vent
Comments(5) I’m not part of the zero-body-fat crowd, and so I had problems breaking spokes. So I dropped a couple hundred$ to get a custom-built wheel with a Velocity Dyad rim, which has been fabulous.
but apparently when the LBS installed the new wheel, they removed the plastic “dork disk” that’s there to catch a dropped chain. I am quite sure because “before” pictures of the bike had the disk, and it’s long gone now.
so this morning on my way to work when I dropped a chain, instead of waiting for me nicely on the dork disk it snapped FOUR spokes. you snap four spokes and you’re not going anywhere. luckily my wife had not left to take the kids to school, so she came and got me so I made my early-morning meeting. but my kids were an hour late for school.
I’m sure the LBS will make some lame excuse for why it’s not their fault. they also forget every time to close the brakes. arrrgh.
If you want to press it, it’s illegal for the one that sold you the bike to removed the disk. I’m not sure what the rule is for an LBS that did not sell you the bike to removed the disk. It’s the same sort of thing as a mattress tag “may only be removed by consumer”.
In fact, Cannondale had a huge recall of bikes because the disk was left off.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09155.html
thanks Lloyd!! they are telling me that custom wheels don’t come with spoke protectors etc. I forwarded them the link, so we’ll see what happens. I actually care less about the $30 to fix the wheel than the risk of it happening again.
thanks again Lloyd. the Cannondale recall link made them back off. they apologized for not installing a pie plate with the wheel and will split the repair cost with me (dropped chain was also due to a bent derailleur, which is not their fault)
They didn’t remove the “dork disk”, as you call it. Your old wheel probably still has it attached. What they did was to build you a new wheel which did not have one – and you probably didn’t ask for one when you ordered the wheel.
Also – the disk is NOT NEEDED. The only reason your chain can go into the spokes is if your rear derailleur is badly adjusted. Check out the Tour de France, or any bike race on the planet: no plastic disk on the wheel. They simply are not necessary on a correctly maintained bicycle.
you are correct, chris. the derailleur hanger became bent somehow and I didn’t notice.
given the risk of shredding a wheel if the derailleur ever goes out of whack, however, I will keep a spoke protector on there just in case.