C[omp]ute

From: andrew cooke <andrew@...>

Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 21:06:13 -0400

[Not a racial epithet]

http://imgur.com/a/0BHEE

On one of the Reddit bicycling groups there was a "discussion" about "dork
disks" - the plastic disks required by US law between cassette (rear gears)
and spokes:
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Bicycle-Requirements/
(item 3 under "What are the requirements for chains and chain guards?").

The argument goes that a correctly adjusted derailleur does not need this
protection, and so "bike snobs" (they exist) remove the disk.

There are three counter-arguments to this:
1 - On a mountain bike it could still help save your wheel if the 
    derailleur gets knocked into the wheel.
2 - No-ones perfect; you could accidentally misadjust the mechanism
    (one of my pedals came loose the other day!).
3 - Bike snobs?

I find 3 particularly convincing, but at the same time the disk does look
kinda ugly (it is, or was, a see-through piece of plastic).  So I decided to
paint it black.  This was pretty easy as I had an old can of black spray
enamel and the tools needed to take the cassette off (and so get at the disk).

The result is shown in the photos.  I like it.  I cleaned up the cassette when
I removed it, so it's back to silver, but it will be darker soon, as it gunks
up, and so the disk will look more "integrated".

Andrew