Commuting - Can you avoid the "chain tattoo?"

Anybody found a good way to avoid chain tattoos? Like, better lubes, or special cleaning tips?

what is a chain tatooo never had one please enlighten me

I clean my chain every couple of weeks and use lube SPARINGLY. Also, when I wear long pants I either roll up the leg or use a reflective cuff to tighten up the ankle. That's all I got! :)

Anybody found a good way to avoid chain tattoos? Like, better lubes, or special cleaning tips?

Practice keeping your right leg on the pedal when stopping. Just put your left leg down. After a while it becomes automatic. If you have to walk your bike dismount first to the left side with no chain. That's what most riders do.
In the mean time wear black pants. Don't pick a lube by how it shows on your leg, they all will.

I dismount left and I still get chain tattoos. They probably won't be so excessive once I replace my chain and start over with lube. The easiest thing is to just roll up my right pants leg, and then cover my "tattoo" once I get to where I'm going. I tend to move around a lot while on the bike, or is it, I move the bike under me?... either way, there's no chance in heck I can ride without touching the chain.

I guess a chain gaurd is the only sure fire way.

Chain guard.
But whats the big deal anyways?
Craig

I purchased a dog collar at a dollar store that will go around my ankle and pant leg keeping it away from the chain ring. It has a quick release buckle just like my helmet. Very effective at keeping your pant leg clean and it was cheap.

I use dry lube and clean my chain each weekend. No issues for me.

I got 'em on my right leg and all my old t-shirts which I ride in. The shirts usually get tattoo'ed while I'm lifting the bike up onto the garage wall hooks or while flipping it over to mess with the chain or wheel. It's sort of my trademark now.

Maybe I should market a line of clothing with the tattoo mark already applied. :D I can sell non-permanent tattoo kits to put the chain logo anywhere you want. I'll even sell colors other than black (for a premium).

Most times just a rubber band around the angle to keep pnats cuff tight works. Otherwise I have taken a soccer shin guard and rotated it inward.

It's a sign of a Real Serious Cylist. Wear it with pride.

One word (or two): Chainguard.

I thought you were talking about the puncture wounds from the chainring attempting to eat the back of your leg. They'll fade after several years.

To prevent chain grease marks, I dismount left, but just put my foot down farther away from the bike. In fact, if I'm at a long light, I'll rest my left ass cheek on the top tube, and put my right foot down at least a couple of feet from the bike. I'm maxin' and relaxin' - grease free.

Partial chaincase.

Paul

My favorite pants are military issue Camo's.... they have a blousing strap in the pant leg already... Takes 10 seconds to tie it and keep the pant legs out of the chain. If I'm wearing jeans, I use one of the velcro straps I keep with the bike. If it's a chain tattoo on my leg itself I just leave it there. :p

It's a sign of a Real Serious Cylist. Wear it with pride.

Couldnt have said it better myself

shaft drive baby!! It removes the greasy mess!

I get the chain tatoo on my left leg occasionally. I can never figure out how or why. It goes nice with the large coffee spot in the middle of most of my shirts though.

crud. I'm not a serious cyclist :p

However, when I used wet lube no one was more "serious" than I.

I want a chain tattoo tattoo.

Chain tattoos are a badge of honor. Wear them with pride! :)

I use dry lube and clean my chain each weekend. No issues for me.

I use chain lube and never clean my chain. Same result but I have more time on the weekends for stuff I'd rather not be doing...like the never ending painting:eek:

I use a pant clip and I am careful how much lube I put on and wipe away the excess.

I was actually thinking about getting a real tattoo that looks like the greasy chain ring mark I get sometimes. If I had the tattoo, no one would ever notice the grease.

I use a chainguard and I also use paraffin wax to lube my chain. I'd suggest trying a dry lube. They're a little more work because you have to take the chain off to lubricate (which is easy if you have a master link) but you never have trouble with greasy-ass chains.

I use chain lube and never clean my chain. Same result but I have more time on the weekends for stuff I'd rather not be doing...like the never ending painting:eek:

Thanks for reminding me. I get to continue painting soon. ugh
Besides, cleaning my chain takes 5 minutes at most. Two rags and I am finished. One to clean with. One to hold the chain with.
It's the neverending tweaking that takes me forever

ex:
-clean chain
-remark to self "that fender looks a tad out of wack"
-spend 2 hrs tweaking it and measuring to ensure it is just perfect.
I'm too dang anal for my own good.

That and I cleaned my cassette, added reflective tape, tweaked the brakes, swapped my rack out for my old minamalist balckburn rack, and then spent several hrs trying to determine how to mount my tdl1000 differently. Eventually I concluded that I need a new mounting bracket. Only took 2 hrs. :p

The only time I ever get anything on me from the chain is if I go out at lunch wearing jeans, sometimes I get a mark on them. Other than that, never. I've never thought about it. Maybe my pedals are far out or something?

Anybody found a good way to avoid chain tattoos? Like, better lubes, or special cleaning tips?

When I switched from a triple to a double the tattoo's went away

True it's a sign of a serious cyclist, but I've been rather happy since I got a chainguard (with a replacement bike attached... lol)