If you’re sure about your decision, go ahead, but always proceed with care and satisfy the necessary safety checks when removing a dork disc. Even though they are plastic and don’t weigh that much, some cyclists want to strip their bike of every unnecessary thing they can cause extra weight. Even if you have your derailleur adjusted by the most talented mechanic on the planet, a spoke protector can still be valuable in case of a sudden chain drop caused by an emergency. Under sunlight, the material degrades fairly quickly, loses flexibility, and starts to chip off at the ends. If you are an experienced rider or someone who regularly cleans and maintains their bike, you can remove the spoke protector if you would like.

The metal spoke protectors available on some 70s and earlier 80s bikes tend to be a thin piece of steel or perhaps aluminium, which is robust but adds weight. If the disc is still firm and not easily breakable by your hand or screwdriver, you will need 3 tools to help you remove it. Some cyclists also say that performing regular maintenance on the derailleur will prevent malfunction, so you will no longer need a spoke protector. A metal spoke protector may be stylish on a retro road bike, but it looks out of place on modern bicycles. Equally, if an external object hits the derailleur, it may drop the chain between the big cog and the spokes.Our favorite weekend activity is to find unique bike trails and countryside roads that we can enjoy the open air.

This problem could be prevented by cleaning the wheel regularly, inspecting the area and replacing the guard when needed. Most of the times the disc is just placed in between the cassette and the wheel with noting tightening it down.We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you like to take your bike off road, there are a lot of rocks, debris, twigs and potholes that could cause serious damage. Driven by the vision of becoming a worldwide known manufacturer of bicycle components, DT Swiss expanded its product range over the years.

A dork disc or a pie plate or spoke protector is a disc you will find between the rear wheel and the largest cog of your bike.

Since it is made of plastic, if the bike is hit by rocks or debris, the spoke protector could break.

Sloppy oiling of the chain can cause a spray of oil droplets to migrate to the disc more easily then you might think. Some people put on metal spoke protectors on their bicycles not for function but because they like the extra shininess and retro appearance.Halfords Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 724263) and acts as a credit intermediary and not a lender, offering credit products provided exclusively by Klarna Bank AB (publ). Most of the spoke protectors from the late 80s onwards start as or frosted clear stiff plastic with a lot of flex. On the other hand, shifting gears to the largest cog may drop the chain between the spokes and the cog.