Dork Disc

Schoie81
Schoie81 Posts: 749
edited June 2013 in Road beginners
Seen several references on the forum to 'dork discs' and the shame of riding with them.

So if I wanted to take mine off, how do I do it? Does it mean removing the cassette?
"I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"

Comments

  • Grill
    Grill Posts: 5,610
    Cut it.
    English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    Just snap it off.
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    As above, you can cut them off but removing the cassette does make it easier. Removing/replacing a cassette should be second nature to you so if you don't know how to do it then now you have the perfect excuse. Should take about 5-10 mins but you will need the right tools (chain-whip, decent spanner and a lockring connector).
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    You could always leave it on... does no harm and has the benefit of winding up bike snobs ;-)
  • chrisaonabike
    chrisaonabike Posts: 1,914
    Why is is it viewed so negatively?
    Is the gorilla tired yet?
  • majormantra
    majormantra Posts: 2,094
    Because it's unnecessary if your lower limit is set right, it's unsightly, it gets dirty, and in some cases it can actually rub on the chain and make extra noise.
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    Re. removing the cassette, all in good time - i've only had the bike a month but I don't intend to be someone who has to take my bike to my LBS every time something is wrong or if I want something adjusting/upgrading, so keen to learn how it all works/comes apart/goes back together, but for now i'm not in a hurry to take the cassette off. Will get hold of the tools in time as part of the learning curve, but for now, if I can get the disc off without removing the cassette, I think i'll do that.

    I did wonder if I could just cut/break it off. At the risk of sounding daft - once removed do I need to adjust anything? Will there not be a 'gap' between the back of the cassette and the hub?

    Bompington - maybe I am a bike snob!! :wink: I'm not, but I'm happy winding them up with my baggy shorts, flat pedals and mountain bike style helmet!! Not so keen on the dork disc - I think I want it gone.
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    They serve no purpose on a properly adjusted bike. The limit screws should prevent the chain shifting beyond the largest sprocket and into the spokes, or the rear mech itself making contact with the spokes.

    If, however, you have just fallen off your bike and bent the rear mech hanger but not realised it, the so called dork disc could save you from a nasty accident.

    They do look hideous though.

    Not sure why they are widely condemned by the same people who happily pay pounds for a fancy chain keeper to stop the chain unshipping at the front?
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    They look crap and in normal situations do nothing, although if you do have a rear mech jams resulting in it wrapping around the drop out and going into the wheel it could save you several spokes (and even the wheel/mech). I take mine off though as only had that happen the once...
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Just leave it on for now ... Unless it's dinner plate sized it's nothing to be ashamed about and it does offer some protection for you/your mech from a nasty accident if the mech moves into the wheel too far.

    Get yourself the tools for removing the cassette though - it's easier to give it a thorough clean whilst removed ... then when you do remove the cassette you can remove the dork disk at the same time.
  • Schoie81
    Schoie81 Posts: 749
    Slowbike wrote:
    Just leave it on for now ... Unless it's dinner plate sized it's nothing to be ashamed about and it does offer some protection for you/your mech from a nasty accident if the mech moves into the wheel too far.

    Get yourself the tools for removing the cassette though - it's easier to give it a thorough clean whilst removed ... then when you do remove the cassette you can remove the dork disk at the same time.

    OK - that seems sensible advice. I've currently got my MTB 'off the road' to give it a proper clean - to my great shame it needed doing months and months ago, so its in a right state :oops: . I did think last night that it would be easier to clean properly if I took the cassette off - something you've just confirmed. I reckon it'll be at least 1kg lighter when i've got all the muck off it and should be much nicer to ride when the gears/chain are running nice and smoothly again.

    I wont be letting my road bike get in that state - determined to keep on top of it!
    "I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated"
  • -=mike=-
    -=mike=- Posts: 31
    I don't mind them, had one on my CX for over a year until LBS binned it when they replaced a spoke.

Categories