Mountain Biking - rear derailleur protection?

i have a kona blast, it's a pretty strong bike but when im doing jumps and lips im always scared of bending or breaking the rear derailleur. I have done this once before and had to buy a new one. i cant see any other part of my bike breaking from the type of riding i do.
so i would like to know if you can get something to protect the rear derailleur?
cheers

No.

You could get a Rohloff internally geared hub and get rid of the rear derailleur altogether. Kind of expensive though.

i have a kona blast, it's a pretty strong bike but when im doing jumps and lips im always scared of bending or breaking the rear derailleur. I have done this once before and had to buy a new one. i cant see any other part of my bike breaking from the type of riding i do.
so i would like to know if you can get something to protect the rear derailleur?
cheers


Some of my kids' bikes came with a metal bar that goes over the derailleur to give protection against falls.

http://www.k2bikes.com/04products/youth/largeimage/zed24_boys_lrg.jpg

Derraileurs tend to break if you smack them against stuff... either keep buying cheap ones or just go singlespeed so there's nothing there to break

Some of my kids' bikes came with a metal bar that goes over the derailleur to give protection against falls.

http://www.k2bikes.com/04products/youth/largeimage/zed24_boys_lrg.jpg

yhe i think my 1st bike had one of them, ill see if i can get 1 to fit on mine

yhe i think my 1st bike had one of them, ill see if i can get 1 to fit on mine

That thing is just one more useless POS that allows twigs and sticks to get caught in. Put one of those on, and you can start worrying about how many spokes you will need to replace every time you get a branch caught in it, as well as how to protect your derailleur.

The best protection is to simply carry a spare derailleur HANGER. Derailleurs seldom break - but the hangers certainly do.

That thing is just one more useless POS that allows twigs and sticks to get caught in. Put one of those on, and you can start worrying about how many spokes you will need to replace every time you get a branch caught in it, as well as how to protect your derailleur.

The best protection is to simply carry a spare derailleur HANGER. Derailleurs seldom break - but the hangers certainly do.
Exactly. All that thing does is keep stupid kids from knocking the derailieur out of adjustment by dropping the bike on the drive side. One good knock from a real crash and it's TOAST

I agree, don't waste your time. Consider replacing your derailler the cost of learning. I have yet to break a derailler. Maybe hitting the gym and using the other side of your bike would help.

You can make a plastic formed deflector. However it will offet absolutely no protection to a derailleur if you cased a jump or land hard on your drive. It's main goal is to deflect rocks and if you slide and land light enough keep it intact. Here's an example of one my mate made.
http://www.geocities.com/dalegrixti/P5030004.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/dalegrixti/P5030005.jpg

I think theres a company called Rolfs Pucker Parts (some canadian company ) that make CND parts to stop your mech hanger being bent - it won't save the rear derailleur in a crash but will stop the mech hanger and rear derailleur bending into your wheel.