I had a piece of heavy wire fly into my rear wheel and bend my RD cage. I had to be careful upshifting until I replaced it, but you can still hear the ping-ping-ping against the spokes. This guy must have just jammed it all the way up the cog.

"Why in the HELL do I have a $500 wheel on my bike?"

I got a few comments keeping it on my old wheelset. Now with those huge spokes on my Ksyrium SSC's the one I have doesn't work. That said, if it is going to rip through my spokes it is going to rip through that plastic so I am not sure it would do a whole lot.

No kidding. People are idiots.

I still have my dork disc on my bike. It is pretty pointless as I keep my bike well tuned, not to mention the fact that it is pretty much the same size as the largest cog. I doubt it would do anything to prevent the chain from hitting the spokes. I like to be known as an anti-OCP machine. The dork disc helps with this image.

Since the LBS wouldn't remove it and the owner's story was so amusing, I just took a silver Sharpie and wrote "Dork" on the outer edge of mine. It's a badge of honor!

And what's wrong with shorts?

I've never removed a dork disc per se. However, when I upgraded wheels the new ones were sans disc.

What is a chain hanger?

You're right about the DD having no protection against the derailer itself. I fine tuned my derailers today, and while setting the limit stops I was pulling the wire past index. It went right into the spokes, even though I have a DD in place. The only thing the DD does is stop the chain, unless it's oversized (which most road bikes don't come with).

It's a little knob on the inside of the right seatstay that allows you to hang the chain on it when you pull off the wheel. Here's a picture:

I heard that they didn't use a detatchable hanger on Saddams brother when they hung him, and thats why his head came off...

^^^^^
badda bing

Do the Giant TCRs have replaceable hangers?

I kind of view the whole "dork disc" thing as trying to be elite. Somehow people have equated themselves as being the better cyclist if they see someone else who still has their disc on.

Some just view it as making the bike look bad. Really? How do you think most people think of you when they see your tight shorts and helmet? Cyclists generally don't make the GQ fashion list.

*shrug* I just don't understand it. I'm perfectly happy with my "dork disc" and ride everyday with it. Sometimes, I even pass those elite riders who scoff at the disc.

So you're saying you're passing "elite" riders who scoff at the dork disc? Either 1. They're not all that elite if they're checking your rear wheel for a dork disk, or 2. You're projecting this "scoff" onto them to feel better about yourself and your dork-disky bike, which would be really ironic.

How many people actually make comments about other's disks on the road? I suspect far fewer than bikeforums would make one believe.

Bottom line to everyone: go ride your bike (or rollers, since it's snowing).

I'm going to wager a guess that you have taken your disc off, DrPete.

Whether they are truly elite or not isn't the point. Some people view themselves as being elite because they don't use the dork disc, and consider themselves the better cyclist over someone who still uses theirs.
"You have a dork disc on your bike? I must be the better cyclist." That, my friends, is the point. It's simply an untrue statement.

With this attitude a bit more common then it should be, the laws of chance dictate that sooner or later you are going to pass up one of these "elite" riders. I've done my fair share of passing up other riders (and I'll freely admit being passed by others). The dork disc did not figure into our abilities at all.

It's the engine that makes the bike go. No amount of dork disc removing is going to significantly improve your race times. What's the advantage? Taking off a few grams of weight?

I know the Team Advanced does.

Yeah, the ever vanishing frame made from tubing (!!!!) usually have them. I've never understood why they're on there. I guess it's a holdover from bikes with semi-horizontal dropouts, but modern vertical dropouts allow easy rear wheel removal without touching any part of the drivetrain. I guess it keeps tension on the rear der spring so you're less likely to drop your chain off the rings when you lay the bike down for a tire repair -- but that's easily avoided or remedied, also without touching the drivetrain (other than a pedal).

Strange piece of history though.

I go at it from a pragmatic POV. I usually remove the dork-discs because most of them being spoke-mounted just end up breaking due to spoke-flex... especially on my MTBs. Then they fall apart and create the damage they were meant to prevent while at the same time contributing to road/trail litter.

However, on my current road bike, I didn't bother. The disc is hub-mounted so there's very little chance of it breaking apart. Also, it's small and doesn't cover past my largest rear cog (27) which also means it's totally useless. You actually can't even see it from the driveside. And finally, I'm just too lazy to actually remove it.

Ahh, now that is a reason that makes sense. (being serious, not sarcastic)

Thanks!