WikiPedalia is not endorsed or affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
Chainguard
From WikiPedalia
Any of several types of protective baffle used to prevent the chain from entrapping a trouser leg, or soiling the cyclist's leg or clothing. Getting a trouser leg caught in the chain can be an inconvenience on any bicycle, but, in the case of a bicycle with a coaster brake or a fixed gear, it can be extremely dangerous.
- The traditional "hockey-stick" type chainguard extends from the seat stay forward and covers the upper run of chain, running down the front side of the chainwheel.
- The full gear case or chain case completely encloses the chain and protects it from contamination. This type of chainguard is, unfortunately, not widely available in the U.S., though it is quite popular in the Netherlands.
- Chainwheel discs, unlike the above styles of chainguard, are usable on bicycles with derailer gearing and multiple chainwheels. They are primarily intended to prevent soiled clothing, since the front derailer tends to keep trouser cuffs from being snagged. Unfortunately, many chainwheel discs interfere with obtaining the best possible front derailer adjustment. Should the chain become derailed on a bike with a chainwheel disc, it may become seriously wedged between the disc and the large chainring. Chainwheel discs are rarely found on high-quality bicycles.
