The Infamous Dork Disc
01-08-23, 08:48 PM
#1
Over the hill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,374
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
The Infamous Dork Disc
Came across this in my YouTube recommendations and found it fascinating considering what I (and probably many others) presume the ugly piece of plastic actually does.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
01-08-23, 09:15 PM
#2
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,186
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 884 Post(s)
Liked 2,307 Times
in
1,117 Posts
I don't know why Safari doesn't show youtube links in posts, but I assume it is about what the spoke protector does for the bike. That being said, I don't have one on my modern bike, and the plastic one that would have been on my Raleigh USA was long gone when I got it and I won't replace it. And as I've said every time the word dork disk comes up, I love pie plates on vintage bikes.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
01-08-23, 09:41 PM
#3
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,034
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2238 Post(s)
Liked 3,430 Times
in
1,794 Posts
01-08-23, 09:53 PM
#4
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,034
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2238 Post(s)
Liked 3,430 Times
in
1,794 Posts
Seth got kind of old. I guess I did too.
My oldest kid is definitely the type of person for whom keeping the dork disc in place is the right thing to do.
Does Campy make the best one?
My oldest kid is definitely the type of person for whom keeping the dork disc in place is the right thing to do.
Does Campy make the best one?
Likes For Polaris OBark:
01-08-23, 10:28 PM
#5
Over the hill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,374
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
I don't know why Safari doesn't show youtube links in posts, but I assume it is about what the spoke protector does for the bike. That being said, I don't have one on my modern bike, and the plastic one that would have been on my Raleigh USA was long gone when I got it and I won't replace it. And as I've said every time the word dork disk comes up, I love pie plates on vintage bikes.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
Likes For urbanknight:
01-09-23, 01:34 AM
#6
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
01-09-23, 01:37 AM
#7
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
Likes For Darth Lefty:
01-09-23, 08:47 AM
#11
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,635
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Has anyone ever made a cassette that has a spoke protector disc machined right onto the inside the largest cog of the cassette? Seems something like that could be the most elegant 'solution'
01-09-23, 10:01 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 4,141
Bikes: More bikes than riders
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1446 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times
in
570 Posts
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-7-CP.html
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-6-CP.html
01-09-23, 10:01 AM
#15
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
01-09-23, 11:00 AM
#16
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,614
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1662 Post(s)
Liked 1,816 Times
in
1,056 Posts
Yeah, he basically didn't have any tension in the drive chain. Here's another test done by a friend: 2000 miles into a self-contained cross-country tour, climbing the steepest grade, desperately shift to "gear zero". Result? 18 new drive-side spokes, thank you very much.
Fun fact: 'dork disk' does not appear as an entry in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. See: 'spoke protector'.
Fun fact: 'dork disk' does not appear as an entry in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. See: 'spoke protector'.
Likes For tcs:
01-09-23, 12:03 PM
#17
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,648
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 1,465 Times
in
1,014 Posts
01-09-23, 12:18 PM
#18
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,506
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4348 Post(s)
Liked 3,986 Times
in
2,661 Posts
Old school metal spoke protectors looked decent in some cases but plastic ain't really going to help much. Adjust your rear derailleur properly set the limits and if you get into a crash and your derailleur goes into the spokes don't expect a little piece of plastic to do a lot. If your limits are set you won't be going into the spokes with your chain and if they do the chain is thick heavy metal and the plastic spoke protector is thin plastic. I have actually had a lot of issues where the cassette is not properly spinning and turning poorly and mechanics are racking their brains trying to figure it out until we remove that piece of plastic and everything works like a charm.
If you like them go for them it is your bike but I wouldn't put one on a bike (unless maybe the vintage ones with some flair or maybe something nice carbon fiber with some cool designs or something!
If you like them go for them it is your bike but I wouldn't put one on a bike (unless maybe the vintage ones with some flair or maybe something nice carbon fiber with some cool designs or something!
01-09-23, 01:17 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
just don't try to burn off a plastic one
don't remember the old thread where someone tried that. I think it turned into a "situation". or maybe ppl were just joking about it?
don't remember the old thread where someone tried that. I think it turned into a "situation". or maybe ppl were just joking about it?
01-09-23, 01:46 PM
#20
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,014
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
Likes For RB1-luvr:
01-09-23, 02:42 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,208
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 487 Post(s)
Liked 429 Times
in
329 Posts
If you do bend your rear mech I think it's less likely to snag on a smooth bit of plastic than an unprotected spoke. Rear mech in spokes can have you walking home. I actually bought a plastic dork disc not long ago to fit on my hack bike because I tend to treat it careless, but I didn't check the hub flange diameter so it will be going on another bike that I've not started yet.
01-09-23, 02:56 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,658
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1608 Post(s)
Liked 2,588 Times
in
1,223 Posts
The BOC has had it's share. I've seen some pretty well demolished. I'm going to say they are pretty much like a helmet, good to have if things go wrong.
Likes For curbtender:
01-09-23, 02:58 PM
#24
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2746 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
Likes For dedhed: