Mudguards in races...

lalorm

Anyone use mudguards during road races?

Diarmuid

No

C3PO

lalorm wrote: »

Anyone use mudguards during road races?

You're not thinking about riding your race bike in the rain?

kenmc

Diarmuid wrote: »

No

Actually that's not entirely true. Buffalo turned up in Brittas last year one thursday evening with (clip on) mudguards. It was particularly memorable as he had the front one pointing forwards, thus doing absolutely nothing to keep his feet, eyes, water bottles or whatever the hell it was that he was afraid of getting wet, dry.

columbus_66

I won the Ravens Christmas hamper race one time with mudguards and carrier on my winter training bike, sorry Anto!

Beasty

I had mine on in last years Ravens Xmas race - I reckon that's what allowed morana to win;)

RobFowl

UCI regulations actually have a section on this. Mudguards are not allowed in road races in any form.
Saw a Polish team try to start a stage of the RAS with clip on ones and the Comms came down on them like a clipboard made of lead....

Slideshowbob

Why would you make a clipboard out of lead?

bcmf

Slideshowbob wrote: »

Why would you make a clipboard out of lead?

To stop Polish teams racing with mudguards.

ragazzo

Beasty wrote: »

I had mine on in last years Ravens Xmas race - I reckon that's what allowed morana to win;)

Are you sure it was the Ravens Christmas race? I think the last Ravens Christmas race was about 4 years ago.

As for mudguards, regardless of rules and regulations, what type of racing cyclist would want to use them in a race?

Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger

Sorry for being clueless but what's wrong with mudguards in a race?

bcmf

Its just wrong.

ragazzo

Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger wrote: »

Sorry for being clueless but what's wrong with mudguards in a race?

If I pay €8000 for a race bike then I will definitely not destroy it with mudguards.
I leave those on my Winter bike. That is the only bike that should be seen with mudguards.

Idleater

ragazzo wrote: »

Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger wrote: »

Sorry for being clueless but what's wrong with mudguards in a race?

If I pay €8000 for a race bike then I will definitely not destroy it with mudguards.
I leave those on my Winter bike. That is the only bike that should be seen with mudguards.

But I presume lalorm is querying this with the start of the season almost upon us and with the high possibility of inclement weather, perhaps bringing the winter bike out for the first race or two.
I brought the winter bike with mudguards to the lcrc league Christmas race, and am tempted to do the same for the opener in a couple of weeks. Having said that, the mudguards made little to no difference at the hamper race - I still got soaked and grimy so I'd be inclined to remove them for at least aesthetic reasons.
I'll bring the 8k bike out after the road salt has gone :-)

07Lapierre

Idleater wrote: »

But I presume lalorm is querying this with the start of the season almost upon us and with the high possibility of inclement weather, perhaps bringing the winter bike out for the first race or two.
I brought the winter bike with mudguards to the lcrc league Christmas race, and am tempted to do the same for the opener in a couple of weeks. Having said that, the mudguards made little to no difference at the hamper race - I still got soaked and grimy so I'd be inclined to remove them for at least aesthetic reasons.
I'll bring the 8k bike out after the road salt has gone :-)

That sums it up really..

Lumen

In a fast bunch you really don't want the risk of someone getting a stick caught in the mudguards, although if everyone used them wet races might be a bit safer because everyone could see a bit better.

But in pro racing there's the sponsors to think of. They don't want their lovely products uglified.

If I had to bet on whether the UCI is more concerned with safety or sponsors...

morana

columbus_66 wrote: »

I won the Ravens Christmas hamper race one time with mudguards and carrier on my winter training bike, sorry Anto!

Yes I think I remember and you probably had a santa hat on as well!!!


Mudguards arent allowed in races afaik just like tribars.

oflahero

Clip-on mudguards = long thin metal stabby bits. They're frowned upon for the same reason you're supposed to have your bar end plugs fitted properly too - potential things to puncture your vulnerable soft bits in the event of a pile-up.

Hungrycol

Why give the person drafting you an even easier ride?

Lumen

oflahero wrote: »

Clip-on mudguards = long thin metal stabby bits

Good point. I've managed to stab myself quite badly with the stays of my bolted-on mudguards, and wouldn't want this inflicted on me at speed.

Chips Lovell

I hate riding behind people with mudguards in the rain. They always seem to direct the water right in my eyes.

lalorm

I don't use them on the race bike, only the training bike. Saves me a job swapping them over.

blorg

Junior Jacon Jeese Jurger wrote: »

Sorry for being clueless but what's wrong with mudguards in a race?

I imagine there is a risk that they could become dislodged and go into a wheel, particularly in a crash situation. You do sometimes see them in league races in the spring; I think I've seen one or two in an early season open race (not the Ras, the sort I would be doing) on occasion.

Lumen

Well this totally confounds my plan of winning the Ras on a dublin bike.

doozerie

Lumen wrote:

Well this totally confounds my plan of winning the Ras on a dublin bike.

I guess that leaves the way clear for Indiana Jones and his shopping basket to take the race by storm: