flanso 

I have used split foam pipe insulation to protect my bike. It is easy to put on and take off; probably easier than all of that painter's tape.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt...7812/204760801

Polaris OBark

I also suggested that, and someone pointed out it might be part of a free service/adjustment that is included with the original purchase.

DiabloScott

I think the shop would not be insulted that you're protective of your bike's finish - but they don't know you; the bike might be stolen or damaged already and you're covering something up. So hopefully YOU won't be insulted when they take a lot of before and after photos and run the serial number through the police and check your social media profile for criminal activity and fraud before they accept your service request.

donhaller 

Well since I bought the Bike from them less than a month ago, and it was very expensive, and something that is not purchased lightly, and has a year of free tweaks, They won't think I stole it or am hiding something.

donhaller 

To put everyone at ease! I removed the tape and will hope my new Madone and its beautiful finish stays unmarred!!
So many interesting assumptions here.

boneshaker78

That makes sense. I just went through something similar where I was forced to take the bike in due to warranty work. I was a nervous wreck.

bboy314

Seems like other people’s assumptions were exactly what you were asking for here

donhaller 

And... how exactly does that make sense?

Some assumptions:
I'm anal about my bikes
I'm probably gonna be rude
I don't know how to wrench my own bike
I could be hiding something about my bike
etc. etc.
Next time I will provide a complete background on my complete psychological profile and skills of working on my own bikes!

base2 

You mean to tell me that the finish on your bike is so delicate that it must be protected from coming into contact with my grubby monkey hands? Get over it. Buy your self a bike with a quality durable finish. If you think it's too delicate for me, it's too delicate for me.

I'd tell you to get lost and find a mechanic you think is qualified to touch your baby. I wouldn't want the hassle of a customer motivated to find a problem, any problem no matter how small, even if self invented.

Wrap your live human children in bubble wrap, much?

What about the potential damage from removing the tape? The tape will lift paint chips right off. So what then? You're stuck with evidence of bad handling led on by a false sense of security by shop personnel. But, no evidence of where/when it occured. And the shop is stuck with a nit-picky problem customer with nothing but accusations.

The tape says a lot about you. Are you ok with what it says?

donhaller 

Wow! Cool reply. Thanks, I'd really not want you to work on my bike. If you don't appreciate my desire to keep hard earned things to be cared for.
I waited since 2006 to be able to buy a new bike. I saved and pondered over what I wanted and I'm just asking if it would be insulting. OK, I get the point, but the tape doesn't say a thing about me! Other than I care about the finish staying nice for a while.

Bald Paul

That would be my first thought.
Working in auto dealerships, you would be surprised at the number of "ever since you" complaints you get. Things like "ever since you put air in my tires my transmission slips".

choddo

I guess that answers the question then

fwiw I think my 2019 Madone was scratched by my LBS when they had it for a couple of weeks. Luckily the damage buffed out almost completely and it’s suffered plenty of chips and a £600 carbon repair was needed (below) on a chain stay that had an uncomfortable interaction with the rear mech, since then so I am well over it.

Leisesturm

Your continued defensiveness only confirms the majority collective opinion that you have some control issues. Spit happens. That is why there is touch-up paint. Hundreds of cyclists with bikes every bit as nice as yours surrender them to the LBS for service and get them back without incident. Why are you looking for trouble?

I think it would be a much better strategy to take the bike in and while handing it over make some comment about the unblemished paint job and how much it pleases you that you got such a perfect specimen from their shop. They'd probably fire the mechanic who caused you to have to find a blemish after confirmation before the fact that the bike was indeed pristine. The way you had planed on would have screamed 'major asshat on the premises' and, depending on how petty a human being you got to do the work, maybe even a grudge gouge, guaranteed to go unnoticed for a good long time.

blacknbluebikes 

It's really a good color of tape. I'd leave it on after the repairs. Unless you have RED tape...

cpach

I wouldn’t care. I like picky customers who are sane—I can meet high standards and picky customers can give me an opportunity to impress—I just need to be really clear with my communication!

Life’s too short to worry if the local wrench thinks you’re slightly neurotic. Treat them like a professional, communicate clearly, and everything’s gravy.

shelbyfv

IMO, this has been a useful thread for OP. He was concerned that his tape might cause offense and asked for opinions. From the responses he learned the shop might draw additional negative conclusions. OP took it to heart and abandoned the idea. You could even say this is a model BF thread.

base2 

At the very least it says you value your bike more than my skills. It also illustrates a distrust when I have no rational motivation to harm and a great negative consequence to myself or my business should I act in a non-ethical manner. It also says you are insecure and irrational in this particular matter. Not qualities I look for in a customer.

Yes. You got a bike you've been saving for for going on 20 years. It's important to you. So important to you and so irreplaceable that I wouldn't want to take the risk work on it. Business insurance to wouldn't want to take a claim. Small claims is too much hassle. The result is I'd have to eat the cost of everything & still have an unhappy, unsatisfiable customer with probably a very loud mouth and a Yelp account.

3alarmer 

Troul 

if i were the shop taking on the service(s) ... I'd have to have the owner go over the bicycle with me & point out existing flaws...

smd4

I think it says a great deal, much of which has been pointed out.

I suspect many of our current mechanic friends here have never seen such treatment on a bike presented for service. Certainly, I never saw anything like it in 10 years of wrenching. The responses you're getting are based on the seemingly irrational fear of damage that you seem to have, and the (to me) inane solution you've come up with.

If you feel strongly about it, why not remove the tape, bring the bike into the shop "naked," discuss the issue with your mechanic and ask if you could tape it up in front of them?

Alan K

I’m assuming you have a car, so how far from others do you park your new car and for how long, weeks, moths or years; do you go around it to check every spot of the exterior before getting into it? 😉

Alan K

The above post was meant for the original poster.

Rick_D

I'd tell them you're midway through experimenting with making the frame match the bar tape.

CrimsonEclipse

The masking tape matches the bar tape, so I'm ok with it.

choddo

You don’t?