why some people need to keep the dork disk
 

from sf bay area craigslist:

_____________________________________________

***2005 Lemond Parts*** (richmond / seacliff)
Reply to: XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Date: 2007-01-15, 2:17PM PST



I am selling basically every component of a 2005 Lemond Etape except for the frame, rear derailleur, chain, and rims. The reason I am selling these items is because I thought I could tune my own bike. Well, let’s just say I learned my lesson the expensive way. The rear derailleur went into the wheel and broke the frame. I will never purchase another bicycle with a derailleur hanger incorporated into the frame. Beware of the Etape unless you know what you are trained professional. I don’t have the time to research the individual prices of each of these items, so please just make me an offer if you are interested in one or all of them.

The bike had just over 1000 miles on it when it broke. The Shimano Sora Shifters are in good working condition, but the top of them are a little scratched from adjusting the bike upsides down in my garage.

Bontrager sport seat post.

Bontrager race lux saddle.

Bontrager race stem: 100mm 7degree, two bolt plate accommodates 26mm bar.

Bontrager sport bar, no tape: 42cm / 26mm.

Unknown front and rear brakes with good inserts. The finish on the front brake wheel release lever is coming off.

Lemond carbon fork: 700c / 30, three spacers.

Ahead set: 30cm?

Shimano Sora shifters with all cables for a 51cm frame.

Shimano Sora front derailleur.

Bontrager cranks with triple sprocket. This comes attached to the broken frame, unless you have the tools to remove it.

I can email additional pictures, or individual pictures of any of these items.

Slightly off topic: why people think it's ok to service a bike upside down without any precaution to not scuff up the brifters, stem, or saddle is beyond me.

It's called a freaking towel.

Cuz...who cares. "Brifters" is a stupid word anyway...
mm....flame post....smores anyone?

You must really like to type :D "Brifters" saves a lot of keystrokes and typos...

"Brifters" sounds like something I would order with coffee and eggs. Hot off the grill.

That's how I do it mid-ride, and if I can't find any grass... what should I sacrifice? I've been trying to come up with a solution for a while now, and unless I'm wearing two layers, I can't flash the poor bystanders with my hairy but pale skinned chest.

Good point.

I actually had a bent rear derailleur hangar on my mountain bike/commuter this summer, I had removed my dork disk there-by allowing my chain to complete eat it's way into my spokes, ending my riding over the vacation. I'm leaving mine on my road bike until I can get past the fear stage. :p

Hmm, so if you remove your dork disk and then send your RD into your wheel, does that make you a different type of dork?:p

Guilty as charged :o

Tho' it was only the chain not RD.

I'm a dork...I have a disk!

I was reading a bike mechanic book last night about RD installation. Im definitely sold
on the idea of using the dork disk. I never want the chain touching those spokes!

I just refer to em as guns :)

"Brifters"..............good word.

As far as working on your bike...............I have seen lots of cheap stands to give you the basics for under $70 and will protect the bike from being turned over like a 1979 Huffy dirt bike you jump ramps on.

Screw the brifters. I don't want to scuff up the Brooks ;).

That is too funny. How did he even do this? Did he just unscrew the L limit screw until it fell out then hopped on his bike and proceeded to shift to the large cog at 40 mph? I like how he blames the derailleur hanger.

Mmm. Brifters. Do you have those for dessert, or with your meal?

I really miss those little chain hangers on the seatstays.

Yep. My '83 Caldaro and my '89 Trek both have them. Such great functionality from such a little bit.


Anyway, I still don't see how a dork disc could have prevented this disaster. When you're throwing the RD cage into the spokes, it's beyond the help of a plastic disc.

Unless you have one of these.

http://research.cm.utexas.edu/dhoffman/bike_1.jpg

Did you guys know that rear derailleurs come with limit screws and cable tension adjusters?

That's pretty much how the owner of the LBS explained it to me. When I bought my new Cannondale Synapse last summer it came with the most unbelievably huge dork disc I've ever seen. This thing was a monsterous black plastic pieplate nearly 8" in diameter. I asked them to remove it immediately.

The mechanic refused. When I asked why, he called the owner over. Now picture this: Owner is a tall bald Jamaican man in his mid-50's. In that lovely island patois he begins "Ah, so you probably think the disc is stupid looking. Yes, yes, perhaps it is a little stupid looking. But then one day you might accidentally close the elevator door on your derailleur, or the bike falls over on the right side, or maybe you get in a minor crash that bends the derailleur hanger...and then the next time you upshift, the chain falls off your cassette and rips through your spokes. And when you are faced with having to replace your $500 wheel, you know what you'll be saying to yourself?"

"Hmm, maybe it didn't look that stupid after all."

Well it does point out why replaceable derailleur hangars are a good idea. Lots of things can happen to the derailleur hanger, even without being a dork. One tiny piece of aluminum snaps ruining an expensive frame is lousy when the frame could have been built with a replaceable derailleur hanger for $5, and 5 grams more.

I would think hard before buying an aluminum or Cf frame without a replaceable derailleur hanger

Ya know, when I hear people rag in the infamous "dork disc" I feel compelled to find mine and put it back on just to spite everyone. I took mine off because after washing the cassette a bunch of times I got lazy and never put it back on. But I never threw it away.

Why is keeping it on such a bad thing? Is it a fashion faux pas? Does it really matter in the whole grand scheme of cycling? Bike snobs! hehe!