Question about a part I broke

brink said:

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!

brink said:

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

"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."

"brink" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

It's called a chain gaurd and you don't need it unless you need it!

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

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
marginally 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.

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

SNIP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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
marginally 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

Richard B <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

SNIP

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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
marginally 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

brink said:

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.

Quoted message said:

I don't wear pants while riding.

TMI! TMI!

--

John ([email hidden])

"Richard B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Richard B <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Werehatrack <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

SNIP

Quoted message said:

>
>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
marginally 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.

Quoted message said:

Rich

"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? ;-)

"Richard B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message >

Quoted message said:

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/

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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.