Originally Posted by cyccommute

If your chain jumped over into the spokes because of a front chain derailment, there was something wrong with the adjustment of both the front and back derailers. The front one because it dumped the chain and there rear one because it allowed the chain to move too far in.

I haven't run a spoke protector on a bike in nearly 30 years and haven't dropped a chain into the spokes that I can recall. If things are adjusted properly and if you are aware of what your bike is doing, shifting into the spokes should never be a problem.

On the other hand, if you do happen to shift over into the spokes, you learn quickly to make sure your bike is adjusted properly and not depend on some little piece of plastic.