Eat My Dirt Brake Shield

The Eat My Dirt Brake Shield is primarily designed to protect disc brake/rotors when re-lubricating the chain. It also prevents tyres and rims and, ahem, floors getting a sticky coating of spent lube.

Story goes these were invented after Jon fancied a quick blast on Gary's bike. Unbeknown to Jon, Gary had 'just chucked a bit of oil on his chain and cassette' seeing as they were looking a bit dry. Mid wheelie, Jon engaged the rear brake... Nothing. Next thing he knew he was flat on his back and the concept was born.

> Find your nearest dealer/buy online here

Being marine engineers, they made a prototype from cardboard and refined the design with some input from Huddersfield University. Ultimately, they decided polypropylene was the ideal flexible, chemical-resistant material. In fact, they are so confident in its longevity, they will replace free of charge (under normal use), so long as you send them a short video explaining how they failed.

The Brake Shield is essentially a massive 'bib' that clips on in literally seconds once you've got the knack. Bike Bib was their intended moniker but it seems Michelin owns the name 'bib'...

First, slip the shield behind the cassette and secure the tab around a convenient spoke. Clip the top hook around another spoke and check it won't move when you rotate the cranks backwards. This has proven pretty reliable with 21-32t biggest tooth setups, including old school screw-on freewheels, but fixed and single speeds were non-starters.

Double checking is crucial, otherwise – as I discovered on my first attempt – the tray containing spent lube/solvents will empty out. Thankfully, my Univega was parked on a strip of concrete not the best lino, but you have been warned!

Now, assuming chains and cassette aren't bone dry, baste on or give your chain and cassette a quick blast of degreaser, strip any existing lube, dry off, then drizzle on some fresh prep, wiping away the excess. Carefully unclip the Bike Shield and rinse out.

Despite some initial scepticism, the lip doesn't allow the gungy residual stuff to seep out and defeat the object, and it does genuinely make the whole job a lot cleaner.

Ours has scrubbed up very nicely too – a quick shot of bike wash chased through with the garden hose seemed the quickest route to purging tenacious spatter. Several weeks in, it looks almost packet fresh with no sign of wear, despite being subjected to some fairly harsh solvents.

> How to clean and lube your chain

Whether it's worth £15 is debatable. I think Eat My Dirt is on to something but maybe needs to refine it a bit further. Critics will also point out that old bits of cardboard will do a similar job for virtually nothing – a technique I'm also very fond of.

Verdict

Good concept and much cheaper than carpet cleaning bills, but needs further refinement