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OK, I know that they are seriously naff and uncool. And I know that a properly adjused rear mech should make the plastic disc superfluous- however today despite being seriously cool, gifted and amazing AND having a properly adjusted rear mech the bracken I was riding through tangled with the back wheel and shoved the mech inwards. Spokes and mech are fine, plastic disc is busted so I want a replacement. FWIW it is for a 28 spoke wheel. Any suggestions?
Also, go on and 'fess up if you use them too.
Any suggestions?
Yes, but I don't want to come across rude so I'm just leading up to it...ahem <checks notes><shuffles random papers> google.
I'll admit I did search for novelty spoke protectors where I discovered gap in the market.
From the shops that sell string to tie your mittens together through the arms of your duffel coat, so you don't lose them.
Yes, but I don't want to come across rude so I'm just leading up to it...ahem <checks notes><shuffles random papers> google.
Be a little more helpful, OP you need to google ‘dork disc for sale’ HTH 😀
Just buy any cheap dork disc and put on there. They’re all pretty much the same
I’ve got some, I’ll stick one in the post to you if you message me your email and address. I know it’s an unusual name and you live in Wales but I don’t think that’s enough.
I can send you some spokes as well to make a more sensible 32…
Just buy any cheap dork disc and put on there. They’re all pretty much the same
Username checks out.
It's an interesting point, having had a chain hop into a wheel it caused a whole lot of damage and cost and I think there might be a market for a better and less dorky solution to the dork disc.
I appreciate electric gears probably have some sort of failsafe but with the cost of these its gotta be worth having a fail fail safe?
its gotta be worth having a fail fail safe?
Or just set the limit screw correctly?
its gotta be worth having a fail fail safe?
Build the wheel so the pulling spokes are on the inside, it won't jam then.
Also it just doesn't seem to be an issue that often on ~52t drivetrains? You'd have to keep pedaling almost* a full revolution for a derailed chain at the jockey wheel to make it's way to the top and come under pension from pedaling.
*a ~26/30th
Is building the wheel differently a triple lock solution?
think there might be a market for a better and less dorky solution to the dork disc.A mate (years ago) made a CF one at work.
It worked ok i guess.
His other genius idea was carbon discs, he water jet them out of a piece of 2mm sheet, they exploded in a cloud of shards and carbon fibre the second or third time he pulled the brake lever. Just like we told him they would.
This conversation is as banal and tedious as a primary school class Whatsapp group
They're readily available to buy (just Google) the difficulty may be finding a big enough one for a modern mtb cassette.
ll Nukeproof bikes came with a massive one in the box that no one fitted. Most probably ended up in landfill but ask anyone with a Nukeproof if they still have theirs kicking around somewhere.
Why respond then?
I really do want one, to sit behind a 52t cassette. and yes, my mech is correctly set up.
How big does it actually need to be? I haven't checked but I reckon the gap between the spokes and a 52t cassette ring is much wider than a chain. You may not need one as big as that as you really just need to protect the spokes from just above the width of the chain...so as long as the guard fits a 28 spoke pattern then you could use a smaller one...as the full sized 52t ring isn't going to get contacted due to the gap being too wide.
That's a good point. The current one is 240mm in diameter.
Double post, sorry.
I actually meant to your topic - you asked where to get one and the number or responses why you don't need one is what I was referring to
You're right, sorry for being terse.
Get a retro chrome one. Searching pie dish might throw up some more versions.
However... I don't see how a dorkdisk(tm) will help with derailleur it would have to be massive to stop the mech smashing into the spokes?
Alternatively a sheet of polycarbonate and make your own. Paint the inside for novelty.
Oooh like a tioga disc wheel
That was going to be my next suggestion
Sorry if I upset someone, I wasn’t being rude, I have just never heard them referred to as anything other than a dork disc in the last 20+ years or so. I’m sure they have an official name.
Edit - you can buy them on Amazon for about a fiver and they’re called plastic spoke protectors (which sounds as dorky as dork disc).
I’m sure they have an official name.
They do, Dork Disc. You were right first time.
The OP’s question is a fair one, given all the other changes to bikes over the years dork discs should have seen some sort of technological improvements. But then how can you improve on such perfection?
The dork disc may not save you though. My son brought his mates bike around earlier as he had said I could fix his bike. As an engineer i enjoyed the prospect of a challenge. He had a dork disc and managed to jam the chain below the spoke heads somehow. I spent an hour sweating and swearing! His limit screw wasnt set right. I think this is the key. If the limit screw is set correctly its very unlikely to jam between the cassette and spokes.
I don't just ride groomed trails. My issue is that sometime where I ride the undergrowth can be a real problem. A mech/ cassette full of bracken, twigs or soft rush can cause quite a bit of damage that a disk may protect me from so I'm more than happy to use a spoke protector if it perhaps saves me the price of a distorted mech and or a replacement spoke or few. My brain is a bit frustrated by those who don't quite get this.
If the limit screws are set properly then it is more likely to be a bent mech or gear hanger that allows the chain to be dropped behind the cassette.
If so, the disc protector is only going to hopefully reduce the damage and repair cost...which isn't a bad thing, but the protector won't stop a mech or hanger from getting bent or twisted.
Ive had a sort of brainwave.
you know how on cheapo chainsets you often get an extra little guard riveted on the outside of the largest chainring (go look at your mums shopping bike or your uncles tourney equipped hybrid). That’s performing the same basic function of catching a chain if over shifted, just at the opposite end of the drivetrain.
Why not do the same on the larger sprockets of modern cassettes? Just add a catch lip to the back of the largest sprocket around the full circumference?
There’s enough space behind 42-52t sprockets, eliminates the idea of a dork disc, can match the profile of the cassette more neatly too and best of all becomes a selling feature for whichever Big S implements it first. Both of whom are welcome to the idea (but I will be citing this post as prior art, when contesting any future patents 😉 )…
@cookea That’s a brilliant idea! Bike shops should have some as they were routinely removed on new bikes to improve aesthetics..
I have a vague recollection of seeing a chain guard/dork disc that clipped to the inside/back of the top sprocket on some cassettes a few years ago, Usually on trekking bikes. Might be worth an (advanced) google?
Many thanks to the forum member who sent me a trio of disks. You are awesome 👍🏻 😎
Pop into any LBS worth it's salt and they'll have a bin full of them you can have for free as they'll have removed the dork disc as part of the PDi on new bikes