First 'Clipless moment' :(

[Ant]

So after less than a week of riding clipless, and thinking I'd pretty much got the hang of it easily enough, an unexplained anomaly in Earth's gravitational field causes the bike to suddenly decide to fall to the right when I'd unclipped and leaned left

Result, one scratched 'Campagnolo Veloce Black' brake leaver

Anyone know if there's a way to get the scratch out?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Sympathies Ant. We have all done it. Is the scratch in a metal or plastic bit?

 

[Ant]

Thanks. It's the metal lever itself.

I've gone over it with a damp cloth and it doesn't look too bad, but I've only had the bike a week and it's scratched already

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Given the black finish, I would just accept the scratch as a "war wound". You are going to get many more scratches before too long. If you really can't live with it, try covering it with a matt black enamel.

 

[Ant]

Yeah, I figured it wouldn't stay pristine forever, but I thought I'd get further than a week. oh well.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Radius]

You could try a black Sharpie (permanent marker) or something, might hide it a bit. When I came off two weeks ago the silver finish got scraped off the front of BOTH my Tiagra levers . Ah well, I'm pleased that the frame didn't get much damage (one small paint / stone chip).

 

[Ant]

Might be an idea, thanks. I was initially thinking something like t-cut, but it's probably a little harsh.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Aaaaaargh.......do not use t-cut. It will cut back to bare metal and look terrible.

 

[fossyant]

Scratches are scratches - touch it up if you feel a need with a bit of paint, but be careful, it's easy to make it look worse.

Anyway they give the bike character...

Clipless moments...yeh still happens to us all - I had two last year, one caused more scratches in some rather nice 'antique' Campag Record Carbon clipless Looks...bugger..

 

[ianrauk]

I haven't (yet)... (touches wood, grabs rabbit foot and throws salt over shoulder).... had a couple of nearly's though.

Sympathies Ant. We have all done it.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I haven't... (touches wood, grabs rabbit foot and throws salt over shoulder).... had a couple of 'nearly's though.

Patience dear boy, patience

 

[HJ]

Don't worry it happens to us all (in the end ...

 

[sw3008]

Happened to me a couple of weeks ago - new bike, new shoes, one dozy dog walker & the sound of me hitting the floor.

I also scratched the down tube falling when trying to be clever going through a gate.

All part of the fun I've been told. Wouldn't go back to "normal" shoes though.

 

[Goffins]

The only problem I've had is of my own doing; my cleats were not a match for my shoes so are connected by a single bolt.

I obviously didn't tighten one enough as instead of disengaging, the cleat stayed put while my favoured standing leg turned aimlessly, luckily the Bush outside my office entrance offered a little cushion as I went crashing over.

Luckily nobody saw.

 

[killiekosmos]

I had a similar gravitational encounter. Unclip left foot, lean right. It took me a little while to realise that I ise my left foor to pedal and my right for standing, so I need to unclip right foot, not left.

At least I entertained a number of passers-by as I fell in slow motion.