+1.

I've heard it opined that the dork disk actually contributes to a dirtier chain and cassette. I'm not sure if that's true. It might actually help keep crap off the drivetrain. You could probably make a good argument either way.

I think the weight issue is ridiculous, but I'm not a weight weenie.

I remove my dork disks because I frequent BF and I don't want to look like a dork.

Psimet sent me some wheels without a dork disk. I think I may sue.

dork disks for everyone!

But basically sound. Anyone who lacks the mechanical skills or rides little enough that the dork disc wouldn't be destroyed through normal wear and tear might be better off leaving it alone.

It does pain me to see huge reflectors on high dollar bikes.

How does one destroy a dork disc through wear and tear? If something actually does touch it, you're in trouble, even if you don't crash.

The one on my daughter's bike is pretty much falling apart from exposure to the elements.

It's cheap plastic that would disintegrate by itself if you just left the bike outdoors a couple hours a day. If the bike were ridden, it would fall apart that much faster.

People who use their bikes a lot wear out other components that are far sturdier.

I am quoting Merlin, but not singling him out, his post was just well written:

All true, but, to say that a safety device, regardless of how "lame' it is (my dork disc is removed as well) is silly or useless if you have enough skill has to go both ways. I have driven probably a million miles and never inflated the air bags or needed the seat belt for what it is intended. As for the brakes, lots of people for years and years drove in all sorts of conditions without anit-locks and did just fine. ABS compensates for the majority of people that lack the skill to brake correctly in an emergency or under unusual conditions. (My wife and daughter fall into that category, BTW)

The dork disc compensates for the people that can't or won't adjust their RD correctly, and that is the majority of the people that have bikes with an RD. We on this board forget that we are in the minority of bike owners/riders. Also, just like the drunk might hit me on the way home tomorrow night, a mechanical failure might put what you think is a perfectly adjusted RD into your spokes. Both are unlikely, but you can't discount either.

So take your chances, it is your right. But don't go bad mouthing people who leave the spoke protector on (or the government that requires it) just because you feel you have the skill to not need it.

A dork disk protects the spokes from being destroyed by an overshift if the deraileur is not adjusted properly. The only time such an incident is remotely likely is right when the bike is first put together, and the deraileur has never been set right in the first place. Of course, that means that when it happens, it's probable that the bike is on a test ride around the LBS parking lot. So the LBS is going to eat the cost, unless they are unscrupulous enough to call it shipping damage and put it on the manufacturer. Either way, a dork disk is a cheap fix. But as soon as the LBS mechanic gets it right that first time, it's job is done.

I'm not "taking my chances"; my RD is correctly adjusted, and there is no reasonable circumstance in which that disc of plastic will have a positive effect. If people choose to leave theirs on, they are either ignorant or apathetic. It is not "bad mouthing" them to say so nor are ignorance and apathy about bicycle tech necessarily a problem. They are... notable when the person is riding a particularly expensive bike.

can't believe it took 37 posts to get to this.

What I was pointing out was that the CPSC has rules for all the other things I mentioned. You probably didn't realize they had their hands in so many places on your bike. They haven't yet ruled on internal v. external cams, but maybe we can ask them to :)

March 09 was less than a year ago, just sayin :p

Wow! First I reply to a 9-yr old thread and now this? Sheesh!

Haha, sorry :)