eyeclan

My last bike had a few scuffs and a moderate nick on the chainstays, likely from those pieces of road grit I hear clink against the frame. I actually wrapped the stays and the downtube with some duct tape (i know, hideous, but I'm paranoid). I was wondering if anyone else does this or used something else to protect their stays, because my new bike came in and I'm debating whether to ruin its looks with tape.

caloso

It might be a little paranoid, but hey, it couldn't hurt. But if you're going to wrap your stays with tape, why not make it reflective?

JoelS

I have black electrical tape on the right chainstay of one of my bikes.

xtrajack

I have duct tape on my main tubes, seatpost and right side chainstay. I put the duct tape there to cover the manufacturers name and logos, both for theft deterrence and I am not being paid to be an advertisement.

tagaproject6

Nothing wrong with duct tape. Chainstay protectors are also being sold in sets that also include tape to protect your headtube from scuff marks made by your shift and brake cables.

adam_mac84

i would X2 reflective tape... but you can also use an old innertube and zip ties if you want to recycle

slims_s

I use an old tube and some zips in my right chainstay, to protect it from chain slap

coldfeet

Some ideas,

1. Magic tape, or Rescue tape. It's a special rubber tape that bonds to itself, but doesn't have glue, so it comes off clean.

2. Clear chip protector, 3M makes the best, usually used for car hoods. You might score some offcuts at a tinting / striping place.

3. The aforementioned sets, sometimes in fake carbon fiber, or reflective tape.

mvnsnd

I've used the heavy clear packaging tape to do this. If put on right, you don't really even see it. I suppose if you could get a large size sheet of screen protector stuff, you could use that.

--
Jeff

bengreen79

Wouldn't duct tape leave a sticky mess if you decide you wanted it off?

Bikewer

The old standard was a piece of inner tube and some rubber cement. Rubber cement just rubs off when you want to clean the bike up for re-sale or whatever.

Velo Dog

You can buy chain stay protectors from many sources. Last time I looked they were 10 bucks or so. I don't use them (all my bikes but one are steel, so there's not much danger of damage). Duct tape works fine, or a wrap of bar tape, or a few layers of clear plastic shipping tape.
This is a good thing to buy from a bike shop, BTW. They're cheap, so you don't pay a lot extra, you save $7 shipping on a $12 item and you establish yourself as a customer, so when you go in on Saturday morning and need something before a ride, they're likely to oblige.

Loose Chain

I use a clear 3M tape that stays on well and removes with no residue. I install it at critical wear/rub locations.