Hybrid Bicycles - kickstand clamp peeling paint

I finally pulled the trigger yesterday and purchased a Felt Speed 30. Did a lot of test riding before purchase and am very happy with it.

Since I really needed it, I purchased and installed a kickstand at the LBS where I purchased the bicycle. They installed the kickstand on the chainstay since there isn't much space near the crank to install it.

The clamp isn't tight enough, so the kickstand rotates around its clamp. The bike is not fully supported and starts listing. What is worse, the clamp has peeled a thumbnail size section of paint off the bike :( . I can see the shiny aluminum.

I've removed the kickstand.

What should I do now? Leave it as it is? Or touch up with some paint? Or stick a reflective sticker on top of it? How do I avoid corrosion? How soon does corrosion set in? Can I ride the bike before touch up is done or will any external exposure to the elements worsen the situation?

And is there any other solution to keeping the kickstand in place?

Thank you.

The usual trick is to wrap the frame in several layers of PVC electrical tape. It stops the kickstand chewing the paint off. Duct tape works . If it's an alloy frame it's not going to corrode too much. Did you get touch up paint with the bike? If not, clear nail polish will give you a temporary fix.

For what it's worth, if you refit the kickstand with tape, over time you'll end up with less damage to the paint, bars or saddle from leaning the bike against walls.

But; alloy frames usually come with a warning about clamping stuff to them which might deform the alloy and weaken it. If you do refit the stand, use a lot of tape, or a cut down inner tube rubber and don't over tighten.

The usual trick is to wrap the frame in several layers of PVC electrical tape. It stops the kickstand chewing the paint off. Duct tape works . If it's an alloy frame it's not going to corrode too much. Did you get touch up paint with the bike? If not, clear nail polish will give you a temporary fix.

For what it's worth, if you refit the kickstand with tape, over time you'll end up with less damage to the paint, bars or saddle from leaning the bike against walls.

But; alloy frames usually come with a warning about clamping stuff to them which might deform the alloy and weaken it. If you do refit the stand, use a lot of tape, or a cut down inner tube rubber and don't over tighten.

The LBS person wasn't very keen on the kickstand, but I felt that it would help me because my other alternative was the lean the bike. Now I have paint peel on the frame to show for it :( . I guess the LBS didn't clamp the kickstand tightly because of deformation issue.

I'll check if the LBS has the touch up paint. I didn't get any with the bicycle. If I have to go the nail polish route, how often do I have to reapply it? Is it usually waterproof?

The frame is 7005 Al which I believe is an Al-Zn alloy.

Thanks!

You're welcome. Check out the touch-up paint. Email Felt? There are some kickstands which fit to the rear axle. If you have Quick releases they may not fit.

Nail polish is a temp. fix. Don't use it if you can get the touch up paint. The other final option is a close match touch-up car paint stick from your auto spares dealer.

You're welcome. Check out the touch-up paint. Email Felt? There are some kickstands which fit to the rear axle. If you have Quick releases they may not fit.

Nail polish is a temp. fix. Don't use it if you can get the touch up paint. The other final option is a close match touch-up car paint stick from your auto spares dealer.

Thank you for your response. I called the LBS and they said that they would touch it
up when I visit them next (weekend after next). While it won't be exactly like the original, they said that it should be close enough. They are comfortable with me riding the bike mean time. They are not worried about corrosion setting in or any structural damage.

I have currently covered up the exposed area with a couple of post it notes held together by scotch tape.

While it is disappointing that I ruined the finish in that area within a day of purchase :( , from the responses here and talking to my friends/colleagues, scratching the paint seems like nothing unusual. So, I guess I'll get over it soon.

Thanks!

Paint is an expendable commodity. :-) It's only there to make your bike attractive to thieves.

Corrosion on alloy frames is much over-hyped I think, stories of them dissolving in acid rain have few if any, adherents these days. A roll of PVC electrical tape is your friend. I chewed the paint off the front forks of my new bike last week, riding it through brush.