Valve caps and dork discs
07-09-15, 11:17 AM
#27
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If you are not getting paid to ride your bike with all of the accompanying restrictions/requirements that it entails why would you remove either or both?
I have done a bit of online and LBS research and both sources appear to be in agreement that both items have the potential to serve a useful purpose.
Manufacturers continue to put them on the bikes they build.
What gives?
Is it simply a weird culture thing and a huge % of wannabe racers do it for no other reason than copying what the pros do? Or do most just do it because they think they are supposed to?
To each his own but that would be too akin to the Sunday morning high arc softball player using a $500 alloy bat while wearing eye black imo.
Or did everyone that does it simply eye up their bike one day and say "these 2 things are ugly" and remove them?
Lastly, do reflectors fall in the same category?
I have done a bit of online and LBS research and both sources appear to be in agreement that both items have the potential to serve a useful purpose.
Manufacturers continue to put them on the bikes they build.
What gives?
Is it simply a weird culture thing and a huge % of wannabe racers do it for no other reason than copying what the pros do? Or do most just do it because they think they are supposed to?
To each his own but that would be too akin to the Sunday morning high arc softball player using a $500 alloy bat while wearing eye black imo.
Or did everyone that does it simply eye up their bike one day and say "these 2 things are ugly" and remove them?
Lastly, do reflectors fall in the same category?
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
07-09-15, 12:32 PM
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So I have another question since your others have all been addressed in this thread now.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
GH
07-09-15, 12:37 PM
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There's no reason to have a dork disk if your rear derailleur is properly aligned.
Removing the valve cap before inflating your tires is a pain...you do check and inflate your tires to proper psi before riding, don't you?
Do you leave the tags on all of your clothes? The manufacturers put them there, why bother taking them off?
Removing the valve cap before inflating your tires is a pain...you do check and inflate your tires to proper psi before riding, don't you?
Do you leave the tags on all of your clothes? The manufacturers put them there, why bother taking them off?
Do you match your shoe colors to your bike colors?
If so, does that make you faster?
07-09-15, 12:42 PM
#30
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Valve stems look incomplete without the caps... Like someone was just too lazy to put 'em on.
Some dork disks look very nice. This bike would NOT look better without the disk.
Even wheel reflectors look ok on some bikes.
Some dork disks look very nice. This bike would NOT look better without the disk.
Even wheel reflectors look ok on some bikes.
07-09-15, 12:49 PM
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Valve caps stay on in the saddle bag, as was posted above, to prevent the nut from wearing a hole in the folded tube. After the tube is installed, the valve cap is superfluous. Do they still put dork discs on bikes? Is that only on complete bikes? I don't think they put them on wheelsets that you buy apart from a bike, right?
07-09-15, 12:53 PM
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07-09-15, 12:55 PM
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I leave the caps but I haven't given it much thought. Yeah you fumble with them and yeah they crack/strip/get lost. But they do help keep dirt/water out. I also keep the valve stem nut on because it seems better to help keep the tube/stem from moving around, and I even put a rubber washer between the nut and the rim to keep them from loosening up. 
I removed the wheel reflectors because it seemed crazy to me how out of balance they make the wheel, though even without them the wheels are still out of balance but to a lesser extent. I've considered removing the dork disc, but I haven't yet. It doesn't look bad, and I don't think it would look better without it, though I'm suspicious of it making noise. (hate noise)
I removed the front/back reflectors to make room for the lights I got that do a better job anyway.
I removed the wheel reflectors because it seemed crazy to me how out of balance they make the wheel, though even without them the wheels are still out of balance but to a lesser extent. I've considered removing the dork disc, but I haven't yet. It doesn't look bad, and I don't think it would look better without it, though I'm suspicious of it making noise. (hate noise)
I removed the front/back reflectors to make room for the lights I got that do a better job anyway.
07-09-15, 01:15 PM
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Why bother to unscrew two totally useless appendages every time you want to inflate your tires--which, by the way, you should be doing often. In a saddle bag, they serve a useful purpose by protecting the stem nut. Once a tube is in the tire, they don't do jack ****. Dirt and water isn't going to get into a Presta valve. Schrader valves are a different story.
The stem lock nuts come loose and rattle. Annoyingly.
Nothing looks worse than a dork disc that's yellowed and cracked. Half of it is going to break off someday, once it's cracked. Set your limit screws, re-check them periodically, and you should never have to worry about throwing the chain into the spokes. And for what it's worth, the last time I saw someone do that, he snapped the RD hanger off. The disk didn't do him a damn bit of good then.
The stem lock nuts come loose and rattle. Annoyingly.
Nothing looks worse than a dork disc that's yellowed and cracked. Half of it is going to break off someday, once it's cracked. Set your limit screws, re-check them periodically, and you should never have to worry about throwing the chain into the spokes. And for what it's worth, the last time I saw someone do that, he snapped the RD hanger off. The disk didn't do him a damn bit of good then.
07-09-15, 01:30 PM
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Plus, those running sensible width tires know they can go several days on a top off.
07-09-15, 01:36 PM
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So I have another question since your others have all been addressed in this thread now.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
07-09-15, 01:38 PM
#38
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Here's a poll I ran on the subject a while back.
Great idea, Thanks!
You're correct, removing/reinstalling valve caps is quite difficult for some people.
Plus, those running sensible width tires know they can go several days on a top off.
Great idea, Thanks!
You're correct, removing/reinstalling valve caps is quite difficult for some people.
Plus, those running sensible width tires know they can go several days on a top off.
And by the way, the 80 pounds of air I put in my 1-1/4" wide tires (think 32 mm in modern width) needs to be topped off as frequently as the 100 psi I put in my 25 mm tires. They're both "sensible widths" for different purposes.
07-09-15, 02:37 PM
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Huh?
i Ofc take the price tag off my clothes and any other items I purchase for that matter.
What are you trying to say? Do you also cut off the stitched on tags? Wow...
As for tire pressure, I now check it weekly and inflate as needed. I know most people check it daily but I am not racing and so far it has never gotten near the point of me worrying about a pinch flat. Even when I made the mistake of not checking it for a month after I first started riding again lol.
I am am curious though. Assuming you drive a car do you check the tire pressure on your car tires daily?
I am not positive but I believe that tire manufactures would suggest that.
i Ofc take the price tag off my clothes and any other items I purchase for that matter.
What are you trying to say? Do you also cut off the stitched on tags? Wow...
As for tire pressure, I now check it weekly and inflate as needed. I know most people check it daily but I am not racing and so far it has never gotten near the point of me worrying about a pinch flat. Even when I made the mistake of not checking it for a month after I first started riding again lol.
I am am curious though. Assuming you drive a car do you check the tire pressure on your car tires daily?
I am not positive but I believe that tire manufactures would suggest that.
I usually walk around the vehicle and make sure things look right before driving it (when I drive), tire pressure is electronic and the car let's me know if there's an issue.
So I have another question since your others have all been addressed in this thread now.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
Do people take off the stickers from the bike shop once the bike is yours?
Mine all still have the stickers showing the frame size, the local bike shop's logo, the type of aluminum or cromoly used, etc. but I realized when I see other people's commuter bikes, I don't often see those stickers on their bikes still.
My shoes do match my bike, actually...
Bike:
Shoes:
And my helmet coordinates as well:
Does it make me faster? That's a ridiculous question, of course.
Valve caps stay on in the saddle bag, as was posted above, to prevent the nut from wearing a hole in the folded tube. After the tube is installed, the valve cap is superfluous. Do they still put dork discs on bikes? Is that only on complete bikes? I don't think they put them on wheelsets that you buy apart from a bike, right?
Why bother to unscrew two totally useless appendages every time you want to inflate your tires--which, by the way, you should be doing often. In a saddle bag, they serve a useful purpose by protecting the stem nut. Once a tube is in the tire, they don't do jack ****. Dirt and water isn't going to get into a Presta valve. Schrader valves are a different story.
The stem lock nuts come loose and rattle. Annoyingly.
Nothing looks worse than a dork disc that's yellowed and cracked. Half of it is going to break off someday, once it's cracked. Set your limit screws, re-check them periodically, and you should never have to worry about throwing the chain into the spokes. And for what it's worth, the last time I saw someone do that, he snapped the RD hanger off. The disk didn't do him a damn bit of good then.
The stem lock nuts come loose and rattle. Annoyingly.
Nothing looks worse than a dork disc that's yellowed and cracked. Half of it is going to break off someday, once it's cracked. Set your limit screws, re-check them periodically, and you should never have to worry about throwing the chain into the spokes. And for what it's worth, the last time I saw someone do that, he snapped the RD hanger off. The disk didn't do him a damn bit of good then.
07-09-15, 04:52 PM
#40
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Valve caps? - always. on both Schrader and Presta valves.
Dork discs? - Never (well, at least until I'm sure the rear derailleur is adjusted properly)
Reflectors? - front/rear facing only. Pedal reflectors ALWAYS since my attention is drawn to those, even moreso than head- or taillights. Other than when I'm sitting at a traffic light in my car and a bike rides across my line of travel, I have NEVER been in a situation where my attention is drawn to the wheel reflectors at night.
Dork discs? - Never (well, at least until I'm sure the rear derailleur is adjusted properly)
Reflectors? - front/rear facing only. Pedal reflectors ALWAYS since my attention is drawn to those, even moreso than head- or taillights. Other than when I'm sitting at a traffic light in my car and a bike rides across my line of travel, I have NEVER been in a situation where my attention is drawn to the wheel reflectors at night.
Last edited by Cougrrcj; 07-09-15 at 04:57 PM.
07-09-15, 04:55 PM
#41
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Huh?
i Ofc take the price tag off my clothes and any other items I purchase for that matter.
What are you trying to say? Do you also cut off the stitched on tags? Wow...
As for tire pressure, I now check it weekly and inflate as needed. I know most people check it daily but I am not racing and so far it has never gotten near the point of me worrying about a pinch flat. Even when I made the mistake of not checking it for a month after I first started riding again lol.
I am am curious though. Assuming you drive a car do you check the tire pressure on your car tires daily?
I am not positive but I believe that tire manufactures would suggest that.
i Ofc take the price tag off my clothes and any other items I purchase for that matter.
What are you trying to say? Do you also cut off the stitched on tags? Wow...
As for tire pressure, I now check it weekly and inflate as needed. I know most people check it daily but I am not racing and so far it has never gotten near the point of me worrying about a pinch flat. Even when I made the mistake of not checking it for a month after I first started riding again lol.
I am am curious though. Assuming you drive a car do you check the tire pressure on your car tires daily?
I am not positive but I believe that tire manufactures would suggest that.
07-09-15, 06:46 PM
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I uise the Caps & Discs. If it bother anyone I could care less. I liike Continentals Orange Caps Best.
07-09-15, 06:48 PM
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Valve covers on, until they get lost -- I think two of the seven household bikes are without.
One bike with a disc, my cx bike, which is also the only adult's bike that I bought complete from a shop. It also has a dog fang to catch the chain if it comes off at the front (it's a cx bike and is ready for some abuse). I took the disc off my daughter's bike because it was warped and rubbed against something making a horrible noise. The other bikes I built up myself and honestly it didn't occur to me to put one on.
I leave the stickers on if they're there, except the one reminding me that I will die if I don't wear a helmet.
No reflectors. The wheel-mounted ones mess up the balance. I have lights.
One bike with a disc, my cx bike, which is also the only adult's bike that I bought complete from a shop. It also has a dog fang to catch the chain if it comes off at the front (it's a cx bike and is ready for some abuse). I took the disc off my daughter's bike because it was warped and rubbed against something making a horrible noise. The other bikes I built up myself and honestly it didn't occur to me to put one on.
I leave the stickers on if they're there, except the one reminding me that I will die if I don't wear a helmet.
No reflectors. The wheel-mounted ones mess up the balance. I have lights.
07-09-15, 06:56 PM
#44
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So I guess my very last question in this thread is...
Are there any so-called experienced bikers anywhere that ridicule or look down upon another rider for no other reason than valve caps and dork discs?
Are there any so-called experienced bikers anywhere that ridicule or look down upon another rider for no other reason than valve caps and dork discs?
07-09-15, 08:17 PM
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Valve caps stay on. If I lose one I go to my LBS and get a replacement.
Dork disc comes off immediately. They're never tight and wobble when the wheel is turning and I think they're ugly.
Front and rear reflectors, don't need them. I never ride at night.
Dork disc comes off immediately. They're never tight and wobble when the wheel is turning and I think they're ugly.
Front and rear reflectors, don't need them. I never ride at night.
07-09-15, 08:25 PM
#46
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There were several comments regarding losing them, "tired of fiddling with them", stripping them, (really? how tight do you make 'em?) "removing them is a pain"... so obviously using valve caps must be difficult for some. 
OMG, now I need to get orange caps for my orange bike. 
Seriously. Then people WILL see them when I'm riding! 
Why is having a valve cap on a Presta valve so important to you? No one sees it when you're riding.
Seriously. Then people WILL see them when I'm riding!
07-09-15, 08:26 PM
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07-09-15, 08:29 PM
#48
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No. Because if you run a dork disc they will surely find other reasons to look down on you too!
07-09-15, 08:34 PM
#49
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Schrader - Yes
Presta - No
No disc
No reflectors
I was always to dress for the job you want at work and not for the job you have.
When cycling, look like a pro and you're try to ride like a pro.
Otherwise get a fixie, black shinny jeans, pork pie hat and thick rim glasses.
Presta - No
No disc
No reflectors
I was always to dress for the job you want at work and not for the job you have.
When cycling, look like a pro and you're try to ride like a pro.
Otherwise get a fixie, black shinny jeans, pork pie hat and thick rim glasses.
07-09-15, 08:55 PM
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My wife a pack of blue LED valve caps that light when the wheels spin. If you're going to bother making it less convenient to fill the tires, at least get some bling out of it