By blackmountaincycles,
Filed under: Things I dislike
How hard can it be to remove those little pieces of tape that brake makers fix to their road brake calipers to protect the finish in shipping? It’s the first thing I do when I install a brake on a road bike. And it’s one of the first things I’ll do if it’s on a bike I’m working on. Leaving it on is like, well, you might as well leave the plastic on your new couch. I would personally prefer to have a tiny scratch on the arm where the other arm touched than that piece of tape.
The thing that gets me is it’s very likely that the person who assembled this bike when it came out of the box is a bike person. They work in a bike shop because they like bikes. If you like bikes, why leave that nasty piece of tape on the brake? Do you have one on your bike or did you remove it? I’ve not seen this tape left on on any pro bikes. I know they aren’t the easiest things in the world to remove. I even mentioned this to a friend who used to work at Shimano at one time. I don’t think it was a priority for them, though. If Shimano removes it before taking a product shot, then everyone else needs to as well.
(What’s playing – last three songs: The Clash Clash City Rockers, The Beatles Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Simon and Garfunkel The Sound of Silence)
(What’s playing – last three songs: The Clash Clash City Rockers, The Beatles Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, Simon and Garfunkel The Sound of Silence)
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We actually sell new pieces of foam tape to customers that bring their bikes in without them. It gives the brake a two-tone look.
We charge $.50
Looks like the bike guy who assembled this one also didn’t quite understand the wheel release cam – cable tightened in the open position?
Mail order… ugh. Are the QRs done up like wing nuts too?
I opened the brake QR to get a better shot.
Gordon, you could actually get die cut pieces of tape to apply to 7800 dura ace to give it a 7900 look. You could charge a dollar!
I deeply regret I didn’t see the opportunity this presents!
That tape on the brakes irks me too, Mike. I see it all the time.
Add the little front derailluer height guide sticker to this discussion too, that’s another pet peeve of mine.
And while we’re at it, why do people let there cable ends stick out in the wind? Linear pull cable ends, front derailuer cable ends, and well……….sorry! You got me going there!
Thank you for bringing up this issue. That tape drives me crazy too!
I know people who religiously preserve the plastic covering their new sofa.