Protect paint on crankarms

timberlete

What do you consider the best way to protect the paint/decals on the crankarms from getting scuffed?
Thanks -

cougie

You could put some helicopter tape or make sure your cleats are set far enough away to avoid rub.

kesa

I use pedal extenders. Works great.

timberlete

cougie wrote:

You could put some helicopter tape or make sure your cleats are set far enough away to avoid rub.

Thanks! My plan at this point is to use clear nail polish then apply Helicopter tape on top.

CitizenLee

Clear nail polish will look a bit sh*t to be honest. It's a liquid so won't dry uniformly thick. Fine for a small surface area like a fingernail but not on crank arms. Would look worse through tape too. Clear spray laquer would provide a nicer finish.

Really though, just go with helicopter tape or see if Slik or InvisiFrame make decals/wraps for you model cranks...

https://www.slikgraphics.com/collection ... ive-decals
https://www.invisiframe.co.uk (They list them by brand, see the menu)

You get boots for the crank ends too...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... prod117550
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobi ... -prod40502

Or throw caution to the wind and embrace wear and tear

slc123

I picked up some crank skins for my SRAM X9 - https://crankskins.myshopify.com/

I bought them to mask some scratched second hand cranks I bought. Definitely given them a better finish but would work for protecting new ones.

timberlete

Thanks for the suggestion - I had not considered the sideways approach.

keef66

I'm in the embrace wear and tear camp. Hate a bike that looks like it's not ridden. Clean, lubed and mechanically perfect, yes, but it needs to look like it's got a few thousand miles on it.

Are you a perennial crank finish destroyer, or are you just a neat-freak?

slc123

keef66 wrote:

I'm in the embrace wear and tear camp. Hate a bike that looks like it's not ridden. Clean, lubed and mechanically perfect, yes, but it needs to look like it's got a few thousand miles on it.

Are you a perennial crank finish destroyer, or are you just a neat-freak?

I tend to agree, but if you like selling things, then people are keen on buying shiny things!

keef66

slc123 wrote:

keef66 wrote:

I'm in the embrace wear and tear camp. Hate a bike that looks like it's not ridden. Clean, lubed and mechanically perfect, yes, but it needs to look like it's got a few thousand miles on it.

Are you a perennial crank finish destroyer, or are you just a neat-freak?

I tend to agree, but if you like selling things, then people are keen on buying shiny things!

True, but I never buy anything intending to sell it on. Generally my stuff is clapped out and heading for the recycling skip by the time I'm done with it.

slc123

keef66 wrote:

slc123 wrote:

keef66 wrote:

I'm in the embrace wear and tear camp. Hate a bike that looks like it's not ridden. Clean, lubed and mechanically perfect, yes, but it needs to look like it's got a few thousand miles on it.

Are you a perennial crank finish destroyer, or are you just a neat-freak?

I tend to agree, but if you like selling things, then people are keen on buying shiny things!

True, but I never buy anything intending to sell it on. Generally my stuff is clapped out and heading for the recycling skip by the time I'm done with it.

My policy too... Ride it until it breaks, but some people manage to keep their 3 year old bikes clean and looking like new... No bloody idea how!?

fixedgeartester

It’s not hard, just get your cleats set up properly and you won’t get crank rub. You will never see a Pro’s bike with crank rub and they do tons more miles than we do! The reason is they are set up properly. There’s absolutely no excuse and it’s not difficult.

CitizenLee

Some of us ride flats though, on and off road

slc123

CitizenLee wrote:

Some of us ride flats though, on and off road

Yup...