| |
Main
Date: 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52
From: brink
Subject: Question about a part I broke
|
OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek 100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught in the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why any lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear pants while riding. Thanks! brink
|
|
| |
Date: 21 Aug 2006 10:48:53
From: dave_bonnell@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
> Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear > pants while riding. I had a stock chainring guard on my bike until I upgraded my rings (and never replaced the guard). I figured that it was just a waste of plastic. However, without the guard, you are more likely to get a nice chainring 'tattoo' on the inside of your calf. Also, I discovered that (on my first ride sans guard) chainring teeth do bite you sometimes, particularly on technical sections. I've got the ankle scars and bloody socks to prove it. A chainring guard will generally prevent your chain from dropping off the outside of your rings (not that this should be a problem, but if your front derailleur becomes misaligned for some reason...) Of course, there are some benefits to not having the plastic guard. With your big chainring exposed, it becomes much easier to simply wipe down after a ride. Easier maintenance and extended chainring/chain life. On the flipside, I tend to get more messy doing maintenance with no guard in place. Some might argue for weight reduction and aerodynamics, but that's a pretty weak argument IMHO. Some cyclists sneer at those who still have a chainguard, so if you want to fit in with these guys, go ahead and remove it. If I had a guard that fit my big ring, I would probably install it. I don't have one, and I probably won't go looking for one.. Despite all the reasons I point out above, I just don't feel strongly enough about it to go searching for a guard.
|
| |
Date: 21 Aug 2006 10:48:50
From: dave_bonnell@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
> Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear > pants while riding. I had a stock chainring guard on my bike until I upgraded my rings (and never replaced the guard). I figured that it was just a waste of plastic. However, without the guard, you are more likely to get a nice chainring 'tattoo' on the inside of your calf. Also, I discovered that (on my first ride sans guard) chainring teeth do bite you sometimes, particularly on technical sections. I've got the ankle scars and bloody socks to prove it. A chainring guard will generally prevent your chain from dropping off the outside of your rings (not that this should be a problem, but if your front derailleur becomes misaligned for some reason...) Of course, there are some benefits to not having the plastic guard. With your big chainring exposed, it becomes much easier to simply wipe down after a ride. Easier maintenance and extended chainring/chain life. On the flipside, I tend to get more messy doing maintenance with no guard in place. Some might argue for weight reduction and aerodynamics, but that's a pretty weak argument IMHO. Some cyclists sneer at those who still have a chainguard, so if you want to fit in with these guys, go ahead and remove it. If I had a guard that fit my big ring, I would probably install it. I don't have one, and I probably won't go looking for one.. Despite all the reasons I point out above, I just don't feel strongly enough about it to go searching for a guard.
|
| |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 19:05:43
From: John Thompson
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
On 2006-08-18, brink <brink@invalid.invalid > wrote: > OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I > sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek > 100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm > assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught in > the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why any > lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. > > Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? Probably not. But it would be interesting to learn why it failed -- there may be something more significant going on. > I don't wear pants while riding. TMI! TMI! -- John (john@os2.dhs.org)
|
| |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 03:37:35
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <brink@invalid.invalid > wrote: >OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I >sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek >100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm >assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught in >the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why any >lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. > >Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear >pants while riding. Those are not essential, and yes, you can just take out the screws and leave it off. You would probably have a hard time getting a replacement in any event. It's no loss, really; they're only ginally effective at keeping a pants leg from getting caught in the sprocket. A leg band is much more reliable. -- Typoes are a feature, not a bug. Some gardening required to reply via email. Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
|
| | |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 15:30:31
From: Richard B
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net > wrote in news:il1de2t59se5jci2uamts3smrj6h4mpto4@4ax.com: > On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <brink@invalid.invalid> > wrote: SNIP >> >>Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't >>wear pants while riding. > > Those are not essential, and yes, you can just take out the screws and > leave it off. You would probably have a hard time getting a > replacement in any event. It's no loss, really; they're only > ginally effective at keeping a pants leg from getting caught in the > sprocket. A leg band is much more reliable. Since you don't wear pants (I presume you do wear shorts, but we won,t go there), with the guard removed, you can now join the rest of us and get your own genuine chainring tattoo! Of course you will have to reapply it ocassionally since it will tend to wash off. I usually apply my chainring tattoo while parking my bike, that way it is on the outside of my calf so everyone will get a chance to admire it. Rich
|
| | | |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 23:58:44
From: Mike Kruger
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
"Richard B" <blueSPAMMENOTrandonee@gmail.com > wrote in message > > Since you don't wear pants (I presume you do wear shorts, but we won,t go > there), > Maybe a kilt, like this cyclist? http://www.kiltguy.com/
|
| | | |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 15:39:09
From: Richard B
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
Richard B <blueSPAMMENOTrandonee@gmail.com > wrote in news:Xns9824568D62528bluerandoneegmailcom@216.168.3.50: > Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in > news:il1de2t59se5jci2uamts3smrj6h4mpto4@4ax.com: > >> On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <brink@invalid.invalid> >> wrote: > SNIP >>> >>>Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't >>>wear pants while riding. >> >> Those are not essential, and yes, you can just take out the screws >> and leave it off. You would probably have a hard time getting a >> replacement in any event. It's no loss, really; they're only >> ginally effective at keeping a pants leg from getting caught in >> the sprocket. A leg band is much more reliable. > > Since you don't wear pants (I presume you do wear shorts, but we won,t > go there), with the guard removed, you can now join the rest of us and > get your own genuine chainring tattoo! Of course you will have to > reapply it ocassionally since it will tend to wash off. > > I usually apply my chainring tattoo while parking my bike, that way it > is on the outside of my calf so everyone will get a chance to admire > it. > > Rich > Oh I nearly forgot to say... On the serious side; be sure that your shoe laces are very short, secured under whatever retaining strap is available or tucked in. The last thing you need is to get a shoelace caught between the chain and chainring while pedaling. Rich
|
| | | | |
Date: 20 Aug 2006 08:17:21
From: Fred
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
"Richard B" <blueSPAMMENOTrandonee@gmail.com > wrote in message news:Xns98245803F599Bbluerandoneegmailcom@216.168.3.50... > Richard B <blueSPAMMENOTrandonee@gmail.com> wrote in > news:Xns9824568D62528bluerandoneegmailcom@216.168.3.50: > >> Werehatrack <rault00@earthWEEDSlink.net> wrote in >> news:il1de2t59se5jci2uamts3smrj6h4mpto4@4ax.com: >> >>> On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <brink@invalid.invalid> >>> wrote: >> SNIP >>>> >>>>Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't >>>>wear pants while riding. >>> >>> Those are not essential, and yes, you can just take out the screws >>> and leave it off. You would probably have a hard time getting a >>> replacement in any event. It's no loss, really; they're only >>> ginally effective at keeping a pants leg from getting caught in >>> the sprocket. A leg band is much more reliable. >> >> Since you don't wear pants (I presume you do wear shorts, but we won,t >> go there), with the guard removed, you can now join the rest of us and >> get your own genuine chainring tattoo! Of course you will have to >> reapply it ocassionally since it will tend to wash off. >> >> I usually apply my chainring tattoo while parking my bike, that way it >> is on the outside of my calf so everyone will get a chance to admire >> it. >> >> Rich >> > Oh I nearly forgot to say... > On the serious side; be sure that your shoe laces are very short, secured > under whatever retaining strap is available or tucked in. > The last thing you need is to get a shoelace caught between the chain and > chainring while pedaling. That's a really good point. I learnt the hard way and only wear velcro shoes on my bike. > > Rich
|
| | | | | |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 21:04:29
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
"Fred" wrote: That's a really good point. I learnt the hard way and only wear velcro shoes on my bike. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ That's an interesting idea. Do they hold as well as clipless pedals? ;-)
|
| |
Date: 19 Aug 2006 11:35:18
From: Fred
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
"brink" <brink@invalid.invalid > wrote in message news:4kmskuFctsd1U1@individual.net... > OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I > sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek > 100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm > assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught > in the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why > any lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. > > Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear > pants while riding. > > Thanks! > > brink > It's called a chain gaurd and you don't need it unless you need it! >
|
| |
Date: 18 Aug 2006 23:33:03
From: Leo Lichtman
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
"brink" (clip) Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Only if you are planning to advertise the bike for sale as :"100% original."
|
| |
Date: 18 Aug 2006 18:01:55
From: skyhooks
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
brink wrote: > > OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I > sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek > 100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm > assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught in > the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why any > lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. > > Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear > pants while riding. > > Thanks! > > brink Probably not, unless you're clumsy like me! I don't fall off of my bicycle -- I fell on top of the bike and my knee got gouged deeply by a few of the sprockets. Talk about an expensive bike ride about town -- the side trip to the ER for stitches wasn't cheap. Sky
|
| |
Date: 18 Aug 2006 15:45:51
From: gds
Subject: Re: Question about a part I broke
|
brink wrote: > OK, so I'm standing in my pedals from a start up an incline, and somehow I > sheared off the "pants guard" (I guess that's what I'd call it) on my Trek > 100. It's the plastic thing that attached to the chain ring to -- and I'm > assuming this is its only purpose -- keep one's pants from getting caught in > the chain. It mustve been weakening over time and I have no idea why any > lateral force would've been applied to the guard, but it came off. > > Is there any reason I need to replace this piece of plastic? I don't wear > pants while riding. > > Thanks! > > brink Nope!
|
|