Shimano Altus - Plastic Thing

[Laidlaym]

My wife's Kona Dew had a plastic disc between the spokes and the biggest (lowest/highest ratio) gear on the rear wheel. I think it was there to keep the chain out of the spokes. It was damaged and was creating drag between the wheel and the gear leading to a slack chain when not pedalling. I pulled it out in bits.

Is replacement necessary or desirable?

Mark

[Summernight]

Everyone I've spoken to who seems to know about bikes scoffs at the plastic cassette guard and pulls it off at the first opportunity.

I left mine on but one of the clips broke and it was moving around and would catch the chain sometimes (like what you describe) - it got pulled off and never replaced. No issues so far without it. As long as the shifting limits are set correctly I think it should be fine without (in my completely non-expert opinion).

[Saturnstarzz]

Yeah get rid of it , i gave mine to my cat he loves chasing it around the house.

As summer said as long the limits are set correctly and the chain doesn't shift of the cassette it will be fine.

[Nobody]

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/compon ... 95620.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rustychisel]

aka 'dork disc', but that's a roadie thing

[Duck!]

The "pizza dish". Cause more trouble than they prevent in the long run, and if the derailleur is tuned properly it's unnecessary anyway. Leave it off.

[Nobody]

Also called "pie plate".
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com.au/2008 ... spoke.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Laidlaym]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I need to get the derailler adjusted - I suspect the chain when over the edge to damage the disc in the first place.

[sturmey archer]

You've all just suffering from pie-plate envy....