How is chrome plating carried out on steel racing bicycles? And why are they chromed? In the past, it was a way to protect frames from rust, so the parts most exposed to corrosion, like rear stays, fork, and junctions, were chromed. Over time, however, corrosion has been defeated by primers and paint coatings used, so chrome plating has remained an aesthetic factor, an embellishment of a bike. It’s also a uniqueness of the steel frame.
One of the most common methods is the process of electroplating. Here’s an overview of how it works:
Surface Preparation
Before chroming the bicycle frame, the surface must be properly prepared. This usually involves removing any paint residues or oxidation from the steel surface through sandblasting or other cleaning methods.
Application of Nickel Coating
Before applying the actual chrome coating, a thin layer of nickel is usually applied to the steel surface. This nickel layer serves as a base for chrome and improves the adhesion of the coating.
Electroplating
Once the nickel coating has been applied, the piece is immersed in an electrolytic solution containing chrome ions. Through the application of electric current, the chrome ions are deposited on the surface of the piece, creating a hard and corrosion-resistant chrome layer.
Finishing and Polishing
After the electroplating process, the piece is finished and polished to enhance its aesthetic appearance and corrosion resistance. In steel racing bicycles, not the entire frame is polished, but only the parts that will remain visible. Well-done polishing makes the difference between good and poor chrome plating. However, achieving perfect polishing takes time.
Painting
At this point, the chromed parts that have been polished and need to remain visible are isolated, and the rest is painted. There will then be meticulous work to seamlessly connect the painted parts with the chrome plating without smudges, eliminating imperfections by hand. And finally, we will have obtained a steel frame with chromed parts.
Chrome Plating: The Frame
What forms of chrome plating can we find on a steel frame? Junctions are very common and look beautiful when highlighted by chrome plating. But the most common chromed part of all is the right chainstay, that is, the one facing the chain. In this case, you’ll have a “single tube” chromed frame. This type of chroming is done to protect the frame from chain oil.
The frame richest in chrome plating is the “four tubes plus junctions”: that is, with the junctions and all four rear stays chromed. Absolutely stunning.
Chrome Plating: The Fork
Even chromed forks are not all the same. You might come across a fully chromed fork, classic and beautiful. But it’s also very common to find the “crown and blades” or “crown and tips” fork, meaning the fork is chromed at the top – the “crown” – and at the bottom where the wheel is inserted, with the blades painted instead. Obviously, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on the effect you want to achieve.
