This one is always divisive. Some people think they’re ugly and useless, others think they’re good to keep on to protect your spokes in the worst case scenario.
I just got back from the garage from cutting mine off (and unfortunately it wasn’t a low quality/thin one so it took forever). I’m not against them per se but after about 1200km of riding, I noticed that it started to rattle and it was annoying me.
What do you guys/gals/pals think of them?
I might install one just to bug the bike snobs.
I’m coming for you. 💿🪚
This one always gets a chuckle out of me when I see how strongly people feel about it. Obviously if it’s causing any issues while riding like in your case it’s gotta go, but outside of that I don’t even notice them on bikes half the time. I had to check my bike just now to see if I have mine on (I do 😅)
It provides a bit of protection. I don’t care what other people think, I lleave mine on.
I try to remove anything that isn’t totally necessary. So they’re a no from me, dawg.
On my folding bike, I kept them on because “they serve a purpose”, but then realized that they were not allowing my wheels to turn freely no matter how they were adjusted.
Once I removed them, my wheels now spin forever. LOL
If they weren’t causing trouble, I would have just left them on.
Edit: Ignore that I’m making it sound like there are two dork disks on my bike… it was on one wheel (rear) and only there was only one! LOL
I like the looks of a bike without them but not enough to remove them unless I have the casette off.
I walk with a pair of pliers, giving folks instant upgrades. Thieves steal bikes. Snobs snap dork discs off.
I have no issue with them, so until I do it stays. If something that small gets someone’s spandex in a twist so be it!
Hmm, is that what my salesperson called the “pie plate” iirc? In that case, I cut mine off right away, since it was a racing bike, and I did a few races with it, and couldn’t risk being the only person in the race with that lame extra weight that screamed “n00b!” (or at least that was my fear…)
My bike is for touring. Theres no point shedding a gram to then load a campsite onto the pannier rack. And i like the scenic route which often means less than friendly terrain. I think ill keep mine on…
I don’t have an opinion on something I only think about once every seven or eight years.
If your rear derailleur is adjusted correctly, then it’s absolutely useless. I have never seen a point in keeping one on. Every one I’ve had has broken at some point or another, so it makes sense to just remove it preemptively the first time I have the cassette off.
Serves no purpose. I’ve had my chain fall between the cassette and spokes several times but nothing broke because I managed to stop the bike immediately which often is the case because you’re already on the lowest gear by then anyways.
I think the term is unhelpful. I would not have one on my bikes (I had to remove one from a carbon canyon), but i can adjust a derailleur. But they are practical and keeping a practical item doesn’t make people dorks. We should show love to all cyclists regardless their bike or gear - we are an endangered species!
