spoke protector?

Quoted message said:

hi,

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the cog
and the spokes, right?

by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
and didn't weight much.

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

So?

S

The impetus here is that a properly adjusted rear derailer in good
condition should be, and generally is, incapable of shifting the chain
into the spokes. Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very well,
but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.

Nate Knutson said:

Quoted message said:

hi,

Quoted message said:

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the cog
and the spokes, right?

Quoted message said:

by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
and didn't weight much.

Quoted message said:

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

Quoted message said:

So?

Quoted message said:

S

The impetus here is that a properly adjusted rear derailer in good
condition should be, and generally is, incapable of shifting the chain
into the spokes. Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very well,
but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Oddly enough, many bikes with boutique wheels, especially Ksyriums,
are now coming not just with spoke protectors, but big-ass black pie
plates, maybe twice the diameter of the cassette,

Quoted message said:

Oddly enough, many bikes with boutique wheels, especially Ksyriums,
are now coming not just with spoke protectors, but big-ass black pie
plates, maybe twice the diameter of the cassette

I noticed that too. Fiancee just purchased a bike with Aksium wheels
and its got a black pie plate on it. Is it because the spokes are so
fragile that they need to be protected more than regular spokes?

Quoted message said:

hi,

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the cog
and the spokes, right?

by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
and didn't weight much.

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

So?

maybe they are southern baptists from tennessee

Quoted message said:

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

So?

So those bike shop guys can go eat a [censored], and you should take your
money elsewhere. They get paid mostly to do service, and they just blew
that off. It could be that they didn't have one on hand, but then they
should have either offered to order one in, or politely suggested you
ask at other shops that had one on hand (if you wanted it right away).

The first time you swipe anything close and knock your derailleur into
the spokes, you learn real fast why they're a good idea. The matter with
kids bikes is not so much the adjustment, it's knocking the bike around
and bending the derailleur to where it WILL extend into the spokes.

All my bikes have them, except the ~$1300 bike I got $300 wheels for a
while back, which didn't come with one and I didn't think to check when
I went to pick it up. The shop is some drive away so I don't visit
often--but next time I go, I plan on calling ahead and taking the rear
wheel along to have them put one on.

Also--if you can be choosy, get one that is NOT clear plastic; the clear
tends to be more vulnerable to embrittlement from UV rays. If the only
ones they have on hand are clear or hot pink, then hot pink is what I'm
getting.
~

Quoted message said:

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the cog
and the spokes, right?

I suppose so, but I've never seen or heard of that happening. It's not
like the front, where correct limit adjustment can be a bit finicky and
your technique matters. I and most people I know remove them to
save 5g and improve crosswind performance :-)

Quoted message said:

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

Well, they should have still given you one rather than acting like [censored].
Unfortunately, too many shops are staffed by arrogant, intolerant racers.

Quoted message said:

I noticed that too. Fiancee just purchased a bike with Aksium wheels
and its got a black pie plate on it. Is it because the spokes are so
fragile that they need to be protected more than regular spokes?

It's to give you some of the benefits of a disc wheel :-)

Nate Knutson said:

...Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very well,
but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.

Hey, I have a spoke protector disc on the front wheel of my bike:
<http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/2002/sunset/Sunset001.jpg>!

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

Nate Knutson said:

...Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very
well, but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.

Hey, I have a spoke protector disc on the front wheel of my bike:
<http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/2002/sunset/Sunset001.jpg>!

Every time you post that pic I think of a disabled Klingon warship, horribly
disfigured by Starship phasers.

You got pointed ears, Johnny Boy?!?

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 11:37:11 +0930, Michael Warner <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I noticed that too. Fiancee just purchased a bike with Aksium wheels
and its got a black pie plate on it. Is it because the spokes are so
fragile that they need to be protected more than regular spokes?

It's to give you some of the benefits of a disc wheel :-)

then you need the reversible hub with one on each side.

"Hank Wirtz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nate Knutson said:

Quoted message said:

hi,

Quoted message said:

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the

cog

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and the spokes, right?

Quoted message said:

by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
and didn't weight much.

Quoted message said:

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was

given

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

Quoted message said:

So?

Quoted message said:

S

The impetus here is that a properly adjusted rear derailer in good
condition should be, and generally is, incapable of shifting the chain
into the spokes. Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very well,
but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.- Hide quoted

text -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

- Show quoted text -

Oddly enough, many bikes with boutique wheels, especially Ksyriums,
are now coming not just with spoke protectors, but big-ass black pie
plates, maybe twice the diameter of the cassette,

The original spoke protectors were designed more to keep the derailleurs
out of the spokes than to protect the spokes from the chain.

Kinda wish I had one on my beater bike a week ago when I sucked my
derailleur into the spokes and trashed it along with the rear dropout.

Chas.

"still me" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 7 Jul 2007 11:37:11 +0930, Michael Warner <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I noticed that too. Fiancee just purchased a bike with Aksium wheels
and its got a black pie plate on it. Is it because the spokes are so
fragile that they need to be protected more than regular spokes?

It's to give you some of the benefits of a disc wheel :-)

then you need the reversible hub with one on each side.

It's so you can tack against the wind....

Chas.

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

Nate Knutson said:

...Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very
well, but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.

Hey, I have a spoke protector disc on the front wheel of my bike:
<http://www.ihpva.org/incoming/2002/sunset/Sunset001.jpg>!

Every time you post that pic I think of a disabled Klingon warship,

horribly

Quoted message said:

disfigured by Starship phasers.

You got pointed ears, Johnny Boy?!?

Kapla!

* * Chas said:

"Hank Wirtz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nate Knutson said:

On Jul 6, 10:27 am, [email hidden] wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> hi,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
> round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
> largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
> spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the

cog

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> and the spokes, right?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
> normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
> and didn't weight much.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
> plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was

given

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
> only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
> sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
> the better bikes in the shop.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> So?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> S

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The impetus here is that a properly adjusted rear derailer in good
condition should be, and generally is, incapable of shifting the chain
into the spokes. Spoke protectors break and can cause noises. So they
come on lower end bikes, which usually don't get maintained very well,
but are generally considered poor form on nicer bikes.- Hide quoted

text -

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

- Show quoted text -

Quoted message said:

Oddly enough, many bikes with boutique wheels, especially Ksyriums,
are now coming not just with spoke protectors, but big-ass black pie
plates, maybe twice the diameter of the cassette,

The original spoke protectors were designed more to keep the derailleurs
out of the spokes than to protect the spokes from the chain.

Kinda wish I had one on my beater bike a week ago when I sucked my
derailleur into the spokes and trashed it along with the rear dropout.

Me, too. A couple of weeks ago something similar happened about a mile
after a minor tumble on my mtb. I'm still not sure how but the chain
was on the lowest 2 cogs and no mud. Fortunately the dropout was not
affected but scratch one XTR. I am seriously thinking about a spoke
protector. Actually, a derailleur, chain and dropout protector since I
don't care that much about the spokes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oddly enough, many bikes with boutique wheels, especially Ksyriums,
are now coming not just with spoke protectors, but big-ass black pie
plates, maybe twice the diameter of the cassette

I noticed that too. Fiancee just purchased a bike with Aksium wheels
and its got a black pie plate on it. Is it because the spokes are so
fragile that they need to be protected more than regular spokes?

Yep...and big $ to replace(IF ya find a bike shop that has them).

* * Chas said:

The original spoke protectors were designed more to keep the derailleurs
out of the spokes than to protect the spokes from the chain.

Kinda wish I had one on my beater bike a week ago when I sucked my
derailleur into the spokes and trashed it along with the rear dropout.

A few on Ebay right now.

"still me" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

* * Chas said:

The original spoke protectors were designed more to keep the

derailleurs

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out of the spokes than to protect the spokes from the chain.

Kinda wish I had one on my beater bike a week ago when I sucked my
derailleur into the spokes and trashed it along with the rear dropout.

A few on Ebay right now.

I already put together a p-pink Centurion "Iron Man" beater bike. Could
pink lycra be next?

Chas.

Quoted message said:

hi,

on all my bikes as a kid there was always a large metal or plastic
round disk behind the largest cog on the rear cluster between the
largest cog and the spokes ... I assumed this was to protect the
spokes in case the chain overshifted and tried to jam between the cog
and the spokes, right?

by the time i bought my last adult bikes in the late 90's this was
normally reduced to a very thin lexan piece which was barely visible
and didn't weight much.

It still seems like a useful thing (right?) and on my old Trek the
plastic was broken so I went my a LBS to obtain another and was given
a lot of attitude by the shop worker's ... something like they are
only for kids bikes, they aren't needed, and I shouldn't have such a
sissy thing on my bike! I did notice that they didn't seem to be on
the better bikes in the shop.

So?

S

I bought a new protector. It cracked. No service life.
but the need for a protector shifted when I shelved the one pivot
Suntour derailleurs for two pivot Shimano deores. Never a threat of
engagement with Shimano's setup, always a danger with the
Suntour

Quoted message said:

* * Chas said:

The original spoke protectors were designed more to keep the derailleurs
out of the spokes than to protect the spokes from the chain.
Kinda wish I had one on my beater bike a week ago when I sucked my
derailleur into the spokes and trashed it along with the rear dropout.

still me said:

A few on Ebay right now.

New ones, full retail, are under five bucks at any LBS which commonly
services bicycles. Hard to ship an ebay purchase and stay under that.

Plus there are many different incompatible formats for spoke guards now
- a bit of advice and/or the ability to exchange it and/or 'instant
installation' would be a benefit to many riders.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971