Question about a part I broke

[brink]

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

 

[gds]

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!

 

[skyhooks]

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

 

[Leo Lichtman]

"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."

 

[Fred]

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

>

 

[Werehatrack]

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

 

[Richard B]

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

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

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

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

 

[John Thompson]

On 2006-08-18, brink <[email protected]> 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 ([email protected])

 

[Fred]

"Richard B" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Richard B <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> Werehatrack <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 15:01:52 -0700, "brink" <[email protected]>
>>> 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
>>> 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.

>
> Rich

 

[Leo Lichtman]

"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? ;-)

 

[Mike Kruger]

"Richard B" <[email protected]> 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/

 

[[email protected]]

> 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.

 

[[email protected]]

> 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.