Spoke Protector - where to find one?
 

Hey folks:

I have a great road bike, and I know this is a weanie type of request, but I need to locate a clear plastic Spoke Protector to fit on Rolff Vector Pro wheel, with a 25 tooth large cog cassette. None of the major catalogs seem to offer them anymore. I recently overhauled the whole ride (Litespeed Arenberg), and the first ride it worked impecably;), then after a few months of storage I rode from the new house, and a strong upshift went right between the cog and spokes:eek:. Wrapped the chain so seriously around the inside, I had to remove the wheel from the frame to dislodge it. Then on the next upshift it lodged and broke the rear derailleur, and bent to hanger:mad:. I've been riding for about 45 years, and that's the first time I snapped a rear derailleur. I've bought a new rear derailleur, and a new chain, and have a Park Tool DAG-1 ordered to straighten the derailleur hanger. But, I want to get a spoke protector to help keep that kind of thing from happening again. Please email me if you know where I can obtain a clear plastic thingamabob. Thanks. Mark in Nashville, TN

Buying a spoke protector is one of those things that's harder to do than it sounds. At best it's probably going to be a special order at your LBS. You also need to specify the number of spokes on the wheel because it affects the location of the spoke protector mounting tabs. For a Vector Pro I'm thinking that might be pretty hard to find.

You're probably about to get a whole lot of advice about getting your rear derailleur adjusted. That's what I would do.

They have them, http://www.thethirdhand.com/

But as Retro Grouch points out, finding one to fit you specific set-up might be a challenge.

I guess using an old 45 RPM vinyl is out of the question :)

Great idea on the 45 rpm vinyl record. Either that or I'll get a piece of that engravable plastic laminate, and cut a circle to fit, and lash it to the spokes with zip-ties. Just don't want to have to work that hard for something so doofy.

They have a large assortment here. Just type "spoke protector" into the search box.

My LBS had them in stock but before going there I had looked online. Here is one place that carries them:

http://www.niagaracycle.com/advanced...a54e1384eb17ba

That engravable plastic could be pretty cool. Comes in all sorts of color combinations and I guess you can engrave on it to reveal a message (name of a club, nickname, political message...)

If you want a truly unique spoke protector, make one from the heavy plastic used in a 5 quart jug for motor oil. You even have your choice of colors as per different brands and their chosen color. Tape a paper pattern to the jug and cut with a tin snip.

The only trouble with the homemade ones from the jug material is that they don't have the little step on them that'll hold the chain up and avoid it wedging down into the groove.

If you can't find one that is a multiple of your spoke count it's not a big deal. Just cut off the little tangs from the protector and drill for some small zip ties as needed to fit the shield.

I'm another believer in these simple guards. It's the nature of stuff like derailleur adjustments to go OUT of adjustment and it's cheap insurance to have the guards. I don't care how much it makes my bikes look like department store specials... :D

I had one bike where for whatever reason it overshifted and ripped out 6 or 8 of the spokes and bent all the rest. Never again.... NEVER again.

If you can find one, feel free to use it. No snide remarks from this direction.
By the way, I would consider a shift to the larger cog to be a downshift.

You might want to read up on setting the limit screws too. If set correctly the chain can't be thrown into the spokes, no matter how hard you shift.

I suggest psychotherapy to determine what is causing these sociopathical urges.

The three of us here in my head are quite happy with our spoke guards.... Mind you we had to kill the other guy that didn't agree with us so there's an empty room in here now.... :D

The kid at my LBS looked at me strangely when I asked for a "dork disc", but then pulled out stacks of them and found the one that fit.
I know how to adjust a derailleur, I also know how to crash, plow through bushes, and otherwise abuse my bikes, so I don't need a bent derailleur tangling with the spokes.

I have a huge chrome spoke protector that will be going on one of my bikes...just to annoy people.

Would a CD be big enough? That might look pretty cool but it might shatter kind of easily.

Maybe someone should invent a rim protector for people that are too lazy to check their tire pressure.

Make it a spinner and you'll up the ante.

There's a name for people like you: skateboarder!