Stupid question

[rideswithmoobs]

the plastic dinner plate on rear wheel behind cassette, Spoje guard,who removes them and who leaves on ?
I was going to take it off my new MTB but thought I would ask first as it means breaking it to remove. I'm bobbing the vibe back to shop tomorrow as wife noticed some chipped paint on it so not taking it off today. I understand the reason for it but wondered if many keep them on MTB, especially as the rear derailleur gets banged sometimes

 

[S-Express]

You don't need to break the dork disk to take it off - but chipped paint on an MTB - seriously?

 

[JtB]

I've got chipped paint on my bikes and I don't remove the guard. I saw what happened once when a friend's derailleur hit the rear spokes.

 

[tyred]

I never fit one of those guards if building up a “new” bike but never remove them if one is fitted. It does no harm and may even do a great deal of good if the mech gets a knock.

Paint? What's that? I think it's all worn off most of my bikes.

 

[Drago]

I remove mine, and because I keep the bikes meticulously adjusted have zero risk of an unwanted much/spoke interface event.

 

[simon the viking]

When I picked my new bike last week (a Propel) It still had the dork disc on....... The conversation went something like.....

'Can you take the spoke protector off please.........'

'Yeah sure...'

It was off 2 minutes later......

 

[screenman]

When I picked my new bike last week (a Propel) It still had the dork disc on....... The conversation went something like.....

'Can you take the spoke protector off please.........'

'Yeah sure...'

It was off 2 minutes later......

I think a dork is the guy that takes it off and then does not maintain the bike correctly.

 

[rideswithmoobs]

You don't need to break the dork disk to take it off - but chipped paint on an MTB - seriously?

Chipped, flaking paint on a brand new bike at 1700 quid, yes I am serious because I worked hard to save the money to buy it and at that price I don't expect it to come pre chipped. Brand new means just that doesn't it ?

 

[rideswithmoobs]

I'm going to leave the dork guard on as its new and will take it out in a few rides and check it's been set up properly and beds in before removing if I decide to but am I really been picky about the paint around the integral seatpost clamp ????

 

[Deleted member 1258]

The pie plate is a throwback to the days of friction shifters and is unnecessary on a modern indexed system. I used them when I was using friction shifters but stopped using them when I moved to indexed systems.

 

[rrarider]

A spoke protector is not needed for friction shifters, nor was it ever necessary. I've never used any other kind of system and as long as the L screw is set correctly, the derailleur won't crash into the spokes.

 

[jonny jeez]

A spoke protector is not needed for friction shifters, nor was it ever necessary. I've never used any other kind of system and as long as the L screw is set correctly, the derailleur won't crash into the spokes.

Unless the mech gets a knock and the resulting chain takes a few spokes with it as it wraps around the stays.

Never leave mine on though.

 

[BrynCP]

I don't have one, yet I've twice had my derailleur go into the spokes followed by a costly repair.

The first was after a theft attempt had bent the derailleur and I am not sure the disc would have afforded me any protection being the derailleur itself was sucked into the spokes. The second was after a chain failure, and maybe it would have saved me the £99 repair bill, a fall off my bike and a back wheel. Oh and both instances chipped the pain substantially on the chain stays!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A spoke protector is not needed for friction shifters, nor was it ever necessary. I've never used any other kind of system and as long as the L screw is set correctly, the derailleur won't crash into the spokes.

The pie plate saved my bacon several times. When I was young I had a family to support and a mortgage to pay, because of this my bikes were either very old and worn or cobbled together out of spare bits. Even with the low screw set right there was no guarantee that I wouldn't have the odd miss change.

 

[mjr]

Even with the low screw set right there was no guarantee that I wouldn't have the odd miss change.

Doesn't happen unless something else is wrong, which is possible on a Heinz bike.

I don't fit them but I only remove them if they start rattling.