Frame - To protect, or not to protect?
Johnny Napalm
Posts: 1,458
In general, I tend to have a chainstay guard and a few patches for cable rub on my bikes. I've never used heli-tap on the downtube etc., which is more than apparent when you look at my frames.
I like the fact that bikes get their battle-scars, and I've never wrapped any of bikes in cotton wool, because as far as I'm concerned, a mtb by it's very nature is designed to get some abuse every now and then.
That said, my new frame is a steel frame, so I wondering if it would be wise to protect the downtube in this instance?
I like the fact that bikes get their battle-scars, and I've never wrapped any of bikes in cotton wool, because as far as I'm concerned, a mtb by it's very nature is designed to get some abuse every now and then.
That said, my new frame is a steel frame, so I wondering if it would be wise to protect the downtube in this instance?
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You'd be advised to get some helitape and protect it where ever you can such as areas prone to cable rub AND stone chips. Its a steel frame. It will rust unlike Aluminium.0
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Yeah, I thought as much.
Cheers, Amigo!0 -
There is a chap in the classified selling helitape, cheap as chips at the moment.0
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knackers the second hand value of the bike too should you ever fancy a change0
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Tape it is then!
Cheers, guys!0 -
Perhaps this is weird, but I don't like chainslap marks, transport marks and cable rub on a bike, it looks terrible, but rock strikes and crashes are absolutely fine. So I religiously tape up some parts and I'll even carefully polish out some marks but when they've been earned, they look good to me.Uncompromising extremist0
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Northwind wrote:Perhaps this is weird, but I don't like chainslap marks, transport marks and cable rub on a bike, it looks terrible, but rock strikes and crashes are absolutely fine. So I religiously tape up some parts and I'll even carefully polish out some marks but when they've been earned, they look good to me.I like bikes and stuff0
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With the new-build being a steel frame, I figured I ought to be a little more vigilant, with regards to the downtube!
I do know what you mean though about non-ride related damage. Battle-scars are exactly that, and my Marin is full of them, but I too hate damaging a frame/bike if it's not through riding...it just doesn't feel right.
I have, however, caused the first paint damage myself, on the new frame, when tightening the brake caliper bolts! Two areas are now visible where the paint has cracked and flaked due to my carelessness! :oops:0