Removing the Dork disc

haggisinlondon
haggisinlondon Posts: 171
edited August 2009 in Road beginners
Had my second club ride this morning, with a fantasticly friendly south london club. I realised my dork disk is still on my trek 1.7. It does not look so bad as its black but should I remove this and how?
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Comments

  • peanut1978
    peanut1978 Posts: 1,031
    remove cassette and it will come off easilly

    alternately just snap it/cut it off
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    A pair of wire cutters will do the job in situe.
  • pickled
    pickled Posts: 439
    Pair of scissors + brute force and ignorance did the trick for me.
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    edited August 2009
    The fact you do not know how to remove it might suggest that its best to leave it in place. After all if you mechanical knowledge is so limited can you be sure that rear gear is set just right?
  • pickled
    pickled Posts: 439
    :roll:
  • juankerr
    juankerr Posts: 1,099
    Posted 15 Aug 2009 23:34 - Rudeness

    Posting when drunk?

    Anyway, to take off the cassette you'll need a chain whip and big old spanner. Never tried the brute force in-situ method though I'd be tempted to give it a go if you can't get hold of the afore-mentioned.
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    juankerr wrote:
    Posted 15 Aug 2009 23:34 - Rudeness

    Posting when drunk?

    .

    No - just bemused that someone has the front to call it a "dork disc" at the same time as saying they don't know how to remove it. Perhaps its just me?
  • Cafewanda
    Cafewanda Posts: 2,788
    Forgive my temerity oh great ones, but what is a 'dork' disk?



    school is in session, so notepad at the ready
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    The plastic disk that fits behind the rear cassette to stop the chain jumping into the spokes. If youre gears are properly set you don't need one, hence "proper" bikes ( - non dorks?) dont have them fitted.
  • Cafewanda
    Cafewanda Posts: 2,788
    Thanks Pat.

    My Trek had it on when I bought it and I've left it on. Why are they sold with it then?
  • Pat Murray
    Pat Murray Posts: 95
    To stop the chain jumping into the spokes - if you've had to dig a chain out you will happily leave it on any new bike. If you do know how to set and keep the rear derailleur up properly then it does become superfluous, I left the one on my mountain bike on just because on some big hits the chain can still jump.
  • Cafewanda
    Cafewanda Posts: 2,788
    One day I'll slow down enough to read and let it sink in rather than skim read :oops:

    Thanks again.
  • Tony666
    Tony666 Posts: 274
    But what is the advantage of removing it? No matter how well maintained a bike is, the chain can jump off for a number of reasons. If having a 'dork disc' on a bike costing £900 means I'm a dork, then fine I'll be a dork.
    http://sotyred.wordpress.com/
  • KevinMcC
    KevinMcC Posts: 95
    bell on my bike, helps for alerting people on my regular cycle path or quiet road routes that I am coming, why would I take it off?
  • Jaeger
    Jaeger Posts: 439
    Pat Murray wrote:
    I left the one on my mountain bike on just because on some big hits the chain can still jump.

    Although I haven't still got it on, I admit, they are useful on MTBs as it allows you to lube the cassette without also covering your disc rotor with teflon spray!

    On road bikes though, not a good look! But maybe I'm just vain... 8)
  • blobbo
    blobbo Posts: 16
    God there are some stuckup asswipes on here.

    This is supposed to be a forum for Road Beginners, yet there seem to be an inordinate number of people who come on here, look down there noses at people like me, who are still getting to grips with the sport.

    People like Brownbosh just put you off completely.

    I wear my "Dork Disc" with pride . .
  • KevinMcC
    KevinMcC Posts: 95
    Agree with you blobbo.

    Lots and lots of cool folks on here who go out of their way to help but there does also seem to be a fair few that enjoy showing off and putting beginners down. Ah well, its the way of the internet for people to post mince with impunity.
  • Tony666
    Tony666 Posts: 274
    There are always people like that who think they are too cool and trendy for everyone else. Just ignore them and enjoy your cycling. You will meet and greet plenty of people on the raod who couldn't care less if you have dork discs, bells, reflectors or anything else for that matter. Just try giving people a wave and a smile and you'll see what I mean/
    http://sotyred.wordpress.com/
  • kmesser
    kmesser Posts: 1
    I especially dig my kickstand, no need to lay my Huffy down on the ground or propped up on a wall. Kickstand=kickass!!
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    I've still got a bell on my bike, I often ride on a cycle path frequented by pedestrians so I think it would be daft not to. After all if someone's gone to the trouble of inventing something perfect for its intended use, it would be rude not to.
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    blobbo wrote:
    God there are some stuckup asswipes on here...

    ...People like Brownbosh just put you off completely.

    +1

    These forums would be a better place without them, but thankfully they're the minority. Unfortunately they think that sneering at others gains them membership to some sort of elite cycling inner circle.

    Anyway, I left mine on until I needed to take the cassette off, and the Trek ones are black and quite small anyway - they don't exactly stand out.
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    after reading some of the posts I'm tempted to put my 'dork disk' back on. Just to alienate myself from this elite ' Inner circle' .
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • FeynmanC
    FeynmanC Posts: 649
    I only took mine off to make it easier to clean the cassette after a few rainy rides but I do like the look of it better now it's off.

    I used a pair of wire snips from my toolbox.
    us0.png
  • Jaeger
    Jaeger Posts: 439
    justresting wrote:
    after reading some of the posts I'm tempted to put my 'dork disk' back on. Just to alienate myself from this elite ' Inner circle' .
    I think this is all a little out of proportion. It's hardly an "elite inner circle" that rides bikes without a plastic spoke guard on the back wheel.

    Ok, some people might convey their opinions better, but the OP did ask if they should remove their "dork disc" (own words) and how, and got an answer.
  • Monkeypump
    Monkeypump Posts: 1,528
    Jaeger wrote:
    I think this is all a little out of proportion. It's hardly an "elite inner circle" that rides bikes without a plastic spoke guard on the back wheel.

    Ok, some people might convey their opinions better, but the OP did ask if they should remove their "dork disc" (own words) and how, and got an answer.

    Perhaps, but the tone of some posts and/or threads is hardly welcoming to new riders (or those recently changing from mtb to road). I just don't like the "you're not one of us" attitude that some people have; maybe it's just on forums, because at least out on the road almost everyone I see gives a friendly nod...
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    The reason you have to take it off is because that's what real cyclists do. Like shaving your legs, people might give you all kinds of reasons for it, but deep down, it's all about fitting in with the herd.
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    I personally don't like the 'dork disk' either (never heard that term until this thread but I know which part is being referred to). Note, this is not 'putting people down', I just don't like the look of it. Same goes for reflectors on the spokes.
  • timb64
    timb64 Posts: 248
    bompington wrote:
    The reason you have to take it off is because that's what real cyclists do. Like shaving your legs, people might give you all kinds of reasons for it, but deep down, it's all about fitting in with the herd.

    +1
    I'm trying to think of a way to fit one to my front wheel just to wind up "real cyclists" :wink: !
  • Tony666
    Tony666 Posts: 274
    I guess at the end of the day (and stating the bleeding obvious), it's all a matter of choice. If you want to take off fine, if you don't then that's fine too.
    http://sotyred.wordpress.com/
  • kozzo
    kozzo Posts: 182
    bompington wrote:
    The reason you have to take it off is because that's what real cyclists do. Like shaving your legs, people might give you all kinds of reasons for it, but deep down, it's all about fitting in with the herd.

    The reason you have to take it off is because it is useless.

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