Mountain Biking - Chain stay protection?

Most of you who have seen my posts know that I'm relatively new MTB and have just finished my new bike recently. This question is about chain stay protection.

I noticed a lot of nice little dings all over my chain stay from riding so hard and went to my LBS for advice...they dude who helps me the most came out with this stuff called "Stay Wrap" which looks kinda like an old black telephone cord all coiled up...So I taped one end of it up and started coiling it around till I got to the end of my chain stay and then taped that end up...Now it looks like I pushed the "Batmobile armor" button...its pretty beefy...anyone familiar with this thing? Anyone have experience with something they think is really good?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/MaxBrokeAway/DSCF0032-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/MaxBrokeAway/DSCF0033-1.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a252/MaxBrokeAway/DSCF0031-1.jpg

I googled it. Looks like a large version of Spiral wire wrap (http://www.action-electronics.com/spiralwrap.htm) http://www.action-electronics.com/grc/jtsw.jpg

yea kinda like that...except the stuff i got was designed for bikes

there's another product called a Lizard Skin - does the same thing but doesn't look like the Batmobile armour. Or, there's the cheap-o protector called "electrical tape"

I've actually heard of some people getting some silicon adhesive sealant from Homedepot for $2/tube. Just trowl on a thick even coat around the chainstay to cover it. It dries clear and takes a pretty good beating. If it gets ruined, you can peel it off without hurting the paintjob, and put on a new coat. You can replace it frequently without costing alot.

yea im not crazy about the way it looks...but its better than hearing "clink clink clink" and having it look like grimlins were knawing on it.

Some people will use old tubes too. I personally have a "Lizard Skin" one that velcros into place. I also have another Lizard Skin one that is a carbon fiber sticker on my hard tail. But what ever. I see it as just a temp. thing anyway and not really a part of the bike. They'll eventually get ruined and you'll need to get a new one.

old tubes work really well nice and thick, just cut off the valve and your good to go.

I also use the Lizard Skin...I like it because it gets rid of the loud "Clink Clink!" when you hit big bumps.

Doesn't look bad to me.

I just use an old tube.

I use a lizard skin and I still get the clink clink... maybe i need to put the velcro part on top.. I like the stuff in the original poster's pics it looks cool to me.

old tubes work really well nice and thick, just cut off the valve and your good to go.

+1, fasten with plastic tie locks.

Most of you who have seen my posts know that I'm relatively new MTB and have just finished my new bike recently. This question is about chain stay protection.

I noticed a lot of nice little dings all over my chain stay from riding so hard and went to my LBS for advice...they dude who helps me the most came out with this stuff called "Stay Wrap" which looks kinda like an old black telephone cord all coiled up...So I taped one end of it up and started coiling it around till I got to the end of my chain stay and then taped that end up...Now it looks like I pushed the "Batmobile armor" button...its pretty beefy...anyone familiar with this thing? Anyone have experience with something they think is really good?

Yeah, I have a lizard skin on, but I never get anymore "clankity-clank-clank" from my chain anymore.....could be from the elevated rear swingarm, though:p

Nice wrap, though MAX
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Heckler/052907069.jpg

^^Lets see the whole bike.:D

I have the lizard Skins, but I've also used tubes and roadie bar tape with success.

+1, fasten with plastic tie locks.
forgot to mention how to fasten them

I use a lizard skin; works great.

I like the methods that get rid of the 'clink-clink-clink' of my money crossing some merchant's counter.

I use an old tire. I don't think it will ever wear out and no amount of force can hurt the frame (or make any noise for that matter). It looks a little bulky, but it won't budge and I never have to worry about it. Just ziptie it.

OK; here's the tip of the week on DIY chainstay protection; it's never failed me. Go to a hardware or home improvment store and find the 2" wide rolls of the grey, heavily textured rubber strips they put on sidewalks to prevent slipping. This is really heavy-duty stuff and has major-strength waterproof adhesive on the bottom. Buy a foot of it for a dollar or so. Cut each of the four corners off in a rounded shape. Cut the 2" strip narrower if you want to. Clean the chainstay well to remove any grease, oil or wax. Take the backing off the strip to expose the adhesive and press into place on your stay (you might have to temporarily tape or tie it around the stay until the adhesive really 'takes'). These last me at least several years of hard use, they take a beating, look stock, and can be submerged without coming off. Let me know how they work for you if you try it! ; )

That stuff is heavy. Electrical tape is cheap & light & easy to replace. Lizard skins look cool.

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Nice signature. That deserves a place on the FAQ's.

That stuff is heavy. Electrical tape is cheap & light & easy to replace. Lizard skins look cool.

Heavy? (The stuff I'm talking about is so light you wouldn't know it was in your hand, if you didn't know it was in your hand.) Cheap? (OK; a piece to make two stay covers probably does cost a dollar.) Easy to replace? (The nice thing is it only needs to be replaced every two years or so.) Maybe we're thinking of different stuff. :)

Yup; lizard skins look cool and work well (I run those, too). :D

I use a Lizard Skin protector, though it doesn't fit perfectly on my shaped chainstay.
Colorado Cyclist used to sell a roll of what was essentially thick transparent tape, which you could cut to shape and use as frame protection. It withstands damage pretty well and adheres great while still coming off easy when it needs to be replaced. I love the stuff, especially since you can cut it to size and use it anywhere on the bike (in spots where the cable would otherwise rub off the paint, for instance). Plus, it's practically invisible, so it keeps the bike looking very nice.

Unfortunately, CC doesn't seem to list it on their web site anymore. Though you might be able to find something similar at your local home improvement store.

Nice signature. That deserves a place on the FAQ's.

Ha, there are more, but the little signature box cuts it off so I removed 'em.

Sadly, I am not joking, I have done all those things, some more than once.

^^Lets see the whole bike.:D

Sorry for the bad pic and road tires:D
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Heckler/052907076.jpg

I used tennis racquet grip (the tape-like kind) with great results. It's not very fancy, but it geats the job done on my beater bike.

if you don't want to buy chain stay protector (like me) I used some old tubes and wrap it around with some black tape in the ends. Its nice and cheap! A little heavy so you might consider getting ultra light tubes