Fifty Plus (50+) - Chain guards???

Looking for some help here. As I indicated in an earlier post this week, I've just recently started to commute by bike again. The first five trips in and out of work have been encouraging. However, I'm having some issues with keeping my pants free of chain crud. I'm using a leg band to keep the pants away from the chain; yet on two days I've still ended up with chain marks. I did a quick Internet search to see if I could get a chain guard to put on my Cannondale 800T. What I came up with was SKS has one that will work with a chain ring as large as 46T. I'm currently running a 50x48X24 triple. Hence, I suspect it won't work. Any thoughts about other options? (BTW, wearing cycling specific clothes won't work. I'm expected to walk through the front door already meeting the dress code - casual professional).

This one at Veolo Orange (http://www.velo-orange.com/voalpoch.html) is rated for 48 teeth, but they claim it will work with a 50.

Go in the back door.
Try to sell you company that by riding to work, it is making them more "Green"or "sustainable", two big buzz word these days. And for you to continue to make them look good, you need to use the proper gear for cycling, like specific clothing.
Is there a local "alternate transportation" organization in your parts, they may be able to help you sell it that way.

The big problem is going to be finding a guard that works with a front derailer. This Simplex does, but it only works with a Simplex Prestige FD. The Prestige probably won't handle a triple. It barely handles a double.

http://inlinethumb22.webshots.com/22549/1315654223068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/1315654223068014369LpNOlK)

My solution was to buy a new bike with a chainguard built in. Any of the European commuter bikes will have one and also provide lights, fenders, and a riding position more compatible with normal clothing. Best of all, a new bike will conform to the N+1 principle and ensure that you will always have a backup bike if your main bike is unavailablle.

Paul

Just a thought...perhaps you could take an old pair of leg warmers and cut them off at the knee...stay with me here...then use the larger portion to pull over your pants. Just pull the cut-off leg warmers up to the knee. :ride:

Metric Man, that sounds like a pretty good idea!

Mark

I was thinking a couple strips of duct tape until Metric Man's suggestion.

Perhaps you could look on a vintage miltary surplus/re-enactors' equipment site for gaiters.

This one was designed for a trike, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work on any bike

http://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/readitem.pl?Accessory=1231971527

Also have business casual code. My solution is to either pull socks over the top and pull down afterwards, or in cold weather just throw on a pair of goretex slip over pants. Has worked well for many years.

Also have business casual code. My solution is to either pull socks over the top and pull down afterwards, or in cold weather just throw on a pair of goretex slip over pants. Has worked well for many years.

That's a good point -- we are approaching the time of the year when my Gortex overpants are worn every day just to keep warm and dry. You will have until Spring to find a long-term solution.

Paul

I'm expected to walk through the front door already meeting the dress code - casual professional).

Overpants or leg warmers, as suggested...but I gotta say that I really, really, really hate these moronic company rules. To me they are a sign of a company that just plain isn't worth working for. I'm sorry you gotta tolerate that kind of BS, especially at our advanced age.

Overpants or leg warmers, as suggested...but I gotta say that I really, really, really hate these moronic company rules. To me they are a sign of a company that just plain isn't worth working for. I'm sorry you gotta tolerate that kind of BS, especially at our advanced age.

Yes, I have to agree. There's this word that gets thrown around a lot: "professional," as in "look professional." What does it mean? This is total corporate BS and one big reason why I really dislike corporate culture. Where I work (public sector accounting/auditing), they have a bike room near the loading docks, but no change room in that area, so I just take the elevator up to the 8th floor dressed in my cycling gear (but with a change of shoes, that I keep in the bike room). I then use the shower and change in the facilities we have on our floor. I think this is the absolute minimum that a company should provide. Considering what cyclists do to reduce traffic congestion and mitigate pollution - small in terms of an individual, but potentially quite large if enough people did it - companies should be bending over backwards to accommodate cycling, and motorists should be on their knees thanking us for reducing the number of cars in their way.

Luis

Human tranlation "look professional" means "we won't pay you more, so wear nicer clothes"