Road Cycling - Chainstay tape

Where's a good place to find or a good alternative to chainstay tape, that strip of clear plastic that keeps the chain from scratching the paint?

I was thinking of using some 1" wide packing tape, though it's not that thick and I'm a bit concerned about the adhesive.

I want something to tape down the computer wire on our new tandem and also protect the stays from the burley trailer clamp.

Thanks
-murray

I am a huge fan of electrical tape for everything. I find it sticks better then most tape but also comes off without pulling stuff off or leaving to much residue. I find it even holds up to water pretty well. I think it is my new favorite tape (duct tape is the old fav). On a side note works great as medical tape, although my girlfriend yells at me when I use it.

just let the chain ding the paint off the stay.

Very pro......:)

LizardSkins makes a neoprene chainstay guard that velcros on. There are also some carbon fiber ones. Packing tape dosen't work very well. I tried that for my computer wires.

I'm a big fan of using old road tires that have out lived their usefulness. Cut the bead off and ziptie them on. I also like using clear water supply hose also ziptied on.

You could try the ultra stickey "rock guard" stuff you can buy from a good auto parts store. It's the stuff guys will apply to the rear quarters of their 4wheelin' vehicles to prevent rock chipping of the paint. Got some in my garage somewhere.......(it's clear)



Olds

I am a huge fan of electrical tape for everything.

I was really looking for something clear since I don't want to cover up the paint on our new tandem.

http://homepage.mac.com/mcmurman/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-22%2018.43.46%20-0700/Image-907F4B95F4A511D8.jpg

I checked after my message yesterday, ColoradoCyclist has frame saver tape, 10' for $6. I may just get this.

-murray

I use hockey tape on my MTB. The Lizard Skins carbon fiber stay guard sucks by the way. No matter how much you heat it up, it will not hold the shape of the chain stay. Mine uncurled itself in less than a week and fell off.

At the hardware store, they had transparent duct tape :eek: I didn't know they had such stuff.

Any thoughts on this stuff ripping my paint off when I remove it in 3 years?

-murray

Is that actually paint, or is it annodized?

Get it out of the sun quick! That purple is starting to fade!!! :D

The framesaver tape is awesome from Colorado Cyclist. After living in NYC for many years and getting all kind of crap on my bottom tube, I have used the framesaver tape to line the bottom tube of my bike. The stuff works great and seems to last indefinitely and is almost invisible when installed. You won't be disappointed.

LizardSkins makes a neoprene chainstay guard that velcros on. There are also some carbon fiber ones. Packing tape dosen't work very well. I tried that for my computer wires.


The adhesive on the carbon guard sucks massively....it falls off less than 5 mins after application.

Best bet, get some autobody trim tape, and remove the garbage adhesive from the CF guard (comes off with a single rub of the thumb...yes that crappy), and apply one side of the trim tape, use a xacto knife or very sharp knife to trim around the guard so none of that ugly tape is showing, and then apply to the bike. I used double-sided VHB tape, and it works like a charm.

there is onw other issue with the CF guards....the fibers become exposed very easily. CF has a rahter long MSDS sheet on it, so It's not advisable to apply it for anyone else....if they want the looks that bad, let them deal with it. I have one on my bike, but as soon as hte fibers expose, it's coming off and I'm putting a peice of thin stainless steel in it's place. For this reason....i do doubt it is real CF.

Tennis buffs have a tape they put on the outside of rackets to reduce court strike damage. It is
transparent. I have had problems with excessive tack and insufficient tack tapes. One attractive
tape sold as frame saver type was thick and transparent but peeled off in a few weeks. The OEM
tape on my OCL frame has turned yellow and gotten chewed up doing its job, but a few trys at removal
were impossible, the stuff sticks so well. Steve

Two solutions I have used:

1. Along the fork, I use strategically placed zip ties to conceal wires for the computers and headlights behind the fork. Zip ties are near the picker (bottom of the fork -- hardly noticeable), close to the mid-fork rack attachment (concealed) and near the top of the fork (visible, alas).

2. Under the top tube, I have used a long stretch of green electrical tape to attach the stoker's wire under the top tube. The tape isn't visible unless you look from under.


My bike is Tropical green, so barring any green zip ties, it's white that is the least conspicuous.