Main pivot guard/fender

[CaptAngry]

A thing I noticed with my new Relay is that there is no guard/fender/mud flap to keep mud, sand, and most importantly ROCKS out of the main pivot. I have seen photos of catastrophic carbon frame failures due to rocks getting into a pivot.

As a temporary (or maybe permanent) solution I used a scrap piece of Rok Block from my truck tailgate to fashion a rubber mud guard

This was version 1... I have more scrap if needed to change the shape, location, etc. I think the main change I am already looking at is not notching it at the bearings to keep debris out of that gap. Kind of ugly, but it is a prototype. Haven't ridden to test it

My other thought is to try and design/3D print something closer to the fender that Transition uses on the Smuggler

What is anyone else using to keep crap out of that pivot?

 

[irie]

Looks fine, just make it wider and higher up to cover both pivot points.

Done the same thing using neoprene sheet.

Post in thread 'Rail rear mudguard' Rail rear mudguard

 

[pshanks76]

Would the smuggler guard fit the Relay or are they too different in shape?

 

[CaptAngry]

It sure looks similar, but I’m guessing it won’t. Maybe I’ll email Transition and ask

 

[CaptAngry]

I received a response back from Transition... the Smuggler fender will not fit. The Relay pivot is significantly wider

To the CAD Machine!

 

[Mr Tonka]

why not just cut an old tube (what are those?!LoL) to the shape you want and get some ultra thin double stick tape?

 

[CaptAngry]

I'm an engineer... can't just use common sense and simplicity, now can we?

 

[Mr Tonka]

I'm an engineer... can't just use common sense and simplicity, now can we?

I'm 100% ok with this. haha

 

[RustyIron]

Your solution looks very similar to what came on my Pivot Shuttle AM. It's just a little patch of rubber that's stuck to either side. It works nicely.

 

[Mr Tonka]

Your solution looks very similar to what came on my Pivot Shuttle AM. It's just a little patch of rubber that's stuck to either side. It works nicely.

yeah, same as my Phoenix 29.

My GF vinyl wraps bikes for a living and oddly enough I was disasembling a relay last night. After pulling the main rocker link off, it was apparent a small rock had been lodged between the rocker and seat tube at one point. Gouges on each part about 1mm deep.

 

[CaptAngry]

…it was apparent a small rock had been lodged between the rocker and seat tube at one point. Gouges on each part about 1mm deep.

This is exactly why I’m going through the effort!

 

[RustyIron]

My GF vinyl wraps bikes for a living and oddly enough I was disasembling a relay last night. After pulling the main rocker link off, it was apparent a small rock had been lodged between the rocker and seat tube at one point. Gouges on each part about 1mm deep.

My current bike has ugly gouges in between the swing arm and the tire. I don't know how to prevent such a thing aside from riding really slow or sticking to the tourist trails.

It's interesting that your GF wraps bikes. My previous bike had an ugly scratch on the chainstay. If it was caused from riding, I could have lived with it. But it was caused by throwing all the bikes over the tailgate and then barreling down a dirt road at breakneck speed. It was an oversight on my part, and it irritated me every time I saw it. I bought a couple small sheets of wrap stuff on Amazon, and watched a YouTube video. The results looked GREAT. It wasn't perfect, but you couldn't see the flaw unless you were lying on the ground and looking up at the bike. I've wondered about doing a whole bike, but that's beyond my skill level.

 

[Mr Tonka]

My current bike has ugly gouges in between the swing arm and the tire. I don't know how to prevent such a thing aside from riding really slow or sticking to the tourist trails.

It's interesting that your GF wraps bikes. My previous bike had an ugly scratch on the chainstay. If it was caused from riding, I could have lived with it. But it was caused by throwing all the bikes over the tailgate and then barreling down a dirt road at breakneck speed. It was an oversight on my part, and it irritated me every time I saw it. I bought a couple small sheets of wrap stuff on Amazon, and watched a YouTube video. The results looked GREAT. It wasn't perfect, but you couldn't see the flaw unless you were lying on the ground and looking up at the bike. I've wondered about doing a whole bike, but that's beyond my skill level.

She does PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps and custom artistic wraps as well. It's amazing how well the PPF will protect the bike.

This is not everyone's cup of tea but it's a statement piece on her own bike showing what is possible with vinyl. It's vinyl wrapped and then covered with gloss PPF. We rode 6 bike parks last month with this bike and almost everyone to take it off the lift thought it was painted. Not only is the design of the print art, but installation is almost an art form in itself.

Because it's a "business" bike, she did a different theme for each side.

 

[RustyIron]

This is not everyone's cup of tea but it's a statement piece on her own bike showing what is possible with vinyl.

Daaaaamn! Those are sick!
I'm glad you guys are so far away. If you were closer, I'd be tempted. But if my bike looked that good, I'd be afraid to ride it.

 

[franciscoasismm]

What I found on the web and my prototype 1.0 with a piece of old tube

 

[folmonty]

two tubes glued together, then cut to size. Been working for years without issue. Not having the main pivot covered isn't an option IMHO.

 

[irie]

Same as post #2 except I used some 1mm neoprene sheet I had lying around.