scratches/chips

tlupfer said:

I'm concerned that if it keeps happening my bike is going to look quite unsightly (the touch up paint doesn't *quite* match perferctly).

Anything you use regularly will eventually look used no matter what you do. Bikes are meant to be ridden, decide how careful you are willing to be and get over it. Since you're planning to hang on to the bike second-hand value should be of little interest for you.

Quoted post said:

I've been contemplating whether getting a custom paint job would make it more durable.

Probably not in any larger extent, the paints used by the industry is usually quite good in this aspect. Powder coats and epoxy paints are generally considered strong as paints goes, but there's no guarantee that they'll be stronger than your current paint job. You could always have someone add a couple of layers of clear lacquer (sp?) on top of your current paint, that'll add some protection.

Quoted post said:

And if so, what my options are for a custom job ....

Numerous, air brush, pin striping, chrome, gold leaf whatever you can think of and pay for...

Quoted post said:

What have the rest of you with steel frames done to protect them?

On occasion I've used clear adhesive plastic, or a decently color-matched tape on spots where the cables have rubbed against the frame. And something sturdier on the chainstay. Other than that - wash - dry - occasionally waxing it.

tlupfer said:

I recently got an 03 specialized allez comp cromo on closeout at my lbs. Needless to say, I'm in love. However, after returning from a ~50 mile ride over the weekend I noticed a couple scratches and a chip in the paint...

I don't have a definitive answer, but here's something to note -- of the three road bikes currently at my home (a 2004 Klein Q-Pro, a 2003 Giant TCR Alloy, and a 2003 Specialized Allez Vita Women's), only the Specialized has significant paint damage, and it's seen the fewest miles by far.

The bike, which belongs to my fiancee, has been treated with care and only used on a few hundred miles of easy road -- no crashes, no storage mishaps, no topples or freak accidents. Somehow, it's developed a couple of big missing chips on the top tube. I can't prove it, but I suspect there's a bit of a durability issue with some batches of Specialized paint. Maybe it's only certain colors, or certain years, or certain factory days -- who knows. I do know the 2003 Allez we own seems to have a brittle finish.

Every other road bike I've owned in recent years eventually develops its share of scratches and dings, but generally, they resist superficial damage to a degree. It's something you hope for, and expect.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), you will most likely not care as much in the years to come 🙂

I stole this from www.bikeforums.net : "when I first bought my bike, it took me 3 hours to clean it, two months later it took me 45 mins...now it takes 10 mins."

We all love our bikes to be stay sexy, but let's face it, they're more of a tool than an ornament, so they are gunna show signs of wear and tear.

You can look after your bike to an extent, being careful where you lean it, etc, but you can't prevent stones and other [censored] flying up off the road and chipping the paint, especially on the under side of the down-tube and the forks. The chain will also occasionally bounce around and mark the "stays".

I just keep slapping on layer upon layer of touch-up paint, after making sure the area is very clean.

If you wanna worry about something, worry about the inside of the frame rusting, because it isn't painted :eek:

You can get stuff like "framsaver" or fish oil to spray the insides of the tubes.

lokstah said:

I don't have a definitive answer, but here's something to note -- of the three road bikes currently at my home (a 2004 Klein Q-Pro, a 2003 Giant TCR Alloy, and a 2003 Specialized Allez Vita Women's), only the Specialized has significant paint damage, and it's seen the fewest miles by far.

The bike, which belongs to my fiancee, has been treated with care and only used on a few hundred miles of easy road -- no crashes, no storage mishaps, no topples or freak accidents. Somehow, it's developed a couple of big missing chips on the top tube. I can't prove it, but I suspect there's a bit of a durability issue with some batches of Specialized paint. Maybe it's only certain colors, or certain years, or certain factory days -- who knows. I do know the 2003 Allez we own seems to have a brittle finish.

Every other road bike I've owned in recent years eventually develops its share of scratches and dings, but generally, they resist superficial damage to a degree. It's something you hope for, and expect.

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

I'm glad to see that I'm not alone. I fully realize and accept that with time my bike will take a hit here and there, but after 300 miles it seems a bit odd that there would be multiple scratches and a large chip on relatively low traffic areas of the bike (top tube and just below the rear brake). My commuter has traveled many more miles and taken much more abuse without shedding much of its paint. I suppose I'll just keep patching it up for the time being.