Protecting my frame/crossbar?

[bernieUK]

Good afternoon all

I have a nice shiny new bike with a Bob Jackson frame. I want to keep the frame protected as much as I can. It has a good strong paint finish but some muppet outside Sainsbury locked his bike at the same stand as me and chipped my frame. Of course no frame can stay perfect but is there anything I can get to help protect it - in particular the crossbar? I tried something called Bike Shield which was not much good. It was like putting thick sellotape on.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[fossyant]

Nothing much really, other than some padding, but that would look horrible on a Bob Jackson !!

 

[jimboalee]

At the first stop, on the first Audax ridden on my Dawes, some git let his bike fall and it scraped down my seat tube.
After a serious bout of cussing, I remembered it was an alu frame.

But I know what you mean, glancing down to see a scratch or chip on a new frame is soul destroying.

BTW, its not a crossbar any more. Its the 'top tube'.

 

[Baggy]

You can get padded top tube protectors, they seem very popular for fixed bikes (I know not why...)
There are some here: http://www.freshtripe.co.uk/Freshtripe/Padded Bits.html

 

[jimboalee]

Baggy, you have just reminded me why Raleigh changed the Sturmey gear lever from a ball to a 'T' bar shifter handle on the Chopper.

 

[gbb]

Hi Bernie...

I went to a local signmaking company and asked for some clear adhesive film (cant remember the technical name for it, but i showed them the clear stay protectors on the bike...and said 'gimme some of that' (...only joking.

I got about a square metre of the stuff for £2....it meant nothing to them.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I have a twin-leg propstand on my bike, and so when I lock it up, it's not actually leaning on the sheffield stand, rather just standing beside it. I guess that might help. I've never really noticed chipped paint on my bike, but then it's only a £200 Claud Butler hybrid so I'm not particularly bothered and probably wouldn't notice anyway...

 

[jimboalee]

gbb.
Its called "7 year vinyl"

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Many years ago I was in the habit of taping my crossbars with black electrical tape or bar tape. Protected them from getting chipped and stopped the over trousers I wore when it rained from wearing away the paint. being steel frames they would go rusty if they got chipped. Haven't done it for years though.

 

[gbb]

gbb.
Its called "7 year vinyl"

Why....doh....let me guess, it lasts 7 years

I have noticed, it soon shows any oil ingress at the edges...and maybe a little yellowing where the suns been on it.
Nevertheless, its been a good cheap fix.

You obviously have knowledge of it jimbo...any thoughts for or against ?

 

[Steve Austin]

google 'helicopter tape'

 

[GrahamG]

I tend not to worry about it - I don't intend to sell any of my bikes so their cosmetic condition is less of a concern.

 

[Amanda P]

Moultoneers tend to protect their frame tubes by slitting flexible plastic tubing and pushing it over them. You can just make some out in this shot:

I think there's probably a size available that'd fit a normal steel top tube. You can get it from B&Q and the like. You buy it off a roll by the metre.

 

[roops70]

I use pipe lagging from the plumbers merchant down the road and attach it using cable ties. Simple and effective - so I can now chain up the bike to concrete lamposts etc without a worry.

It also make the bike look less pinchable.

 

[jackthelad]

http://www.convertape.com/bike-frame-tape-15-c.asp