How to Protect Your Bike's Chain Stay

Anyone who rides a modern multispeed bike has probably heard the chatter and slap of the chain hitting the bike frame when riding over bumps. Not only is this an annoying distraction, over time it can damage your bike's frame. Here's a simple, ten-minute fix for this problem which uses recycled materials, and can last up to a couple of years.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Used bicycle inner tube.
• Sharp scissors.
• 2-3 Strong cable or zip ties.

1. Prepare the Frame
   
   Before applying this treatment, clean the chain stay (the part of the frame the chain hits). Any mud or sand left under this wrap treatment can wear away paint from the frame, allowing trapped moisture to corrode the metal. If the paint has already been damaged by the chain, you can add a little touch up paint to protect the metal. Degrease with a little rubbing alcohol if necessary. If painting, wait for it to dry before wrapping.

2. Prepare the Materials
   
   Start by cutting completely through the inner tube about an inch away from the valve stem. Then make a straight cut along the length of the tube until you end up with a long rectangular sheet of rubber. From this piece, cut a one inch wide strip, about four feet long, from the rubber. Keep your scissors and cable ties handy for the next steps.

3. The Wrap
   
   Start wrapping at the rear end of the chain stay, just in front of the hub of the rear wheel. Hold the end of the rubber in place against the frame with one hand and stretch the free end of the rubber with the other.
   
   Get two full wraps around that end of the chain stay, with enough tension to hold it from slipping loose. Grab your first zip tie and cinch it tightly around this end to keep it from getting away.
   
   Then begin wrapping towards the front of the frame, keeping the rubber just slightly stretched, and overlapping half of the width of the strip at all times to create a full two-ply covering of rubber.
   
   Many bikes have a rear derailleur cable running along the chain stay between welded-on ferrules. If the braided metal cable is exposed, do not wrap over it, pull it gently away from the frame and pass your wraps between it and the frame. If your rear derailleur cable is enclosed in a plastic housing, just wrap over it.

4. Tie it up!
   
   When you get to the front end of the chain stay, make one or two full wraps and, without losing tension, cut off any excess rubber. Take a zip tie and cinch it up tight around the middle of the last wrap. Cut off the zip tie ends and you're done!

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a retired inner tube, you can probably score one from your local bike shop.
• Don't stretch the rubber too much, it will be more likely to pull itself apart as it inevitably gets battered over time.
• Cut ends of zip ties can be sharp! Try to orient the tie so that the cut end faces straight up or down, not out. This will help prevent scrapes.
• Be sure your wrapping and zip ties don't interfere with the chain, moving parts, or cables.
• If the rubber starts to tear apart or hang loose, it's time for a new wrap! If it unravels while you're riding, it could jam things up dangerously.
• Always inspect your bike for damage or loose parts before riding.

[torque63]

on 1/23/2008 using a hard plastic such as an ice cream bucket may last a long time as well...experiment and see what works best.