This is my first post here, as I'm just a beginning mt. bike racer (28 years of running and x-c ski racing though). I finished my second Cheq 40 race this past weekend. At the start line I was looking around at bikes/equipment/etc. and noticed that a large percent of bikes had protective wrap around the frame just below the chain. Looked to be about a foot long, made of black rubber or foam material and taped tight around the portion of frame that extends to rear axle - my description shows how much I know about bike terminology. Anyhow, what is the purpose of this wrap? Thanks.