Chain Tatoo

[corrine]

Now that warm weather is here and I am wearing shorts again - here comes the dreaded chain tattoo. You know when your leg gets too close to the chain either mounting or dismounting the bike. I never really know exactly when I get them, but I sure do. I usually only ride with my husband and, of course, he doesn't get them. I seem to find bike grease with ease and put it exactly where I don't want it. Anyone else out there have this issue?

[Geonz]

Happens all the time but I don't consider it an issue. I think it's a badge of riding :-)

[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.

[ccnyc]

Quote: "Happens all the time but I don't consider it an issue. I think it's a badge of riding"

My bike club has an annual contest for these marks, which have been named after a guy named Schwebber, who was famous for being covered in chain marks. So, winning the "Best Schwebber's" award is definitely a fun award to win, although not necessarily something to aspire to.

Carol

[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.

[profàvélo]

I seem to get them when I'm standing around, waiting for the start of a ride, for example, or when I'm moving my bike, garage to car or something...so I just make sure I am on the left side of my bike when standing or walking with it.

As for unclipping, looks like you would want to unclip the right (chain) side (at least at a stop sign), because when you put your right foot on the ground, you can lean the top of the bike to the right, creating space between your leg and the chain at the bottom. If I unclip the left foot, I have a better chance of my right leg leaning left against the chain.

[SadieKate]

Hmm, I've unclipped on the left side for 20+ years now as does hubby. No chain marks unless we're mountainbiking when you have to clip out on whatever side is necessary. Guess I don't lean the bike against me. I just plop down on the top tube if I'm standing for any length of time or have my right foot up ready to go. This also means my cleats don't slide on the downhill side of a crowned road (made worse with oil or debris).

Your front derailleur should prevent much contact with the chainrings and proper lubing of the chain helps more.

[bikerchick68]

I know a very hard core rider who had part of a chainring actually TATTOOED on her leg! It's a riot of course, we're all sorta warped...

and yeah, everyone gets them... from the most experienced to the least experienced...

[KnottedYet]

I kinda like the chain tattoo. But if I need to get it off I rub in Burt's Bees Hand Salve, then wipe it off. No scrubbing, no soap.