Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


Plastic Spoke Protector Guard.
#1
During cleaning on my bike, I've discovered that this guard has been damaged.

Do you really need this? Or would it be fine without it?
  Reply
#2
Neither - it's your choice. These are the factors to consider:

Negative:
They can rattle, some consider them "uncool."

Positive:
They protect your spokes, derailleur and even your frame (dropout/hanger) from damage due to shifting into the wheel. Weight is not worth worrying about

If you choose to go without it you need to be conscientious about checking the inner adjustment regularly, and ALWAYS after the bike falls over or is in an accident. Bending of the hanger is the primary cause of shifting into the spokes, but it can also occur if something gets caught in the chain or derailleur (brush, branches, etc.)

The fact that it is damaged may mean it's already protected your bike at least once.
  Reply
#3
Thanks, its needs to come off, so I'll see what happens, but will buy the part just in case.

My bike has been outside in the elements for several months, so it may have been damaged during that time.
(07-16-2014, 10:37 AM)cny-man Wrote:  Neither - it's your choice. These are the factors to consider:

Negative:
They can rattle, some consider them "uncool."

Positive:
They protect your spokes, derailleur and even your frame (dropout/hanger) from damage due to shifting into the wheel. Weight is not worth worrying about

If you choose to go without it you need to be conscientious about checking the inner adjustment regularly, and ALWAYS after the bike falls over or is in an accident. Bending of the hanger is the primary cause of shifting into the spokes, but it can also occur if something gets caught in the chain or derailleur (brush, branches, etc.)

The fact that it is damaged may mean it's already protected your bike at least once.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
11,773
04-14-2024, 07:38 PM
Last Post: Jesper
 
7,766
12-08-2022, 01:28 PM
Last Post: KF40272
Star
5,897
10-16-2019, 02:27 PM
Last Post: Joe_W
 
7,298
07-05-2015, 02:06 PM
Last Post: GeorgeET
 
8,398
08-10-2014, 01:17 PM
Last Post: cny-man
 
39,038
08-05-2014, 09:24 AM
Last Post: nfmisso
 
38,303
05-23-2014, 01:38 AM
Last Post: danny1962

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
How to improve cycling endurance? I've h...
Today 02:43 AM
Food after late training ride
Yesterday 11:54 PM
Hot Weather Safety
Yesterday 09:48 PM
Cassette shifting Problem
Yesterday 06:16 PM
What are your best biking places in your...
06-24-2025 04:21 AM
find a cycling buddy?
06-24-2025 03:37 AM
Gandolfi "Super" model 1985-86 racing bi...
06-23-2025 10:55 PM
AI ACTION FIGURE!
06-23-2025 05:07 PM
First long distance ride..
06-23-2025 06:30 AM
Post-Ride Nutrition
06-23-2025 01:44 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. GirishH
20 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
18 posts
no avatar 3. Criminal
16 posts
no avatar 4. rydabent
15 posts
no avatar 5. meamoantonio
11 posts