausage and egg sandwhich.
On my return, I found the very strong wind had pushed the bike over, adding to the collection of scratches. It was almost like someone was saying, 'Right, you big girl, it's done now. Will you please just enjoy the bike!'
I took the hint. Balance has been restored.

Ed