Do I need the dumb plastic shield.

[liltommy]

The plastic shield between my cassette and hub came loose and just spins by itself. Is it safe to leave it off or does it serve some mystical purpose I don't know about other than shedding some dirt off the cassette.
Tommy

[drevil]

It sheds no dirt. The purpose of the shield is to prevent your chain from climbing over the biggest cog on your cassette and gouging (thus weakening) your spokes. Sometimes when the chain goes over the top and into the spokes, it also gets jammed in there good.

If you have your derailleur stops set up properly, then the shield is useless. You can check this by shifting all the way to the lowest gear, then try to force it past that point by pushing hard on your shifter (assuming it's not reverse-pull or whatever they call it nowadays). If the chain bumps up against the plastic piece or successfully goes over the top, you need to tighten the "low" limit screw a little.

After fixing the derailleur or determining it's ok, chuck that plastic saucer. You'll go up hills much faster without the rotating weight. :D

[liltommy]

Thats what I thought. I've been wanting to take it off anyway. Stupid thing is stained with mud and won't clean right. Its just not as "pretty" as it used it be. :D

So thats the secret you more experienced riders have been keeping from me. I bet if I get rid of 1/3" of the spokes the weight savings would be huge. :D

See ya

[Dirt]

Jason's got the real secret weapon... He was riding on a custom 31 spoke wheel for a while there. It made him whicked fast....

;)

Peter

[DKEG]

Tommy if I knew you had been riding with a shield on. I would have never riden with you. You nerd. :D :D :D

[liltommy]

Tommy if I knew you had been riding with a shield on. I would have never riden with you. You nerd. :D :D :D

I don't care what you think. My wife thinks it H-O-T.
Oh yeeeeeeeh!!!!