RCMoeur 

We always called 'em "pie plates". Still use them on some bikes.

veganbikes

Then you would want a disc wheel in that case because the derailleur will likely clear the spoke protector when it bent. On my careless bike I didn't bother I just have a good derailleur and set it right and I cannot get it to overshift if I wanted to and if it does bend I am not personally confident in thin plastic that doesn't cover too much beyond the cassette in stopping it from going into the spokes.

I think yes if it were to hit smooth plastic it is less likely to snag but I don't think generally it will hit much smooth plastic unless a disc wheel or something large and even then if it was able to bend to that level I have a feeling it would have just cracked the dang thing. maybe not but those things seem to be easy to snap off.

Hondo6

Yes, actually - though it appears to be an integral part of the largest rear sprocket and was IMO probably formed when said largest sprocket was stamped out of 2mm steel sheet vice machined. Shimano made some 5-speed Uniglide versions that were Schwinn Approved.



Front View

Back View

The largest rear sprocket is effectively a 28T - the four support arms for the integral "dork disk" replace 4 teeth, so it only has 24 actual teeth.

Edited to add: this is the only example I've ever seen; dunno if Shimano ever made a 6- or 7-speed version.. It's now awaiting a future build (which will be 6-speed; it takes standard Uniglide sprockets and spacers), which likely won't occur for several years in the future. The source purportedly had 2 of these, but the second turned out to be an actual Schwinn Approved 6-speed UG cassette w/o built in spoke protector on the last sprocket. I didn't really mind, as my NOS UG hub set is 6-speed.

Clever design, but likely added too much weight (2mm steel plate is fairly heavy) to catch on industry-wide. Plus, I'm also guessing either Shimano or Schwinn patented the design.

ARider2

That’s a bizarre looking cassette with the built in spoke protector. I have never seen such a thing. I’m not sure if the 4 missing teeth on the largest cog are a great idea, which results in a such a large gap between the two teeth.

zandoval 

I get ya UB... It's hard to see... On my old PR-10 with it's old Campy derailleur skipping the chain off during a fast gear change can happen even when adjusted properly. Other times even with my 80's bikes when doing easy single track through high grass the derailleur can be nudged off during a shift. Of course that is quite infrequent. Lately I have been rethinking the old Dork Disk. I now have them on two of my bikes. I use them on the bikes that others may ride in that they may shift aggressively and flip that chain inward. This can happen more frequently when inexperienced riders use my non-indexed friction sifters. Of the three bikes I ride frequently one of them has a nice new clear plastic dork dish. Refusing to put a dork disk on the PR-10 my solution was to put a spacer inside the freewheel to give it a little more clearance... Ha

Of further note is the damage that comes from a slipped chain to the inner hub. If the rider keeps pedaling even a few turns the chain can do allot of damage to the spoke necks. In this picture I am trying to show that a jammed chain has caused small damage and abrasions to the most critical part of the spoke, the bend at the neck. I am now going to have to replace most of the spokes on this wheel.

Hondo6

I hadn't seen one either until I ran across that one. And yeah, it does look strange.

However, I don't see why the missing teeth would be a major problem, other than maybe making the sprocket wear out a bit faster (fewer teeth engaging per rotation). I understand 1/2" pitch chain works acceptably on skip-tooth (e.g., 1" pitch) chainrings. All one missing tooth does is create a short a skip-tooth segment in 4 places on the sprocket.

Darth Lefty 

That stamped integrated version is cool. Can't imagine it goes well with shift ramps though.

Only scraping outies is why there are eight in my photo earlier. The innies were fine

rumrunn6

ha! yes!

base2 

I assert that the entire internet is wrong.

While the spoke protector is probably marginally helpful in preventing catastrophe from an overshift, it's most useful function as far as I can tell is to shield the exposed bearings in the backside of the freewheel from debris intrusion.

The rest is cultural inertia, hopes, dreams & luck.

On bikes with freewheels, I recommend the dork disc be installed for maintenance reasons more so than any disaster mitigation concerns.

It might be an unpopular sentiment but, anyone who relies on a safety device for safety usually get what they deserve.

That being said: Shiny, metal dork disks get a pass.

Chuck M 

My mid 2015 MacBook is too old for anything beyond Monterey. I suspect I could poke around in some Safari setting and see what is askew, but I rarely follow video links anyway.

tcs

Back in the day: straight cut cog teeth, late shifting derailleurs that required overshift.

Now: shaped and ramped cog teeth, early shifting indexed derailleurs.

grumpus

I have, but not for a long time.
The gap probably just makes it easier to shift up a gear.

chorlton

Just to be wrong the guys test methodology is broken. He uses his treadmill to spin the wheels and then drops the chain with minimal torque on the cranks and, as a result, no realistic, short/long term tension in the chain. If he dropped it whilst pedaling with real world tension in the chain and his butt on the saddle he might, will, see different results.

SurferRosa

Agree. And thus the reason to add them all to the recycling bin.

grumpus

Judging by the chewed up spoke protectors I've seen they do a good job of protecting spokes on the cheap and neglected bikes that they were often fitted to. But many of those had cutouts rather than being full pie dish.

Bob Ross

One of my favorite aphorisms that I learned back when I first became a recreational roadie is "People Who Don't Know The Correct Way To Remove A Spoke Protector Should Be Required To Ride With A Spoke Protector"

oldbobcat

Seriously?

Polaris OBark

Yours is the 42nd post in the Dork Disc thread.

SJX426 

I typically remove them but then most of the bike I have didn't come with any. The one that did blends in so I left it on.
P1000031 , on Flickr

Hondo6

Then it must be . . .(gasp!) . . . the meaning of life, the universe, and everything!

RIP, Douglas Adams. Gone far too soon.

sd5782 

Next thing will be bashing brake safety levers.

Gresp15C

Just make the dork disc look like an extra big cog. Problem solved.

Miele Man

I think of spoke protectors (aka Dork Discs) as insurance. You don't really want if but if something does go wrong you're really glad you have it.

To me a spoke protector doesn't look any worse than a disc brake does.

Most of my bikes don't have a spoke protector.

Cheers

grumpus

ITYM brake "safety" levers - a fine example of non-cyclists deciding what's good for us.

smd4

I'd probably bash ridiculously-frayed and bent rear derailleur cables first, but safety levers are definitely not far behind.