That plastic insert is something that they started doing on the higher end 11spd groups and now it looks like it has trickled down to Claris. Its function is related to the indexing on those higher end road groups. They actually made the downshift onto the small rings two step: one click shifts the chain but keeps the cage close to/touching the chain to prevent the chain derailing during the shift, and a second click trims the derailleur cage away from the chain once it's settled into gear. The plastic is there so to keep things quiet during that process. It's so quiet that I'm sure most guys don't actually realize they need to click twice for the full shift.
On Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 2:57:56 PM UTC-7, Joe Bernard wrote: > > Here's a thing I've never seen before. I just pulled the Claris fd and > discovered this plastic insert to push the chain. You wear out the plastic > instead of the cage? Narrows it down for 9-speed, take it off for 8? Hmm.. > > On Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 2:24:23 PM UTC-7, Joe Bernard wrote: > > Update on weight (still no actual scale): Yeah, after moving this bike > around a bunch today I'd say I was a little optimistic. It feels like 32-33 > with rack and fenders..probably around 30 lbs. without (but with a Brooks). > If you really wanted to weight-weenie a Clem (silly!) you could use the > plastic saddle Riv sells and replace the steel chainrings. You wouldn't, > but you could :-) > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
