I understand that the chroming of the fork ends, drop outs, seat stays, and chain stays started with the professional race teams. Bikes like a Peugeot PX-10.
Numerous wheel changes during races meant a bunch of chipped paint on the bikes. The chrome was more resistant to chipping. So naturally the customers who wanted to purchase the best bikes wanted the chrome, too.
Eventually the look, but not the durability of thick chrome, trickled down to the lower end bikes which were never raced professionally. That would include bikes like the 29 lb Fuji Gran Tourer SE.
