Chain Tatoo

[Kimmyt]

I hear ya! I have that stuff on my permanently. Mostly I get it when I'm doing a standing climb because I'm not yet that steady during the process and always manage to scrape legs on the chain.

Problem I have is that I can never get the stuff off. I swear I think it's just me, cause no one else seems to have this problem, but it takes me several days to fully get the bike grease off my skin. I can scrub at it for a half hour with soap and a hard bristle brush, and all the good it'll do me is give me a nice red blotch to draw even more attention to the chainmarks.

It drives me nuts!

[Running Mommy]

Tony calls them "rookie marks"... ARGH!!
I have big legs, so I get them alot- and I aint no rookie!
I used to have this saying "Do you know what the difference between a "runner" and a "jogger" is?? Exactly 26.2 miles"... ha ha
Well in cycling I'd say the difference between a "veteran" and a "newbie" is exactly 100 miles!!!!
Not that there is anything wrong w/ being a "jogger" or a "newbie" we were all there at least once in our life!
At the race they had sayings on all the mile marker signs- motivational kind of things. They put one in the athlete video. It was the mile 13 marker. It said "Never look down on anyone unless you are helping them up"... I like that.

[Lise]

I usually have a pack of baby wipes in my seat bag for just this reason. I don't mind them, they're macho in a girly way but sometimes you just don't want to go into...say...work (!) all greasy.

I also get the scuff mark from my own tire. I've had many friends ask if I fell down. No, just leaned the bike up against myself at some point...

[SadieKate]

Don't know how you get them on a standing climb, but I can solve your problem when dismounting. Just unclip your left foot rather than your right.

[velogirl]

Here's a maybe obvious suggestion -- don't over-lube your chain.

Lube is meant to go on the pins, not the outside of the chain (or anywhere else for that matter). When you apply wet lube, you should thoroughly rub it off immediately. When you apply dry/wax lube, you should rub it off after it sits on the chain for 4-6 hours.

Lube acts as a magnet for dirt, dust, bugs, plant-life -- anything you'd find on the side of the road. When these stick to your chain, they mash together and form a solid compound (look at your pulley wheels sometime). This sludge causes wear & tear on your components.

So, keep your chain dry. I lube my chain everytime I ride, but because I only lube the pins and wipe it after each application, you can touch the chain all you want and never get dirty.

[Robbin_G]

Ya know what gets chain grease off?

Sunscreen!

Kinda scary but works for me every time.

[Crankin]

You need to get Naturally Tuff- Orange by Kimberly Clarke. We have a giant sized pump bottle. We've used it for years. Just rub a tiny bit on the greasy spot and wipe off. You don't need water and it doesn't smell bad.

[Pedal Wench]

Don't know how you get them on a standing climb, but I can solve your problem when dismounting. Just unclip your left foot rather than your right.

I do this, and I assumed this was why I DID get the tattoos. When I'm stopped, I lean my right leg against the bike for stability, rubbing the chain right against my leg.

[yellow]

IProblem I have is that I can never get the stuff off. I swear I think it's just me, cause no one else seems to have this problem, but it takes me several days to fully get the bike grease off my skin.

Olive oil! And it's good for your skin!

[tomgrrrl]

I actually have a slight scar in the shape of a partial chain ring on my leg from a mtb fall I took last year....

also have a recent scar(s) or scabs rather, on my head from taking a header WALKING my dog a couple weeks ago due to an algae covered sidewalk (tells you how much rain we've had here in the Bay Area of late)...ended up with two gashes on my head, firefighters and an ambulance ride to the hospital (none of which I remember) staples on my scalp and at CT scan.....my friends laugh and say I should wear my bike helmet on dog walks and not worry about my bike rides!!!

The staples are out now and I think the sun might have decided to stick around so time to get back on the bike!!!! Helmet on head of course!

[Lise]

Sorry to hear about your dramatic header. This is the second mention I've heard from the west coast of algae on the sidewalk. Incredible. Maybe this is what would happen if it never froze in Chicago.

Let's be careful out there!

[RoadRaven]

I actually have a slight scar in the shape of a partial chain ring on my leg from a mtb fall I took last year....

One of my daughters friends came off his bike in a nasty tumbling crash, and the chain wrapped into his side and back and damaged his kidney...

Moral of the story, no matter how cute these badges are, remember those damn chains are damn sharp!

Oh... and btw... I prefer to leave my "badge/tattoo" there... I like it!