How to Make a Frame Pad From an Inner Tube

Reduce, reuse, retire. Many riders experience pinch flats, thorn holes and blowouts on bike tire inner tubes. There must be a way to convert those now useless tubes into something of value. Enter . . . the frame pad. It's trendy, it's chic and it protects where it needs to. Best of all, it's a free use of an item that would otherwise be discarded into the abyss of Mother Earth. Used on mountain bikes to alleviate chain slap, BMX bikes to protect the family jewels or single speeds to guard from handlebar scratches. The inner tube frame pad serves its purpose.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 used mountain bike tube or 2 used road bike tubes
  • Sharp utility scissors
  • Colored duct tape
  • Plastic wrap (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut off the valve from the used bike tube with sharp scissors. In the same general area, slice the tube in half to form one long strip.

    • 2

      Stick the scissors into the hole at one end of the tube strip and slice it all the way down the middle. You should now have one flat layer of rubber.

    • 3

      Identify the area on your frame that needs padding. For instance, a mountain biker may want to pad his chainstay to alleviate chain slap or a single-speed rider may have the need to pad the top tube.

    • 4

      Clean any dirt off the bike frame. Also, remove any debris from the used inner tube.

    • 5

      Wrap the area to be padded with plastic wrap to protect the paint on the frame, if you'd like.

    • 6

      Start at either end of your work area and securely tape one end of the rubber tube to the frame at an shallow angle. Ideally, duct tape should cover and secure a 1/2 inch of the tube end and 1 inch of the frame.

    • 7

      Wrap the tube, starting at the taped end, around the frame in a diagonal pattern. Make sure to overlap the rubber about 1/4 inch (or more if you want a thicker barrier) on each go round.

    • 8

      Tape the end of the completed wrap to the frame in the same manner used to secure the start of the wrap.

    • 9

      Assess if the intended area is covered. If not, repeat the process with a second tube to achieve full coverage.

    • 10
      Recycling inner tubes makes for one less piece of rubber in our landfills.

      Cut the duct tape into whatever width you'd like to complete a patterned wrap over your new frame pad. Being creative, simply trace the seams of the tube wrap or crisscross the tape to form a design. Either way, it will add structure to your frame pad and a signature look to your bike.