It stems from the fact that I always hitch my leg over the toptube rather than behind (dodgy knee and hip, you see) and it scratches the top tube.When I was living in Philly there was a cool courier bag shop (RE.load bags) that sold top tube pads for courier bikes and they custom made me this pad and one for the chainstay and have since made one for my Roberts. Also makes my bike look like my first Raleigh Burner!