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Getting sick of feeling nervous every time I hear bits of rock hitting the downtube. One hit with a right crack the other day. Pierced the invisiframe but the carbon looks ok.
Have seen the Rockguardz ones but they don't extend very far up the tube. The stone the other day hit just and inch or two below the headtube. Could make my own from kydex or just use innertube or old tyre.
Anyone have any other sugestions or recommendations?
I've had a rockguardz one on my last 3 bikes, well worth the money, extends far enough up out of the zone you'd ordinarily get rock strikes on.
A tyre will not stop a big pointy bastard stone, don't ask me how I know this.
@Nobeerinthefridge How rigid are those rockguardz? e.g. if you were to somehow ram your downtube into the sharp edge of a rock step or even a big pointy bastard stone would they save the frame?
My old Summum came with a Rockguardz one, it seemed alright but perhaps a bit thin.
I am now putting 3M rubber mastic tape on my bikes, it's got a bit more squidge than an inner tube and is much easier and neater to apply.
Way less faffy looking that Kydex (not tried that though).
Yeah without a doubt, I've had some right gert rocks smack into a rockguardz with barely a flinch. Well worth the cash
Jordan, yes, they're very robust.
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Just had a look on the Rockguardz website and they dont do one for my frame size. Although I guess there might not be much difference between the L and XL frame in that area. Reading the product description it sounds as though the strength and rigidity comes from the glass fibre inner layer with the carbon layer just for aesthetics.
After my rock strike the other day I still don't think it extends far enough up the tube. I still might try making my own and maybe use some of that mastic tape between it and the frame.
I'm surprised more bikes don't protection built in. Mine has a huge ABS panel running within 15 cm of the top head tube. My only really big strike (the bike is quite new) was really high up
@ampthill what bike is that if you don't mind me asking? Would google it for a look.
I hated downtube strikes as I used to ride at Antur Stiniog (Slate mine slagheap!)
I tried all sorts including kydex (wasn't brilliant as couldn't get fit snugly enough). The Rockguardz was the best for fit and protection, 3M mastic and adhesive backed foam from work were both joint 2nd
Ion SAS-Tech frame protection. Pretty thick, self adhesive incredibly impact resistant 👍