What on earth happened to rear mech guards?!

JayKingFunk
JayKingFunk Posts: 411
edited September 2009 in MTB general
Earlier on tonight's ride I had a bad crash and my rear mech took a beating!

After bending it back me and a mate got talking about how when we were younger all our bikes had mech guards on em!

I think that there a brilliant idea! Is it because they're considered un cool or something? Is that why you don't see them anymore?? Can you buy them on there own? I'd rather have an un cool mech guard than have to fork out for a new mech everytime I crash it into a rock or a tree!!

I did hear that one of the new Lapierre bikes has one? If its true maybe they will be considered cool again!!

Any thoughts??!

J
I love the sound my tyres make on dusty single track!

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    they were a pain in the but.

    they also required the semi horizontal drop outs found on old bikes.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • The Northern Monkey
    The Northern Monkey Posts: 19,136
    lapierre have a carbon mech gaurd yea... not a bad idea IMO, but then you can buy an xt derailleur for around £50 anyways so its not like its essential.

    I doubt a guard would protect the mech in a big crash though...
    Santa Cruz Butcher
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    I remember those... The one on my raleigh bent enough to destroy the mech, but was strong enough to also twist the frame.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • NormalD
    NormalD Posts: 145
    I thought the idea of a replaceable mech hanger was that it bent or broke leaving the the mech and the frame OK.
    Normal Disk 2009

    Genesis Equilibrium Tiagra 2011

    FCN 10 (only cycle in once a week though)

    Alfa 156 SW
  • Higs
    Higs Posts: 105
    Hanger Banger
    Higs
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    They were a pain to fit and could damage the frame in a crash. Better off with replaceable droputs on a alu. frame.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • JayKingFunk
    JayKingFunk Posts: 411
    well, I suppose that told me then!
    I love the sound my tyres make on dusty single track!
  • anjs
    anjs Posts: 486
    now sharkfins where the way forward for protecting the chainstays

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