Black groupsets

Essex Man
Essex Man Posts: 283
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
Those with black groupsets fitted to their bikes (e.g. black 105), how do you find that this stands up over time to scratches and scuff marks, especially round the crank arms and chainrings?

Looks great to begin with, but I don't want the bike to look scruffy after a couple of years. Not that looks are that important to me of course!

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Deore LX was available with a black option some years ago and there were pictures of cranks with shoerub marks but this was before helicopter tape and such like.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    Chainrings look ok with normal wear but a scrape shows up. Chainsets get show scrapes and show rubs more than on polished alloy due to the obvious contrast of shiny metal against black paint or anodisation.

    Carbon black stuff doesn't have the contrast issue.
  • Essex Man
    Essex Man Posts: 283
    Thanks for the replies. Does helicopter tape look OK once applied? Never heard of it until I googled...
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    When done correctly it will be hard to see though in the right light you'll still see it. Pretty sure there will be a video on youtube on the subject.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    Essex Man wrote:
    Thanks for the replies. Does helicopter tape look OK once applied? Never heard of it until I googled...

    A bicycle is a vehicle, it'll get scratches. Just cover the chainstay and points where the outers rub against the frame. Unless you wrap the entire bike and components in bubble wrap, you're going to get paint scratches, dents and marks on it.
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • topdude
    topdude Posts: 1,557
    Looks great to being with, but I don't want the bike to look scruffy after a couple of years

    You have got to be joking :? It's a bike, you ride it, the roads are a dangerous place, it will get chipped / scratched / scraped.

    I am very careful how i treat my bikes but after a couple of years they will have battle scars and signs of wear and tear :(
    He is not the messiah, he is a very naughty boy !!
  • father_jack
    father_jack Posts: 3,509
    yeah what's with this "treat my bike with soft gloves" bet use it for a couple of days then pack it in a duck feather packed crate.. :roll:
    Say... That's a nice bike..
    Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)
  • UPGRAYEDD
    UPGRAYEDD Posts: 117
    Father Jack wrote:
    yeah what's with this "treat my bike with soft gloves" bet use it for a couple of days then pack it in a duck feather packed crate.. :roll:

    Oh - you mean to say I'm actually supposed to ride it???

    Not just hang it on my wall???
    "A gentleman who goes by the name Upgrayedd. Which he spells thusly, with two D's, as he says, "for a double dose of this pimping."
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    What is with all the vitriol on this thread? The OP asked how black stuff wears as he suspected (correctly) that it would look shabbier quicker than polished alloy.

    Surely we like our stuff to look nice, but of course we all use it. It is nice to have something that is more durable and doesn't look knackered quickly.

    Get a titanium frame with polished alloy groupset, handbuilt wheels with stainless spokes, black bar tape, saddle, tyres and cable housing and you have a bike you can USE and it won't look knackered quickly.
  • Essex Man
    Essex Man Posts: 283
    alan sherman wrote:
    What is with all the vitriol on this thread? The OP asked how black stuff wears as he suspected (correctly) that it would look shabbier quicker than polished alloy.

    Surely we like our stuff to look nice, but of course we all use it. It is nice to have something that is more durable and doesn't look knackered quickly.

    Indeed!

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