Raleigh71

I got a replacement crank for a low-end hybrid "comfort" bike that had a bash guard on it. It was a hard plastic affair that doesn't seem to have much function. I can see it might keep pant legs off the chain and maybe decrease the greasy cuffs.

Any opinions.

Lurch

You are correct about the circular chain guards not functioning very well. A couple of my bikes don't have any such guard and one does. I still need something to keep my pant cuff away from the mechanism to prevent chain lube stains. The worst case would be getting the cuff caught up in the chain/chainwheel while pedaling. Generally, loose clothing isn't a good idea around moving machinery. A rubber band works fine to control the pant cuff, and commercial clips are also available.

fuzz2050

it does a half decent job of keeping your pants out of the chain.

BCRider

On hybrids the function is 99% to keep pants out of the big ring and chain. On a trail bike it's 99% to save the ring teeth from log and rocks. Since you got a comfort hybrid crankset the guard is a pants guard and is likely weak enough that if it hit a curb very hard at all that it would shatter.


Rubber bands? Leg clips? For the frequent times I run a short errand while wearing jeans I just tuck the cuff of the pants into my sock. It's always there and won't get lost. Mind you when I get to the store if I forget to lift the leg out of the sock then I wander around looking like a geek....

bikinfool

It's only for keeping your pant off the chainring, it's not a bash guard.

mijome07

Bashguards.