what's this plastic thing ?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what's this plastic thing ?
Just bought this used bike and found the plastic guard there, it's loose, is it broken or just the way it is ? What is it for anyways ?
#2
Banned.
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Uncertain
Posts: 8,651
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
It's to stop the chain jammimg between the cassette and the spokes (and damaging them) if it comes off. If your gears are correctly adjusted this shouldn't happen, so feel free to remove it.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Incheon, South Korea
Posts: 2,835
Bikes: Nothing amazing... cheap old 21 speed mtb
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It tends to wear and start to shift around given time. If for some reason you remove your cassette its a good time to get rid of it.
#4
Über Geek
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 34
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In hipster slang that's referred to as a "dork disk." I leave mine on to eliminate any danger of being associated with something that *might* be hip.
#5
Senior Member
I know someone whose derailer arm worked its way through the spokes when he took a fall. I had a feeling he was wanting my dork disc for something or other.
__________________
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
Some people are like a Slinky ... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.
#7
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 708
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can use shear strength, creative ways, or the local bike shop to remove it. Before I bought a chain whip and lockring removal tool to remove the cassette (gears) I scored the plastic disk with a box cutter, and bent it along the score lines, it eventually gave way and I was able to remove it. You can also remove the cassette but that requires a chain whip and lockring removal tool ($12-15 investment from amazon) or the lbs who charges $10 to remove the cassette.
#9
The Recumbent Quant
You can use shear strength, creative ways, or the local bike shop to remove it. Before I bought a chain whip and lockring removal tool to remove the cassette (gears) I scored the plastic disk with a box cutter, and bent it along the score lines, it eventually gave way and I was able to remove it. You can also remove the cassette but that requires a chain whip and lockring removal tool ($12-15 investment from amazon) or the lbs who charges $10 to remove the cassette.
#10
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
I'd recommend that you take the wheel to your LBS and have them remove the cassette and swap on a new spoke protector, taken from the bin of them that they've removed from other bikes. It's a good thing to have on your bike. Those who remove the spoke protector are mechanically inclined, and personally make sure that the rear derailleur is maintained in proper adjustment.
Do a google search on "rear derailleur in spokes"...
Do a google search on "rear derailleur in spokes"...
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: South Central PA
Posts: 972
Bikes: Cannondale Slate 105 and T2 tandem, 2008 Scott Addict R4, Raleigh SC drop bar tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Just cut it off with some snips, takes 10 seconds.
#13
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,362
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,218 Times
in
2,365 Posts
It was called a dork disk when hipsters were still but a gleam in their hippy dippy parents eyes.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#14
The Left Coast, USA
I like the chromed metal ones on nicer vintage bikes, sort of art deco. The dirty plastic ones are hideous.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chro...item416ac58fe0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chro...item416ac58fe0
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Burn it off. Or not, I left mine on and it's not hurting anything.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 708
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
@-@ i don't know if this was a troll's story, but someone apparently tried to burn his off and it burned the grease packed in his hubs.. Seems possible.
Last edited by buffalowings; 04-24-13 at 11:07 AM.
#17
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
I'm sure that's happened, and it'll make a mess even if you don't torch the bearings.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,445
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4234 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
And smell really pleasant too. Sorry, I guess I didn't include the sarcasm smiley last time.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
#19
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Years ago, in Mountain Bike Magazine, Uncle Knobby's column was asked about these things; Knobby replied that they were called "Big Wedgies", all bike shops stocked them, all you had to do was go there and ask for one...lol!
They are there to keep the chain from destroying the spokes, should the chain fall into them. I don't see, and never HAVE seen, one of those saving a derailleur.
They are there to keep the chain from destroying the spokes, should the chain fall into them. I don't see, and never HAVE seen, one of those saving a derailleur.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,141
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
i have an alien light, a new mexico plate, 2 dork discs, wear boots, and am
really ugly. had a gumby tied to my helmet once and those people could NOT
stand it.
#21
~>~
Good Things
That Thing was a CPSC mandate from back in the 70's (We know that CPSC was/is the Fount of Cycle Maintenance Wisdom), we called them Pie Plates when they were sturdy chromed metal. Yours is an inferior ( if that makes any sense in this context) plastic variant that has failed in service, it must go.
They are the Answer to the Question That No One Asked. If your rear derailleur is adjusted properly it serves no function.
Go to your LBS and have it exorcised and your derailleur adjusted properly by a person, or better yet get the tools as referenced previously and learn to do it yourself in person.
Being able to properly maintain your equipment personally is "a good thing", not some ill conceived chunk of rotating plastic.
Several other Good Things like having gears that shift accurately, brakes that stop and tires that are not flat may follow.
Personally,
-Bandera
#22
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
I like the chromed metal ones on nicer vintage bikes, sort of art deco. The dirty plastic ones are hideous.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chro...item416ac58fe0
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chro...item416ac58fe0
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#23
The Left Coast, USA
but never vintage even if they are old.
Old is one of the definitions of vintage, we are not talking about grapes here.
Old is one of the definitions of vintage, we are not talking about grapes here.
#24
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Granted that popular usage of vintage often equates it with old.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#25
2 Fat 2 Furious
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: England
Posts: 3,996
Bikes: 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Disc, 2009 Specialized Tricross Sport RIP
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Years ago, in Mountain Bike Magazine, Uncle Knobby's column was asked about these things; Knobby replied that they were called "Big Wedgies", all bike shops stocked them, all you had to do was go there and ask for one...lol!
They are there to keep the chain from destroying the spokes, should the chain fall into them. I don't see, and never HAVE seen, one of those saving a derailleur.
They are there to keep the chain from destroying the spokes, should the chain fall into them. I don't see, and never HAVE seen, one of those saving a derailleur.
__________________
"For a list of ways technology has failed to improve quality of life, press three"
"For a list of ways technology has failed to improve quality of life, press three"