Frame Bag Straps, and Protecting CF Frames
 

What are the best ways you have found for protecting carbon fibre frames from abrasion when touring with frame bags strapped onto the CF tubing?

Are you in a part of the world where people play hockey and use hockey tape? While not owning a cf framed bike, I've used black hockey tape extensively on bikes here and there for years because it doesn't get sticky like electric tape with heat, and it takes on a pretty tough feel after a while. It also has a slight give and stretch that helps over curved shapes, a really small amount of give granted, but it helps going onto things.
You could consider starting with pieces of cut inner tube as a base, could give a bit of cushion for cinching down.

Try these ideas out, they may work well and do the proper job of projecting the cf surface.

At our shop we've been using automotive protective film to cover the frames.

neat idea. If it were my frame and there was a possibility of cinch straps shifting, I'd prefer something that is easy to see at a glance, to be sure the straps haven't moved past a protective film that is perhaps clear and not easy to know where it ends.

I cut some rubber innertube strips and wrap those around the (steel, not CF) frame and use two sided velcro to hold them in place. I put those on the frame under each strap. When I first wrap the rubber, I put some tension on it so that it grips the frame firmly so there is no rubbing.

Someone on this forum had handlebar tape wrapped around his top tube. He said is was not for paint protection, but it probably would work quite well for that purpose.

Not quite sure exactly how this was set up. Could you expand or detail it a bit?

re innertube bits, I've put it on rack mounting points, pulling it with some tension, then putting some hockey tape over it, and it stayed well in place, plus you get the "cushion" effect of the rubber underneath (this was mucking around with pannier attachment points on the rack)

I really do think this (the cushion or squish) would be a benefit for cinch down points, as the strap would sink in a bit and not slip--but you guys would have to see if its a help or not.

I agree, I use clear hockey tape for a lot of stuff. It holds strong, but also comes off easily when you want it to without taking any of the surface with it.

I assume you know what two sided velcro is, it has the loop stuff on one side and the hooks on the other.

I cut a rubber strip long enough to wrap around the tube about 3 or 3.5 times. When I started to wrap it, I put tension on the rubber so that it would grip the tubing well, when I had about a half to three quarter of a wrap of rubber left, I then overlapped that with starting to put the two sided velcro over it. I am sure this is not very clear, but I do not have a good photo so to show. The suggestions above for tape are good too, but I tried velcro because I wanted something that I could easily remove and put on later and tape is not as easy to remove. You might want to try it with tape on the innertube rubber strips, and if that works well for you then use that.

I first tried just electrical tape, but when I took the tape off the frame, some of the clear coat that had been put on over the paint stuck to the electrical tape instead.

My bag did not have a strap that goes on the downtube, I added one, see second photo but as I noted above this is not really that good of a photo to show this.

I used to have a coil of twine wrapped around my top tube where my drops hit it. You can use a loop in the twine to pull the tail under for a neat finish. Shellac over the twine as a finishing touch. More of a hipster steel frame thing.

Helicopter tape works pretty well.

:thumb: Another vote for helicopter tape. Can be a bit difficult to work with but due it its thickness. Trade off I guess.

Use a little (very slightly) soapy water in a spray bottle on your frame and wet your hands a little to get it on. Makes it a whole lot easier, and if you use a heat gun or blow dryer after setting it you can get the stuff to conform to any odd shapes. Or that's what I do at least.

Helicopter Tape is unbelievably durable and easy to apply. The tape I put on my Pugsley 2,000 miles ago still looks clear and perfect, even under the straps. It doesn't seem to abrade at all!

Thanks for the suggestions. Will give it a try for sure.