What’s this mark on my chainstay?

Asked by: Amy Crawford

What is a dropped chainstay?

Dropped Chainstay



This is a driveside only modification, so the pair of stays is asymmetric. The “dropped” stay in this pair curves downward as it approached the bottom bracket shell and back up again to join the frame. The curve is continuous, made from a single piece of titanium.

How do I know if my carbon fiber frame is damaged?

Look closely for scratches, especially anything deep or through the paint. With a dollar coin, tap on any suspect area and listen for a change in sound. A normal “tap” sound will become a dull thud when the carbon is broken. Gently push on the suspect area to feel if it’s softer than the surrounding area.

What is a chain protector?

A gear case, also known as a chain case or chainguard, is an enclosure for the bicycle chain and sprocket assemblages commonly employed by utility bicycles. It serves to protect the cyclist from being soiled or trapped in the chain rings and tends to fully enclose the drive train.

How easy is it to damage a carbon frame?

Hansell says, ‘It’s quite hard to damage carbon “just a little bit”, so if it looks like a crack then chances are it is a crack. ‘Also, the elasticity of carbon fibre is usually less than the paint, so if the paint is cracked, there’s a high chance there’s been some kind of trauma to the carbon too.

What is a Seatstay?

Seat Stays



The seat stay connects the seat tube to the rear dropout. Most bike frames use two parallel tubes that connect above the rear wheel. This is also the spot on the frame where the rear brake caliper is attached.

What is a floating seat stay?

The floating seatstays are a key piece to the new frame, they are made of a low modulus carbon that dampens vibrations. Instead of sending the vibrations to the seatpost they are delivered to the top tube for an impressive reduction of trail noise and an improved ride quality.

What is the lifespan of a carbon bike frame?

Unless they are damaged or poorly built, carbon bike frames can last indefinitely. Most manufacturers still recommend that you replace the frame after 6-7 years, however, carbon frames are so strong that they often outlast their riders.

Is it worth repairing a carbon frame?

Fixing a carbon frame is, in fact, considerably easier and more effective than trying to mend a broken alloy one, and the repair will be as strong or stronger than the surrounding material. Yes, there is a slight weight gain, but we’re talking less than the difference between an aluminium and titanium bottle cage bolt.

Does carbon fiber weaken over time?

The carbon fibres used are very strong, but the resin needed to hold them together is potentially susceptible to degradation over time. Thomas Leschik, chief technology officer at Lightweight highlights this degradation as a factor which will alter the frame’s properties.

Is chainstay protector necessary?

Chains hit the chainstay all the time. Every hole, bump, jump or bounce on your bike will result in a chain slap on the chainstay. Whether it’s the annoying rattle the chain makes when it hits the stay, or the paint that’s chipping away on your frame, it’s always good to have a chainstay protector.

How do I stop my chain slapping?

Quote from video: Number two I like to use a chain stay protector. Right on here I have a lizard skin one picked it up for like $10.

How do I protect my chainstay?

Quote from video: So once you have your piece of tape off the backing you can apply it to the chainstay. Make sure you stretch and kind of conform. And apply this tape around the chain say that way it bonds better.

What is fork crown?

The Crown connects your fork’s steer tube to its stanchions. The Stanchions are the pieces of tubing that actually slide into your forks lowers. The stanchions internally house the air spring (or coil) as well as the damper.

What is butted tubing?

What is butted steel tubing? A butted steel tube has a constant outer diameter but varying wall thickness throughout the length of the tube. In steel bicycles, tubes are usually either double or triple-butted.

What is a rear dropout?

The rear dropout is the portion of the frame where the rear derailleur hanger is attached. The rear dropout is the joining point (the confluence) of the chain stay and the seat stay on the rear portion of the bike frame (see picture below).

What is the purpose of a chainstay?

Olsen describes the purpose of the chainstay as “locking in place” the rear axle. “With every pedal stroke, the bike is trying to twist the rear axle. If you look from the top of the bike, it’s trying to twist the rear axle anti-clockwise and compress the driveside chainstay.”

Why is a shorter chainstay better?

Short chainstays ensure a snappy, agile feel especially when riding in the middle of a tight pack. But speed is the result of posture and aerodynamics, not of a couple inches’ difference in rear wheel position. (Strictly speaking, longer chainstays do require more chain links, which add a minuscule amount of friction.

What is bottom bracket drop?

Definition. BB Drop is the vertical distance between the centre of the bottom bracket, and the axles of the front and rear wheels. This is a fixed, static measurement. Once a bike is built up and has no rider on it, this doesn’t change.

How does chainstay length affect ride?

Quicker handling: The shorter the bike’s wheelbase, the more agile it will feel. On the trail, a shorter rear-end will help get the rider around tight singletrack turns more easily, and the bike is more responsive to “body English,” which adds to that feeling of agility.

What is a good chainstay length?

Normal chainstays are: Road bikes: 40.5 to 41.5cm… less than 16 ½ inches. Touring bikes: 42 to 43.5cm…

How do you calculate chain stay length?

What is chainstay length? The distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the center of the rear wheel axle. This measurement is taken from the side view of the bike, ignoring the z-axis such that the width of the axle or bottom bracket does not come into play.