Originally Posted by womble
Nicks and scrathes don't damage the underlying functionality of a bike. And if the underlying functionality is important, who cares what it looks like?....
A bike with no scratches, dents or rust is a bike that hasn't lived yet. Hasn't earned its battlescars. Has no character.
I protect my bike to the extent needed to keep it in good working order. Wipe it down after a ride when it gets wet or muddy, lube the drivetrain, keep the tires pumped, etc. If you get obssesive about it, the bike becomes a fetish instead of a tool. That'll suck the fun out of riding real fast.