I've left one on the road bike, with only 20 black flattened spokes per wheel I think they need all the protection thay can get, luckily it's black and the same size as the largest sprocket so not too hiseous, none of my other bikes have ever had one though!
Do you remove your dork disc?
- Thread starter Drummerboy1975
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Ah the Dork Disc, Spaz Shield, protector of the holy spokes... always the first thing to be removed (along with the reflectors on wheels and bike).
I guess over the years I have occasionally rued the fact that I always remove the plastic disc, but on the whole they are such an image cripplingly bad piece of junk that form wins over function every time.
Although I can see that a catalogue spec rebuild would rather suit one.
I guess over the years I have occasionally rued the fact that I always remove the plastic disc, but on the whole they are such an image cripplingly bad piece of junk that form wins over function every time.
Although I can see that a catalogue spec rebuild would rather suit one.
highlandsflyer
Retro Wizard
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Leave 'em on, or put one on.
I whack my rear changer often enough on a local ride, it is a true lifesaver, just like a bash ring should be on all bikes used in anger.
I whack my rear changer often enough on a local ride, it is a true lifesaver, just like a bash ring should be on all bikes used in anger.
gerryattrick
Retrobike Rider
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If they're on a bike when I get it they stay on, if they're not they rarely get put on, except if I'm selliing the bike. It's not something I worry about. If image is that important to you then I suppose you'll take them off.
Having said that I still shudder when I think of the Dawes racer I painstaking rebuilt more than 30 years ago and promptly mashed the rear wheel on its first ride because of poor rear mech set up :roll:
Having said that I still shudder when I think of the Dawes racer I painstaking rebuilt more than 30 years ago and promptly mashed the rear wheel on its first ride because of poor rear mech set up :roll:
Hadn't given it much thought (sorry didn't realise they were uncool).
If it's cracked an chipped you might as well remove but wouldn't go out of my way to do it.
Also my everyday bike still has its reflectors on the spokes... purely as I'm a middle aged old git of a car driver. Its very dark round here and I don't fancy being roadkill. My teenage self would be mortified at going out with 'LIGHTS & REFLECTORS ...' what next wearing a helmet...
If it's cracked an chipped you might as well remove but wouldn't go out of my way to do it.
Also my everyday bike still has its reflectors on the spokes... purely as I'm a middle aged old git of a car driver. Its very dark round here and I don't fancy being roadkill. My teenage self would be mortified at going out with 'LIGHTS & REFLECTORS ...' what next wearing a helmet...
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While I don't have any they do protect the spokes, the mech and a good ride.
You're nick name for it is new to me though, they've always just been called spoke protectors.
I've seen an old man down the street where the chain came over the top (mech setup was fine, it just bounced off) destroyed the wheel, snapped the rear mech and destroyed the chain.
Made me late for work trying to help him.
Also seen the chain come off over the top on plenty of our ride, happened to me. Even well setup mechs are not immune, if it's bouncy terrain or grassy, twiggy, it can bounce off or get derailed.
This is what can happen
(no vouching for that mech being setup correctly, but as far as I know it was.)
of course, I'd still not have one, it's just not retro.
I leave it on my old mans though, function over form is better there.
You're nick name for it is new to me though, they've always just been called spoke protectors.
I've seen an old man down the street where the chain came over the top (mech setup was fine, it just bounced off) destroyed the wheel, snapped the rear mech and destroyed the chain.
Made me late for work trying to help him.
Also seen the chain come off over the top on plenty of our ride, happened to me. Even well setup mechs are not immune, if it's bouncy terrain or grassy, twiggy, it can bounce off or get derailed.
This is what can happen
(no vouching for that mech being setup correctly, but as far as I know it was.)
of course, I'd still not have one, it's just not retro.
I leave it on my old mans though, function over form is better there.
Had the spokes on that drive side flange been built the other way around (as is reccomended) the damage would not have been so severe. The spokes threaded from the cassette side should point backwards in the upper half of the wheel (or be in tension when pedalling force is applied).
When the chain came off the direction of the outer spokes pulled the chain further down behind the cassette causing excessive damage rather than if it had been laced differently pushing the chain outwards. I'm not saying no damage would have occurred but I bet it would not have destroyed the wheel!
When the chain came off the direction of the outer spokes pulled the chain further down behind the cassette causing excessive damage rather than if it had been laced differently pushing the chain outwards. I'm not saying no damage would have occurred but I bet it would not have destroyed the wheel!
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I know the theory
But you need to go back to 1993 and tell Saracen's wheel builders that.
Wasn't my bike but the wheel got Dave home after some counter spoke tweaking by Chris.
I then rebuilt the wheel for the current owner, another Chris.
But I think I left the spokes positioning as was as the hub had bedded in to that position.
If the thin profile spoke protector I think these came with was left on, it wouldn't have been a problem.
But you need to go back to 1993 and tell Saracen's wheel builders that.
Wasn't my bike but the wheel got Dave home after some counter spoke tweaking by Chris.
I then rebuilt the wheel for the current owner, another Chris.
But I think I left the spokes positioning as was as the hub had bedded in to that position.
If the thin profile spoke protector I think these came with was left on, it wouldn't have been a problem.
