Chainstay protector - is it necessary?
 

Simple question really. My new bike has chromed chainstays. Do I need a protector thing on the right side one?

cheers,
Ants

Do you mean the chain side?

Is this a mtb or a road bike?

Chains hit the chainstay all the time, much more ATB than road, but both.
Every bump, hole or even a low speed roll off a curb result in chain slap on
the stay. At best it gets greasy, after time the chrome or paint chip off.
Some thing needs to be there. Another place where protectors are needed
is on road bikes on the sides of the head tube. Notice where the shifter cables go and if they hit the head tube when the fr wheel is turned side to side, then a rub mark will appear in 6mo or a year. A bit of tape there is prudent.
Steve

You can get clear electrical tape, makes a cheap chainstay or paint protector.

So even hard chrome will be damaged by a chain bouncing around (road bike by the way).
I like the idea of clear tape - thanks for that one Rev, and Steve thanks for the tip on the head tube. I'll do both.

Also think about the chain length.

Mine was about 4 links to long. I shortened it using the Sheldon Brown method of big/big (no der threading) and add 1 link. That tensioned the chain better and though I still get some slap once in a while it is far less than it used to.

I have always used those to protect my (chainside) chainstays on all my bikes...

I have never used anything but the Shimano Shark fins...

I have a Deore XT sharkfin that I plan to put on my road.

I don't know if they still make it though...

I know the advantages of using the boot(strap on like lizardskin) type protectors.. But I like the sharkfin better because it looks sleek and fast(aerodynamic).

ok, it's clear that the chainstay will get dirty and maybe the paint will chip...

but does/can it actually do any structural damage? i could car less if my paint gets chipped or whatever. i have 4 bikes and not a one has a chainstay protector. i ride about 10,000km per year - about half off-road - and have never had any problems.

anyone know of a frame failing from excessive wear from chain slap, or cracks developing in this area that a protector could prevent?

i think most of the damage is just surface and a thin protector won't do much against big damage like large hits to the area from a crash or rocks...

The strip is designed to protect the paintwork on top of the chainstay from damage caused by the chain when you remove the wheel. My home-painted bike does not have a protector, and the paintwork is severely damaged. I had to repaint the chainstay to prevent rust developing. Chromed chainstays may me more durable than paint, but a protector wont hurt.

Actually, I think that is one primary advantage of the new protectors as compared to the sharkfins.

But I don't, personally, think it would protect against impacts against rocks, but it may dampen the impact since new protectors are made of rubber and foam(like chamois)..

I have always used black cloth tape on the chainstay of my MTB's and a clear plastic strip on my road bikes chainstay. I cuts down on noise pretty durn nicely I find.

Chuck

What I currently use is a piece of old tube. I used 3 zip- ties to hold it in place, plus some electrical tape in some places just to make sure it stays in place no matter what. It holds great and since I have a black bike you can barely see the thing.

Dexmax,
Are those actually painted like that for a reason? or have they been eaten away by the chain over the years?

hell yeah for the tube/ziptie/electrical tape method. I use it on every bike I have and every bike I build for someone. It's the most durable by far. and when the electrical tap gets ugly, just pull it off and put new on.

I have heard rumours but nothing more. Only on aluminum though. So much chainslap it started to saw through the chainstay. I know this guys chainstay broke and that is what Norco told him happened.

Multiple suggestions for protectors have been made. ATB really need something robust, so the wraparounds, padded or cloth type work well. There is a thick clear vinyl tape sold for this purpose that I once used which is good for road bikes where slap is less frequent but it had a low tack adhesive and peeled off in a short time. Packaging tape tends to the opposite: it is very thin and removable over the short term but as months go by, and exposure increases the tape tack is stronger than the tape and getting it off is a mess. The OEM tape on my Trek 5020 is like this, and is all torn up after 16k miles, plus black and grotty to boot. Electrical tape is in between and if an acceptable color available is a reasonable choice. Steve

Just borrowed the picture...

I have a bike that had the chainstay paint ripped of by the paint! I painted it White and a smoked balck finish... I don't have pics though... Damage to the surface(metal)? yes, a little bit.. I can feel some dents(Cr-Mo frame) after stripping off the paint.. But that was years ago when I didn't use these guards...

The frame I beleive was a GT(or Haro w/ Tange tubing -- it had a triple triangle).. That MTB was an old style ATB, with horizontal toptubes and had shimano Exage 300LX components, and araya rims...

It still runs good, but I don't ride it very often becuase it weighsmore than 35lbs...

I have protectors all over my bike.

Where cables rub the frame I took clear vinyl tubing, cut it lenghwise ( a slit), slid it over my tube, and put tape on it.

My chainstay has a big ol fat velcro / nylon style stay protector on it, and anyplace where cables really rub the frame.. I put clear packing tape on the frame..

:D

keep in mind if you by a lizard skin protector, which I would hghly recommend, it has two purposes. 1. to protect the frame and more importantly 2. to dampen the much annoying sound of the chain hitting the frame when you go over a bump. considering how many bumps you go over on an mtb trail this is very important. You have this problem more with hardtails.