Tips on paint maintenance
 

I have been loving my KHS Flite 100 for the past 5-6 months (my first SS/FG) but I am having a moral crisis. I work on a college campus, and I am forced to use the bike racks. I tried to sneak the thing inside, but building admins keep complaining and there just isn't room. Aside from the theft risk bothering me, the problem is that the sweet matte black paint job is scuffing from the lock-up and friction, and because the bike's an extension of my body it also hurts me. (Sliding out in the rain a few weeks ago didn't help the scratches, or my thigh)

1) Any tips for avoiding scuffs in the first place? I never lock it over the rack, because the tube/tire clearance just doesn't allow it, so all my scuffs come in on my fork or near the headset. I have only come up with very ghetto solutions, e.g. duct tape.

2) Is there an easy way to repair paint? It's Reynolds 520 steel, so I don't want to mess with it too much, but some easy way to touch up would be nice.

It's like when your child falls down for the first time. It just hurts to see the scratches. But all the campus/local bar racks seem to be made of sandpaper and are killing me.

3) Maybe KHS needs to use tougher paint.

Learn to love the beausage. Let it chip, let it scratch, let it look like hell in 10 years and be proud that it does.

EDIT: past that, Testors model paint works great for close-matching touch up paint.

1) Get a top tube pad if you prefer locking up the top tube OR electrical tape, where the locking preferred spots are on your bike; cheap and effective but it's gonna look cheap...but it discourages thieves anyway!.

2)testors enamel paint; get black w/ no gloss

3)maybe... all bikes need tough paint.

I just striped all the paint off my bike. problem solved

Carry a rattle can in your bag...they make mini craft project sized ones.

Then you can just respray the damage whenever you unlock your bike

I have a top tube pad that is red, unused, and unwanted if you're interested.

For a nominal fee, I will follow you around everywhere and just hold your bike whenever you have to go inside. You won't even have to lock up, so no more scuffing!

On a more serious note, if you lock sheldon style (or close to it but using the seat tube instead) you can lean the bike against the crank arm.

Crank arms have a more durable finish and you probably don't care as much about scuffs on them. If you are using a mini U lock, you might be able to get everything tight enough that the bike can't be made to lean on the top tube but with a longer lock, there is alway a chance that someone can knock your bike over into the post...It isn't easy to do (wind won't do it) but somebody squeezing a bike in next to you might knock it over. To combat this, you can always put something in the middle...if you lock with a chain or cable, loop it so that if the bike is knocked into a post, it will land on the covered section of chain.

That's perfect, I can't believe I never thought of that.

I like the Testor's idea. For painting scuff marks on semi-thin steel like a frame, should they be prepped in any way (sanded, primed, cleaners etc.) or is wiping off enough? I guess wherever I paint over will probably scratch again, so maybe I just answered my own question.

sharpie.

**** happens when you ride a bike every day, and wear adds character to a bike. In eight years when it's really bad just have the frame powdercoated, rinse lather repeat. I apply clear nail polish if my bike looks like it's going to rust somewhere, but areas that are getting rubbed all the time (such as the chainstays where your feet contact them) will tend to get rust buffed away anyways.

Fugazi Dave has the best answer. Just learn to love the damage. It's merely cosmetic, and there's really no point in babying the paintjob of your frame. It's bound to get marked up anyway.

Yeah, you're right. I guess it's just like a new pair of shoes, the first scuff is the deepest. I'll stop being such a namby-pamby now.

Duplicolor makes touch up paint in a zillion different colors, and they come with a brush and a pen applicator. Pretty cheap too.

tell the building admins to go **** themselves.

get a clear piece of vinyl and lay it over the area that you always lock. That way it won't scratch the paint

I think they sell force fields at Home Depot and Lowe's.

On a steel bike it is important to fill in the deep scratches to prevent rust. If you can see bare metal, it's a good idea to touch it up. If you have rubbing alcohol, prep with that, then paint (testors enamel is good).

If it already shows corrosion, you can sand it off a bit with a really light grit sand paper. If you want to get really fancy, you can use a metal primer before you paint.

Honestly I stopped covering big chips and deep scratches on my steel frame three years ago and not a single spot of exposed steel has any rust whatsoever. Between light moisture and light oil, they've all developed a bit of a patina sort of like an old wrench that's been in use a hell of a long time.

as far as having the bare steel showing using oil to wipe down your bike works but the best thing I have found is car wax to prevent rust. Oil attracts dust and such when you ride your bike. with the car wax (turtle etc.) you dont have that problem and your bike is super shiny. which if your caring about scratches to begin with will probably be a big plus for you.