Dheorl

For my commuting bike, as I'm sure with many people, one of my biggest frustrations is issues pertaining to my trouser leg and the chainring. I've torn apart a couple of pairs of jeans on the larger ring and these days try to avoid shifting out of it, lest I expose those deadly spikes. The grease and grime is also obviously not particularly appreciated and is a real pain to wash out. I know there are various things to hold my trouser leg in place, but I'm not a huge fan and when I just want a 2 minute jaunt to the shops can be a pain to find and get comfy.

In an attempt to utilise my inner ring a bit more I've been wondering about fitting a bash guard sort of thing outside the outer ring. I've seen cheap plastic ones on some bikes but no idea where I can find a nice light metal one to go on my road bike. Does anyone know where I may be able to get one?

Also just wondering of any experience people might have using one? Does it help with the trouser leg being swallowed up problem? Does it interfere with the chain or derailleur at all?

Thanks for any help you can give.

Buffalo Buff

cycling pants would let you avoid all of this.

Dheorl

I'd rather just be able to wear my normal jeans. Cycling pants also don't help with the time saving when I'm going on a 2 min jaunt down the shops. Thanks for the suggestion though.

HardyWeinberg

Bash guard is fantastic if you don't need the big ring for you know shifting to. Just adjust the outer limit on the derailer and you are good to go.

GovernorSilver

Have you tried rolling up your jeans?

That's what I did when I was trying out a bunch of road bikes at LBS's. No damage to my jeans...

wolfchild

I avoid all of this without using cycling pants. No need for cycling pants...I use an elastic band which I made from an old inner tube to keep my pants from getting mangled up by the chain ring.

Dheorl

Are you saying it's not possible to mount a ring in such a way you can still use the big ring? Even with spacers and long bolts of some sort?

Dheorl

Bit cold in winter for that.

dazevedo

Check out bbgbashguard
they make all sizes

GovernorSilver

You didn't say where you are. In my area, it rarely gets colder than 30F. I do grocery runs in my jeans too, because it takes me under 15 min. to get there by bicycle, though I might start wearing merino wool socks or something. Unfortunately it takes me over an hour to get to work (commute) so I don't wear my jeans for that distance.

Good luck.

kickstart

I have the OE guards on my Continental and World Tourist, they work great for keeping pants clean, and preventing snagging without the need for special pants, rolling them, clips, or bands.
Other than a tiny bit of weight, there's no negative aspect to them other than aesthetics.

SloButWide 

@kickstart - gorgeous bike! With all that chrome, the bash guard fits right in.

Robert C

Just get a leg strap. It s a strip of elastic, or a metal clip, that goes around the bottom of your pant leg. It is designed to solve that problem.

spivonious

If I'm wearing regular pants, I tuck the right leg into my sock.

corrado33

This is what I do when I forget my reflective legband.

wolfchild

Do any bike manufacturers still make chain guards that can be fitted to different types of bikes ( one size fits all type of a chain guard )??...They make fenders and racks which fit different bikes, why can't somebody make a chain guard which would fit different styles of bikes ??...Do "real cyclists" consider chain guards to be childish, are people ashamed to use chain guards ??

TenSpeedV2

No, most of us are wearing cycling clothes and don't need a chain guard.

SloButWide 

Google universal or adjustable chain guard.

Herbie Chainglider is an interesting one - it covers the chain completely.
"Sunlite Multi Fit" is a generic chain guard that is sized by the front chainring. I have not used either.

Fitting a chain guard to your bike.

KenshiBiker

I was thinking the same thing; looks like an original Schwinn ad. Thought for a moment I had wandered into C&V by accident.

lostarchitect 

I don't really wear cycling clothes. I solve this with a reflective band on the pants leg. It takes 2 seconds, just leave it on the bike. If you forget the band, tuck your pants into your sock. I do this even on the one bike I have with a chain guard.

wphamilton

I admit that I've gotten grease marks on some of my pants cuffs, even though I use rubber bands and tuck cuffs in my socks. I've also caught myself walking around that way, tucked in my socks. It's an alternative, but it's not ideal.

I'm not sure that I've seen a chain cover that I like though, for a double or triple ring on a road bike. I'm with OP on this and I might use a big bash guard on the outer ring if I could find a nice one.

Buffalo Buff

I don't really have an opinion on bash guards, I just don't feel like I have a need for one. I use cycling shorts / pants for comfort, and before I switched to those I'd tuck my pant leg into my sock like others have mentioned. I prefer not to add an accessory to my bike unless I find it really useful, hence why a bashguard or kickstand isn't on there. I would never judge someone for using either, and likely would never even notice.

That being said I'm not sure why OP thinks using cycling pants takes more time than jeans to run down to the shop. They take less time to put on than regular pants because you don't have to put on underpants, but to each their own.

mel2012

Have you looked at the SKS Chainboard: Amazon.com : SKS bike chain tool chainboard hub gear : Bike Chain Guards : Sports & Outdoors

It can be used with a front derailleur and gets pretty good reviews, though the installation is apparently tricky.

I don't find that a bash guard does anything to help with pant legs getting caught, but a chain guard definitely does.

kickstart

Thanks, it was a Craigslist find. I've since replaced the generic dyno lights with an authentic Schwinn approved Union set, everything on it is correct for 1974 exce the computer.
Amazingly I get compliments on it almost every time I ride it, and mostly from folks on high end bikes.

I know ef Schwinn's are usually considered to be boat anchors, but I find it to be a pleasure to ride.

Dheorl

Normally though I'm already in underpants and jeans, which would necessitate taking them off and putting on cycling pants.

I know there are various solutions to keep your trouser leg out of the way, but I'd rather just keep the chain out of the way if possible. Those BBS ones look ideal for my needs.