[Closed] Who bothers helitaping steel frames?

I tape all my frames irrespective of material 8)

Takes few minutes and keeps frame/paint in nice condition .. Handy for selling on 😀

My Rocket is taped.

Im a fan of taping. I had a brand new Commencal Super 4 several yrs ago. Its first ride was with a friend who was a little less fit than me. The ride was muddy. Everytime we stopped for a breather i unclipped and slid off saddle and stood with toptube between the legs of my muddy shorts. That 2.5 hr ride and about 4 -5 stops caused the paint to totally lose its lustre. It looked totally secondhand after just one ride. Its a faff, but i do like my bike to look like its owned by someone who cares about it.

Never taped a frame (excepting for some 'anti-theft' electrical insulation tape 8) )

My bikes usually look nice-ish for dinner but filthy by bed-time. Just how I like my coffee.

Only ever taped one bike. Started to look worse than chipped paint once it started to get a bit tatty.

I don't really quiet about selling frames on though, so YMMV.

IMO bikes are meant to look like they get used properly. A palimpsest of all the fun you've had...

It took one ride in the Peak to convert my lovely shiney black Soul top tube into a dull lustreless pipe. I never thought about again really after that ride, and I just got on with riding the bike. So personal preference I guess.

I always tape the cable and clothing rub points. My Soul did the same as theboatman's. Don't forget the top tube, especially if your Solaris is one of the gloss black ones.

My bikes usually look nice-ish for dinner but filthy by bed-time. Just how I like my [s]coffee[/s] women.

Hate the phrase, but FTFY

I tape all of my bikes now. The Invisiframe kits are bloody brilliant - they're tough, not that noticeable and don't yellow like helitape.

Patina man, it's all about the patina.

I tend to put a but of tape under rubbing points, but that's it. It's an MTB, if it looks too clean you'll look like a nooby grom dude 😉

FTFY

T-cut is cheaper than helitape if you're bothered about the shine

Cover the bits that rub. Polish the rest if that's your thing

Yes, I can't be faffed. Taped the last two and it looks tatty. I could have a respray for not much more than an invisiframe kit. Will tape cable rubs. Won't be selling it......

I will be taping mine as coz:

[img] [/img]
[url= https://flic.kr/p/Mz4a6K ]
Front - damage - washed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr\

I never put any tape or patches on my old bike and after five years this happened:

[img] [/img]

So yeah the new bike has strategic tape to stop rubs. It's a second hand black frame so the previous owner liberally coated it in black tape too.

^^^k'nell! That's some gnarly cable rub those two above 😯
How'd you manage it on the front of the headtube on that Cotic? Bar-spins?

I usually just tape the top tube to protect from gritty knacker gusset, but had my shiny new Shan Invisiframed. Expensive but should keep it looking nice for longer.

@kayak: here's a clue...

[img] [/img]
[url= https://flic.kr/p/Nipm1M ]Packed up again, ready to go at 9.00 am sharp...[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/77564901@N06/ ]Metalheart-UK[/url], on Flickr\

Try to, but always miss something.

Lee @ Invisiframe made a kit for my Flare Max as it was the first one he'd had. Sent it to his place, and picked it up from there. He did a cracking job and chucked me in a set for my forks as a thanks for letting him use my frame. All my bikes get that treatment, sure they are to be used but it's 3 hours work to protect everything that might rub. Can't see why you wouldn't do that.

I get 3m tape for free
I taped my first Fargo everywhere
When I came to sell it ,after I stripped the tape it was so like new I nearly bought it

Other than the odd cable rub patch I've never taped a frame.

top tub and down tube just to avoid the scaffold pipe effect. Its more a hangover from being a teenager and precious about my bike at the time because it had a shit paint job that chipped if you looked at it too hard. Now it just stops me fretting a wee bit.

Chips, dings and scratches are all badges of honour on an MTB. Cable rub is a sure sign of a feeble mind and lack of moral fibre, though, get taping.

I could have a respray for not much more than an invisiframe kit.

My El Mar is taped.

I'm in the patina camp. I feel kudos when I see a well used frame. Your bike wants to be spanked not cosseted

So you like your gear banged up?

I buy Fibrax now, great how some simple pieces of rubber stop cable rub. As for the frame itself just don't bother. But as others have said I'm not a serial swapper so less concerned about a second hand value on my MTB

Taped my lad's carbon 29er race thing because it felt a bit fragile and will get a battering.

Never bother with my steel frames. Quite like the patina of waterproof short rub on the top tube (looks like the wear you remember from childhood playground equipment). Otherwise there aren't any cable rub points - make your own frames and you can braze cable guides in just the right place for the specific bar position, levers, components etc. A permanent stainless steel badge in just the right spot protects the head tube.