Frame protective tape?
 

Anyone ever use this tape for frame protection?
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/item/BKSVGY4K

no,scratches are zexy

Any idea how this is different from some Coach athletic tape I can get at the supermarket for $3 a roll?

+1

Yeah, I like my bike to look like I do not ride it, too.

Seriously. Scratched up bikes look a lot cooler than pristine clean frames unless you've got something worth keeping pristine (ie something vintage, custom, or carbon fiber)

Sure. The stuff works. The athletic tape thing just might be the way to go. I never thought of that. I'm not really on board with the whole "beat to crap is sexy because it proves I use it" stuff but to each his own. Heck, if you are riding it then you have a beautiful thing.

I got some helicopter tape. It might be the same as that stuff, mine was a lot more expensive, about $25 for 2 meters. The stuff I got is kinda thick and rubbery and works great at protecting the frame from knocks and bangs. You can't really notice the tape on the bike, unless you look up close, and I can put my bike against any post or tree and chuck a lock around it and not worry about other people locking their bike next to it and scratching the **** out of it.

I love it when people ask me if my bike is new, or tell me that it looks like it's never been ridden, as I get to reply, "No, its eleven years old, and I ride it almost daily, I just like to keep it clean." :D

I think the opposite....guess I'm not cool. :o :( :cry: :p

There is a difference between "beat to crap" and used. My bike does not acquire many scratches with the way I treat it, and it does not look beat to crap. I am down for keeping your bike nice looking, but taping seems excessive. If you have to tape your frame to protect it, you are doing something wrong.

See, that is cool, though, if you can manage that without having to go so far as taping your bike. My bike has very few scratches, but it will never be properly clean because, when it rains, my bike likes to collect dirt, and I do not feel like cleaning my bike all the time. :(

when I first got my bike, I wrapped old used inner tubes around the frame....its my work bike, so it served the purpose of protecting the frame, shielded it from the elements of winter, and made it less of a target for thieves....when the spring came around I wanted to unsheathe it, because I think its a good lookin bike. a few scratches never hurt nobody. I still keep a tube wrapped around the part of the frame I sling my chain over to lock it up, and a top tube pad.

I put bar tape on the aft half of my top tube, and this keeps my bike from sliding so easily when I lean it up against something.

I tape up the drive-side chainstay on mountain bikes, but other than that, it's a free-for-all.

Ken Cox : Lean it by the rear wheel!

I never said that, nor did I imply it. I simply said I think bikes look cooler when they're all scratched up. I've got top tube scratches from locking, downtube my paint is worn from my U lock locking and unlocking, my pedals are scraped to hell from striking them in turns, and I've got a bunch of scratches on my seat tube and top tube junction from pulling a metal dolly. My saddle is scraped from crashing, my bar tape has a small tear in it from having to hop a ten foot fence with my bike, and on and on. I don't think a bike is beautiful on it's own, it's just some pieces of metal. It's beauty comes in it's utility, and scratches are a sign of that utility being called used.

There's nothing wrong with a mint condition bike, but no bike really strikes me as being cool just on it's form, like I said it's just some metal.

the_don,

So, that stuff is called helicopter tape? I know exactly what you are talking about because my lbs (along with many others I'm sure) uses it. Where do you buy it?

I bet the electrical tape guy is pissed now.

I bought off ebay. Here is one listing (seems cheaper than when i bought a few months ago...)

the_don,

Domo sumimasen de****a. I grabbed 2 rolls (2 meters) which will no doubt be a lifetime supply. Maybe more. I might use it on the incoming steed. Although, I have grandma making me a few outrageous wraps for that one. I'm checking stores and asking for the availability of things like snake skins. Nothing endangered or crap like that but I'm looking to make a couple of skin wraps.

the_don,
I wrote d*e*s*h*i*t*a. Apparently the "S" word is not even allowed to be part of a word. For anyone who might not know, what I said was sort of a combination of "Thank You" and "I'm sorry I imposed on you". In English we don't really have a direct translation. No bad word was used. Beyond hilarious.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say **** word filters

EDIT: also, that helicopter tape looks like interesting stuff. I might look into getting some for the legs of my photographic tripod.

I got some clear tape used for protecting car bumpers from gravel that gets kicked up. I'm pretty sure it was 3m but can't find it right now. I got the package on clearance at autozone for like $3 and used it to protect my top tube and seat stays from the school bicycle racks. There was enough left over to do a bunch of other friends bikes too.

While the scratches on my motobecane are vintage and sweet, I don't appreciate them on my new bikes. Even though they're both aluminum I may get them refinished. I was also having my dad (sells industrial finishes) looking for the most bullet proof clear he can find. I want to seal and protect the vintage bike as best I can.

I put one of the 3M clear kits on my Toyota truck to prevent stone chips. I used some left over on various things including my bicycles. There is also a thick clear vinyl tape that can be had at auto parts stores for repairing vinyl sets. It is thick, invisible when you put it on, leaves no residue when you remove it and it is cheap.

I hate scratches, a clean, well cared for machine is a happy machine. When I see a scratched up bike, car, whatever, it tells me it has been ridden hard and put a away wet, abused and beat. Just me. Of course it is hard to use something without being obsessive and not get some wear and tear representative of normal use.

Where should I apply the tape to best preserve my finish?
http://entirely-adequate.com/beater.jpg