The Infamous Dork Disc
01-08-23, 08:48 PM
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Over the hill
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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.
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01-08-23, 09:15 PM
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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.
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"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
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01-08-23, 09:41 PM
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01-08-23, 09:53 PM
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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?
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01-08-23, 10:28 PM
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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.
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01-09-23, 01:34 AM
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01-09-23, 01:37 AM
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01-09-23, 08:47 AM
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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'
01-09-23, 10:01 AM
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https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-7-CP.html
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...Z500-6-CP.html
01-09-23, 10:01 AM
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01-09-23, 11:00 AM
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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'.
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01-09-23, 12:18 PM
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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!
01-09-23, 01:17 PM
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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?
01-09-23, 01:46 PM
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01-09-23, 02:42 PM
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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.
01-09-23, 02:56 PM
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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.
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01-09-23, 02:58 PM
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