Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Homemade top tube protector- opinions?

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
Dr.PooLittle
07-24-08, 06:33 PM
Hey,
I got a nasty dent (doesn't look compromising, but it's ugly) in my top tube. I was looking at top tube protectors online, and found this at velo orange:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/TT_Protector___View_of_Bike_Front.jpg
So, being cheap and impatient, I thought I'd make something similar myself. I wrapped the dented area in multiple layers of duct tape to add padding and seal moisture out from the cracked paint. Then I sewed a chunk of old wallet over it. Here's a side view:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/IM000076.jpg
A front view:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/IM000077.jpg
And a close up of a bottom view with my crappy stitching:
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/RancorKeeper/IM000075.jpg
Overall, I'm pretty happy with it, though the stitched part is a little more uneven than I would've liked. What do y'all think?

Gyeswho
07-24-08, 07:09 PM
that's great!
Jabba Degrassi
07-24-08, 07:17 PM
Looks bad-ass. If the stitching bothers you, why not just turn it so it's facing down? Out of sight, out of mind...

matt wisconsin
07-24-08, 07:21 PM
that close up is some ed gein looking ****.
but good job.
steppinthefunk
07-24-08, 07:26 PM
Good job...
I was thinking maybe you could have used a cheap leather belt as well. Maybe a perforated womens belt. That way you could just cut it to length and lace it up with some shoelace.
http://images.proboardshop.com/686-perf-skt-t-belt-brn-l-prod.jpg
MPLSdunk
07-24-08, 10:12 PM
i just wrapped mine in electrical tape. people kept knocking it over while it was locked and i had enough of my paint getting messed up.
DanielCoffey
07-25-08, 12:29 AM
I'm sorry your Surly got dinged, but I think you've done a great job there.

I was thinking of doing something similar with my new frame when it arrives - perhaps with something like the Brooks leather bar tape.
Dr.PooLittle
07-25-08, 09:29 AM
Thanx everybody, guess I'll feel a little better about my dent now. . . but just a little.
jpdesjar
07-25-08, 12:29 PM
how did it get dented in the 1st place?
Dr.PooLittle
07-26-08, 05:40 PM
Just fell against a wall at work, and there was this brick part that jutted out. . . nothing action-packed. But the dent did happen to be right at the proper spot for a ttp. . .