SpedFast

I'm kinda curious about the dork disk since watching a Utube video that showed the uselessness of having one. Break out the popcorn and share your thoughts (please).

CrimsonEclipse

Never in my life have I ever cared if another cyclist on the trail has a Spoke Protector or not.

Yes, it's a "Spoke Protector"

No one should care... ever.

Get on with your silly little lives and stop winging about such tripe!

Herzlos

You can't see it whilst the bike is moving, and barely see it if it's not either. It has a purpose - to prevent a misadjusted shift off the bottom gear in a cassette and into the spokes, which would certainly have more serious consequences than being seen with a dork disc. I know my MTB has one because I had to adjust it a bit, but I couldn't tell you without looking if my gravel or road bikes have them. I assume so but I can't say I've ever had any cause to care.

If you really care, then just remove it but at least make sure your limit screws are set correctly and try to avoid damaging the rear mech on a ride and you'll be fine.

Reflector Guy

I have one bike with, and one without. I never even think about or notice it.

We have a forum member here named Dork Disk; hopefully he'll come in and post!

GeezyRider 

Big Bicycle may be trying combat the easy removal of the spoke protector. I've noticed some entry level bikes now have freewheels with the spoke protectors cleverly disguised as disc rotors manufactured onto them. This will necessitate the use of dremel tools, angle grinders or such for quick removal.

skidder

They're more useful than not, so if I got a bicycle with one that didn't need any rear hub work I wouldn't make an effort to remove it. I have one bicycle that still has one on it, the other bicycles don't have them (most are rebuilds). Similar to the reflectors you get on the wheels of new bicycles, I would not even know if they are sold on any of the internet bike shops I've patronized over the years.

pdlamb

In an ideal world with a well maintained bike, dork discs are not needed.

In my real world, **** happens. Bike falls over; chain links somehow get stiff. At most before riding a bike, I'll do the ABC check. I don't check derailer hanger alignment before each ride, I don't verify every chain link swings freely, and I don't have a mechanic on staff to do that sort of thing for me. So after a chain somehow dove into my spokes, and I ended up replacing all 9 outer drive-side spokes on that wheel, I've started re-installing spoke protectors as cassettes wear out.

Jeff Neese

I don't know if it's the same as what we're looking at in your photo, but the last Shimano freewheel I bought had a spoke protector like that one. It's just a plastic piece that snaps on and off -- no dremel tool required. It's not very conspicuous but I removed it anyway for ease of cleaning.

indyfabz

I cannot remember that last time I bought a bie that came with one. Maybe early '90s? I am thinking my Trek 930 MTB might have had one. Bought that in '92.

chaadster

I dislike them, largely because they’re useless, but also because the old, common style of clipped on clear plastic ones would usually crack, rattle, get discolored and be generally both useless and annoying.

I cannot recall anytime in my nearly 40 years of cycling when I wished I had a spoke protector, and can only remember once in my very early years when I had a chain go off the large cog into the spokes, something I attributed to my lack of skills in derailleur adjustment as a newbie.

Nowadays, with abundant educational resources available and much improved equipment, the spoke protector— believe it or not— is even more unnecessary today than it was in the ‘80s.

freeranger

I had to go out to the garage to see if our bikes have one. Our road bikes have one--but it's not large, is black and unless you were looking, would not notice it. Our mtn.bikes do not have one. Doesn't matter to me, but I see no drawback to a spoke protector, other than adding an ounce or so to weight, and I could take a tool out of the seat bag to offset that! EDIT:--I guess if the disc was plastic or was very noticeable, I'd remove it. On our road bikes, it is thin black metal, unnoticeable, so I'll leave it be. So guess it does somewhat matter to me.

PeteHski

I always considered them to be a throwaway shipping item for when bikes are sat in a shop and may not have been checked over before riding. They certainly don't look like a permanent, quality solution to me the way they are usually fitted with flimsy plastic tabs. The one and only time I left one on my bike was on a new Specialized Enduro mtb and it literally fell to pieces on the first hammering down the local trails. I was lucky it didn't damage my drivetrain. So cutting them off is the first thing I do after checking the limit screws before the first proper ride.

base2 

On bikes with freewheels, it also acts as a dust shield keeping dirt, dust, grime, debris, etc...from entering the exposed bearings on the inboard side. So, at least you've got that goin' for ya. Which is nice.

GeezyRider 

That's good to know. So maybe there is no conspiracy after all.

veganbikes

If you adjust your derailleur and hanger properly you will be fine and if you get into a crash likely that cheap piece of plastic isn't going to save you. In quite a few times I have had them cause problems and need to be removed beyond just the normal breakage that happens. I don't think I have had a new bike with one, I think it is possible my old trek hybrid may have had one but I cannot remember that far back.

Some of the vintage metal ones look cool and are probably slightly more functional but again if everything is properly adjusted it is not needed. It might help during a crash that pushes things inward so much that it would cause a problem but in that situation it won't help your derailleur or chain or anything it may help the spokes maybe.

KerryIrons

Get on with your silly little lives and learn how to spell whinging.

indyfabz

I think you meant “life”, as the person you quoted is the only person who misspelled the word.

wolfchild

None of my bikes came with dork disc.

Koyote

You forgot to mention that your bikes are single speeds, which are superior and do not need dork discs.

tomato coupe

No, because one dork on a bike is enough.

CrimsonEclipse

No one cares.
Now get on with your English major and hand over the pizza already!

Koyote

You are my hero.

KerryIrons

Yeah, except I have two engineering degrees and a business degree. But if it makes you feel better, have at it.

CrimsonEclipse

uh huh.
Engineer us another pizza....

tomato coupe

I like pizza.