Was everything better in the past? Not necessarily. Until recently, all mountain bikers were annoyed by the loud clattering of chains. With the introduction of Shadow Plus and Type 2, Shimano and Sram calmed down the drivetrains clearly. However, depending on the chainstay position and riding style, flapping chains still rattle the nerves of many bikers. That doesn't have to be the case.
With these do-it-yourself tips, you can not only protect your nerves, but also the chain stay:
1. special adhesive tape
With thick adhesive tape (e.g. Marsh Guard Slapper Tape14 euros) to mask off the affected areas. The adhesive tape can be cut to size and applied as required. It is light and inconspicuous, but does not offer all-round protection like handlebar tape.
2. bicycle inner tube
Cut a piece about 35 centimetres long from an old bicycle inner tube and cut it lengthways. Then place it around the chainstay and secure it with either insulating tape or cable ties. This option is the cheapest (old tube, cost: none), but not the most elegant. However, the tube also offers protection against stones and shoe abrasion.
3. handlebar tape
Wrap the self-adhesive handlebar tape around the chain stay - like a racing bike handlebar. Then wrap the ends with insulating tape. The thickness of the protection can be varied depending on the wrapping. Handlebar tape is available from five euros in many colours. Depending on your taste, you can also wrap the entire rear triangle to protect it from scratches and stone chips. Thanks to the complete wrapping, the handlebar tape offers very good protection and also looks good in the right colour. However, we advise against using colours that are too light, as the chain will quickly turn them black.
