I really LOVE my DIY rotor guard made from an old tupperware lid. Mine is made of that really oldschool mega-toxic super-tough first-gen tupperware plastic that smells like a baby-doll from the 90’s and never goes stale. You know what I mean?
IN MY OPINION…
PROS.
It costs almost nothing.
It doesn’t get tangled with other bikes because it’s bendy. Less footdowns, less ware on your brake-mount. (e.g. I have shattered rigid plastic guards because a player reverse t-boned my front wheel and hooked my guard.)
It does a reasonably good job of protecting other players from your rotor. (I’m interested in debating this…)
Ultra-Light
CONS
It ain’t pretty
It doesn’t protect your rotor as well as a rigid guard.
It takes some savey to find the right plastic.(try the thrift stores)
If the saying is correct, the best defense is an offense. Thusly, the more rigid - the better, IMO. I have achieved rather good results by using the wheel axle as a mounting point. Building sideways also adds rigidity.
No F1 here as of yet, but plenty of shot-down planes and drones =D
The guard does not get caught on stuff. Not that I can recall. It may, in theory, catch someone’s axle, but we know who will get a hacksaw treatment afterward.
could catch someone foot ? i didnt know drone where made of carbon , i see people crash the all the time ( obviously not the same drones we talking about , hope you well )
Thank you =) Our peeps are doing well . Some have joined the army, some were forced to go abroad. In fact, more polo clubs have started due to internal migration (in your face, pootin).
Here is a rim-brake booster made from a piece of tank. Once we win, I will have to incorporate some mine shards into my frames =)
if im correct the rotor guard you posted above is made of metal sticks bend and welded
its more possible to catch something in this VS a completely full and flat surface ( roger carbon guard, or aluminium frying pan style )
for exemple i find fazan rotor guards a bit too agressive in designs ( holes + spikes) id rather see more sensible design with round edges and flat surface.
this DIY stuff from tanks is the coolest thing i ve ever saw keep going
The guard consists of 2 circles (1 weld each), a central cross (4 welds), a mounting plate (3 welds), and N-braces (Nx2 welds). There are no pieces sticking out as every 2 parts are welded in a T-joint, or end-to-end. The welds are grounded down where possible.
Now, I do understand that the more complex the guard is, the more failure points it has. However, since every guard is a one-of, I am able to overbuild the joints where needed.
Undoubtedly, laser-cut builds are easier to manufacture and provide unique designs. However, extra small batches are not financially feasible, unfortunately. As for the composite guards, let’s just say that our clubs are still in the middle ages. I am sure that modern materials can be better at stuff.
P.S.: In my 4+ seasons of polo, I cannot recall a single occasion of Fazan guards causing the problems you have described (we have around 5 players with different models). There was an earlier model, that had protruding 90-degree angles near the caliper, but that is it, really.
Although the plastic deforms very easily, it never (bends then hold-up this new bent shape). Polyéthylène plastic will melt quickly but it (in my experience) doesn’t leave behind an oily residue. I doubt this mode of failure to be likley, but I might be totally wrong.
My first encounters with disc brakes in bikepolo were quickly followed up by my first encounter of disc guards. These players installed guards to protect their disc from serious damage. Today we make guards mandatory for the protection players. At any given tournament he or she that is responsible for bike safety checks decides if a particular disc guard provides sufficient protection.
My tupperware disc guard does not protect the rotor very well at all. I do feel that it protects players sufficiently but I can’t be trusted in this! I’m obviously biased. The plastic guard bends into, and over the top of the disc when I simulate contact with my hand. It’s not perfect though. All guards, rigid or soft, have modes of failure. None of them offer protection from all the types of impact.
I am certain that my soft guard reduces the chances of crashing due to bikes becoming fouled or entangled. That has it’s safety mérite too!!
)
. Some have joined the army, some were forced to go abroad. In fact, more polo clubs have started due to internal migration (in your face, pootin).
