The Infamous Dork Disc
#1
Over the hill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 23,819
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 718 Post(s)
Liked 793 Times
in
474 Posts
The Infamous Dork Disc
Came across this in my YouTube recommendations and found it fascinating considering what I (and probably many others) presume the ugly piece of plastic actually does.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
#2
Happy With My Bike
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,474
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 557 Post(s)
Liked 1,407 Times
in
687 Posts
I don't know why Safari doesn't show youtube links in posts, but I assume it is about what the spoke protector does for the bike. That being said, I don't have one on my modern bike, and the plastic one that would have been on my Raleigh USA was long gone when I got it and I won't replace it. And as I've said every time the word dork disk comes up, I love pie plates on vintage bikes.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#3
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 2,514
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1441 Post(s)
Liked 2,144 Times
in
1,159 Posts
#4
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 2,514
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1441 Post(s)
Liked 2,144 Times
in
1,159 Posts
Seth got kind of old. I guess I did too.
My oldest kid is definitely the type of person for whom keeping the dork disc in place is the right thing to do.
Does Campy make the best one?
My oldest kid is definitely the type of person for whom keeping the dork disc in place is the right thing to do.
Does Campy make the best one?
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#5
Over the hill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 23,819
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 718 Post(s)
Liked 793 Times
in
474 Posts
I don't know why Safari doesn't show youtube links in posts, but I assume it is about what the spoke protector does for the bike. That being said, I don't have one on my modern bike, and the plastic one that would have been on my Raleigh USA was long gone when I got it and I won't replace it. And as I've said every time the word dork disk comes up, I love pie plates on vintage bikes.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
Likes For urbanknight:
#6
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,508
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3010 Post(s)
Liked 1,939 Times
in
1,262 Posts
#7
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,508
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3010 Post(s)
Liked 1,939 Times
in
1,262 Posts
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#11
Advocatus Diaboli
Has anyone ever made a cassette that has a spoke protector disc machined right onto the inside the largest cog of the cassette? Seems something like that could be the most elegant 'solution'
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 4,014
Bikes: '18 Redline Zander, '14 Surly Pugsley, '97 GT Vantara, '97 Trek MultiTrack 750, '70 Peugeot UO-18 Mixte
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1397 Post(s)
Liked 688 Times
in
513 Posts
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-7-CP.html
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-6-CP.html
#15
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,508
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Timberjack, Expert TG, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3010 Post(s)
Liked 1,939 Times
in
1,262 Posts
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
Likes For Darth Lefty:
#16
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 7,805
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1314 Post(s)
Liked 1,181 Times
in
714 Posts
Yeah, he basically didn't have any tension in the drive chain. Here's another test done by a friend: 2000 miles into a self-contained cross-country tour, climbing the steepest grade, desperately shift to "gear zero". Result? 18 new drive-side spokes, thank you very much.
Fun fact: 'dork disk' does not appear as an entry in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. See: 'spoke protector'.
Fun fact: 'dork disk' does not appear as an entry in Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary. See: 'spoke protector'.
Likes For tcs:
#18
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 11,470
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3555 Post(s)
Liked 2,884 Times
in
1,930 Posts
Old school metal spoke protectors looked decent in some cases but plastic ain't really going to help much. Adjust your rear derailleur properly set the limits and if you get into a crash and your derailleur goes into the spokes don't expect a little piece of plastic to do a lot. If your limits are set you won't be going into the spokes with your chain and if they do the chain is thick heavy metal and the plastic spoke protector is thin plastic. I have actually had a lot of issues where the cassette is not properly spinning and turning poorly and mechanics are racking their brains trying to figure it out until we remove that piece of plastic and everything works like a charm.
If you like them go for them it is your bike but I wouldn't put one on a bike (unless maybe the vintage ones with some flair or maybe something nice carbon fiber with some cool designs or something!
If you like them go for them it is your bike but I wouldn't put one on a bike (unless maybe the vintage ones with some flair or maybe something nice carbon fiber with some cool designs or something!
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 28,767
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4986 Post(s)
Liked 3,112 Times
in
2,064 Posts
just don't try to burn off a plastic one
don't remember the old thread where someone tried that. I think it turned into a "situation". or maybe ppl were just joking about it?
don't remember the old thread where someone tried that. I think it turned into a "situation". or maybe ppl were just joking about it?
#20
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 1,474
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
193 Posts
Likes For RB1-luvr:
#22
Full Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 293
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 95 Times
in
79 Posts
If you do bend your rear mech I think it's less likely to snag on a smooth bit of plastic than an unprotected spoke. Rear mech in spokes can have you walking home. I actually bought a plastic dork disc not long ago to fit on my hack bike because I tend to treat it careless, but I didn't check the hub flange diameter so it will be going on another bike that I've not started yet.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,971
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1345 Post(s)
Liked 1,653 Times
in
848 Posts
The BOC has had it's share. I've seen some pretty well demolished. I'm going to say they are pretty much like a helmet, good to have if things go wrong.

Likes For curbtender:
#24
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 9,730
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2412 Post(s)
Liked 2,747 Times
in
1,674 Posts
Likes For dedhed: