Scratched Bike

Soni

Hi Guys, some of you may recall i purchased a Trek 1.5 2009 model 3-4 weeks ago.

I've joined a cycling club and i ride between 50-60 miles on a Sunday and 10 miles every morning before work.

However, whilst transporting my bike to the club run yesterday i sratched the chain stay on the cycle carrier, will be definetely using some pipe lagging on it in the future.

I'm now left with a small fingernail shape/size gauge in the Chain Stay and its taken the paint right back to the aluminium.

I'm not going to be able to get a good match from an Auto shop due to the colour, however i've just been looking at a website that does resprays (not that i'm going to get one done just for that one small scratch) but was wondering are they any good? And am i reading correct that it would be about £75.00??

http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/resprays_pl.htm

cougie

Bikes do get knocks - it gives it a lived in look. A decent respray would be about that - but no need for that so early in the bikes life.

ugo.santalucia

it's a bike, not a Picasso.
compulsive-obsessive disorder?

Soni

ugo.santalucia wrote:

it's a bike, not a Picasso.
compulsive-obsessive disorder?

- I know bikes are going to get scratches, but I want to try and maintain its look for as long as possible.

This bike cost me £675.00, which to many, is a cheap bike, but for me, i wouldn't be able to buy another bike of this value within the next 10 years....... :evil:, so therefore want to look after it for as long as possible.

alfablue

Soni

You may be interested in BikeTape from the fabulously named BikeTart. It is clear plastic film (like helicopter tape) that you can put on vulnerable parts of your bike (like chain stays, where cables may rub etc). I have put a lot on my new Planet X pro carbon, as I feel quite precious about it! It is almost invisible once it's on. It is cheap and Biketart delivered next day.

Don't get a respray, I don't think you would be happy with it, just use some touch-up paint. For very thin scratches apply it with a sharpened matchstick rather than a brush - much more control, less noticeable results.

Lagavulin

I've touched up chips on my Allez with Humbrol enamel paint and gone over it with clear nail narnish.

I'm not certain if it was here - this is the main cycling forum I visit - but there was someone who admitted to deliberately scratching their new bike on or shortly after purchasing it so as to avoid all that nasty worry of detecting that first chip, graze or scratch.

Chips and the odd scratch I can live with, it's mashing the rear mech hangar against a Mercedes Citaro bus I live in fear off. I don't think the Izoard's rear hangar is replaceable and, providing I live to tell the tale, I WILL cry if that happens.

ugo.santalucia

My father used to never remove the plastic wrapping from a new car's seats. In summer it was horrible and sticky, but the seats used to stay immaculate for years.