pnp

Hi!..
The patches for protecting my foldable are worn out, and some went away.
I'm thinking about buying new ones to protect the paint.

I've seen these ones:
Lizard Skins Clear Adhesive Frame Patches
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CK2EYC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ADIKZAFTSWMNW

As I've seen they have a white lizard drawing and I don't like the idea of having lizards all over my bike frame.

I've also seen this:
ISC Helicopter-OG Surface Guard Tape (8 mil Outdoor Grade): 2 in. x 12 ft. (Transparent)
and I find that this could be a lot better, as I can put it anywhere. I don't know if it is suitable or it is the same quality.

Any advice?
What are you using?
Do you think that these products will fit?...

Thanks!

PnP

fietsbob

Gaffer's tape, is another approach.. big roll, fabric .. great stuff,
better than Duct-tape .

snafu21

Helicopter tape is used by cycle nerds the world o'er to protect bikes. It's lizard-free and reassuringly over-priced. Bits of old inner tube and duct tape are even free-er, and add a sort of grungy street-cred look. Ikea, if you have one nearby, sell packs of small felt pads for protecting Mezzo chainstays from the front wheel, but they don't call them that.

Finally, these work well in extremis.

kamtsa

The Helicopter tape has been mentioned few times on the Mechanics forums as a viable option. For example

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post12229495

Have it on my Amazon Wish List for some time but have not tried it yet.

ro-monster

Not sure if this would work in the locations you want to protect, but I use clear vinyl tubing to protect the parts of my frame that tend to get scraped up. It comes in various diameters to fit different frame tubes. You can cut it open lengthwise so you can open it up, then it just stays on the tube without adhesive.

chagzuki

My Brompton is covered in some variant of helicopter tape. I bought the bike second hand and wanted to be able to sell it on easily if I decided it wasn't for me, so I thought it best to keep the frame pristine. Not sure if that really makes economic sense as the tape isn't cheap. . . not sure how much I paid overall, can't remember.

It actually looks quite nice on the gloss finish, like a clear coat layer. Think I just scoured ebay for the best deal I could find.

I'd say it's a very good idea on the areas that are likely to wear, perhaps overkill to try to cover most of a frame.

bored117 

https://www.amazon.com/Xpel-R3022-Cle...9467649&sr=8-2

Awesome stuff. I put it on my chainstay and fork as I commute and have to put it on train and not everyone seems to care about other's bike.

jur

Hey chagzuki, I sourced a whole roll of that tape after you mentioned it. Short pieces are for sale on ebay and other places for eye-watering amounts, but I found a local source for a whole roll which turned out not all that much more than a bunch of single pieces. Needless to say I still have most of it, having used only tiny pieces so far and not having done the Brommie yet.

chagzuki

Extreme cheapskate that I am I spent a while trying to find a non-branded, non-packaged bulk version but to no avail. Maybe I had my terminology confused, still don't really understand vinyls/polyurethanes etc..

In response to the OP I think I tried a couple of thicknesses and the typical stuff for cars (or presumably helicopters) is fine but unnecessarily thick. Might be worth doing a little research on thicknesses/grades etc..

chagzuki

Here we go, according to this seller:
https://www.paragontapes.co.uk/products

The 0.36mm thickness stuff is typical and it's unnecessarily thick for bicycles. 0.22mm thickness is better suited to bicycles, will curve around frame contours more easily and edges will be more or less invisible.