Fenders or no fenders on your commuter bike

caputmundi

Not sure if this has already been discussed before, but I'm interested in knowing your views on having or not having fenders on the bike you use to commute and the reasons behind it. On the one hand it seems like a no brainer, it keeps you and commuters behind you clean. On the other it looks better but makes your commuting more challenging, if you get what I mean. I never thought about this until starting the debate with a friend. Maybe it's just a case of functionality over aesthetics.

Plastik

If you're a regular commuter it's functionality over aesthetics in wet weather. I don't know how anyone commutes on days where there is a lot of standing water, and not necessarily raining, without mudguards and puts up soaking wet shorts - particularly on the morning commute. My 'fellow commuters' don't come into the equation, it's about me keeping me as dry and as clean as possible.

Re aesthetics, I use raceblades and they're removed every day that its dry!

magicbastarder

i had to buy a new bike so i could commute - the existing bike did not have the clearances for mudguards.

Chips Lovell

I'd have mudguards on my commuter from about October to April. I use them mainly to keep the bike clean and cut down on maintenance and they do keep the arse a bit dryer.

I don't really understand anyone who says its respectful to other commuters. I commute by bike every day and I've never been sprayed by someone else because I wouldn't be drafting strangers.

daragh_

Ditto.

Raceblades for wet days in the spring/summer

Winter bike has big SKS Chromoplastics.

seamus

More challenging?

Unless you spend significant parts of your commute tucked into the aero position, then mudguards are going to make little difference to the effort you have to put in.

Personally I think group riding on a wet day without a full length rear mudguard is very bad manners. Even commuting without one is inconsiderate.

Seaswimmer

Another issue not often considered is that when riding without mudguards you need to wash your gear more often. Your nice new expensive waterproof jacket will deteriorate very quickly with regular washing.

I made this mistake first year commuting when my jacket ended up pretty much a dirty grey (from hi vis green) and lost its waterproofing from constant washing.

triggermortis

My commuting bike has mudguards on, but in the better weather I have used the good bike with no mudguards. Last job had a secure place to leave the good bike, but new job doesn't so I'll be using the commuter bike all the time now and probably leave the mudguards on in the summer

Tenzor07

I'm offenderd you call mudguards fenders!! :eek:

Water John

Return to Fender. Oh sorry, that should have been, yesterday.

tomasrojo

I call them fenders too sometimes. I call the storage area in a car the trunk and the bit covering the engine the hood. I'm not sure why. They just seem like good words. I did use to live in California.

Anyway: fenders/mudguards. Always. My current bikes all came with them, but when previous bikes came without them I installed them anyway. Mudflaps too.

magicbastarder

i learned the benefit of full length mudguards when i went out for a cycle on a cold day in january and the salt on the roads destroyed my chain*

*coupled with the week i waited before cleaning the bike

Lusk_Doyle

seamus wrote: »

More challenging?

Unless you spend significant parts of your commute tucked into the aero position, then mudguards are going to make little difference to the effort you have to put in.

Personally I think group riding on a wet day without a full length rear mudguard is very bad manners. Even commuting without one is inconsiderate.

More challenging in how to stay dry without them, not aero!

seamus

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

More challenging in how to stay dry without them, not aero!

D'oh, read it wrong. I thought he'd said that mudguards make the commute more challenging.

68 lost souls

I'm confused... How do you play guitar while cycling?

irishrover99

Last year i put mudguards on for the first time.
Within 3 weeks of them been on,one of the newly installed sealed bearings in my rear wheel had completely rusted and would barely spin.
It made me wonder if more water was falling on the rear freehub area that caused it and its ,making me think twice about putting them back on again this winter.

loyatemu

I have crud roadracers on my road bike (which I also occasionally commute on) - I'm curious why anyone would bother taking them off for weekend spins, they weigh nothing.

plodder

68 lost souls wrote: »

I'm confused... How do you play guitar while cycling?

I always thought fenders were bumpers, and thought that's taking the whole "near miss" problem to an extreme..

Alanstrainor

I have a rear guard and nothing on the front. Not too much clearance for one up front, but maybe I could attach one to the frame. I wouldn't commute without them. Nothing worse than getting soaked when it's not even raining because the ground is wet. Obviously it is also nice for others behind you too.

Marvinthefish

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'm offended you call mudguards fenders!! :eek:

I prefer the Bikesnob-approved term "wheelbrow", with "filth prophylactic" a close second. #useprotection
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.co.uk/2009_06_19_archive.html

MeWantBroadband

No problem: http://www.thebicyclingguitarist.net/graphics/lego/2011-complete.jpg

HivemindXX

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

I don't really understand anyone who says its respectful to other commuters. I commute by bike every day and I've never been sprayed by someone else because I wouldn't be drafting strangers.

I'm amazed. The mudguard free bike with big chunky wheels that you very often see commuting can have at least a two metre long rooster tail of droplets flying up. I don't consider two metres to be drafting especially in crowded city traffic.

I also don't have any control over people who pass me and then pull in front where I can see the spray of filthy water moving to line up with my face.

I can understand people who don't realise this is an issue. People who know they are spraying other commuters and just don't give a damn are assholes.

ED E

Musguard ftw.

tomasrojo

Conventional mudguards throw a fair bit of spray back at the person behind too, but not at face level. The total absence of mudguards, though, lobs schmutz in an arc from near road level up to the vertical, which, after a brief sojourn aloft, rains back down on the person behind. Unless, as said, you keep a good bit back. Not sure what the distance is, but I think you can be in the filth fallout zone even if you're two car-lengths back (7m?).

tomasrojo

Some good stuff about fenders here:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fenders.html

(And a mention of spray with fenders that only go as far as the "equator" of the wheel, and mudflaps.)

beauf

Just saves on clothing. When cycling in rain, you don't simply get wet it throws up all the grime and dirt off the road. That destroys the bike and your clothes and any bags you have. I'm sure it must do the same for people following you also.

I prefer the look of a bike without mudguards, as I assume most other people do also. But not as much as hate the dirt it throws up. On my commuter bike(s) I have the mudguards tweaked with cable ties to stop rattle and keep them perfectly aligned as they get knocked a fair bitl

Really its a god argument to have a wet day bike and a sunny day bike. Perfect number of bikes N+1 where N is the number of bikes you currently own.

eeeee

tomasrojo wrote: »

Conventional mudguards throw a fair bit of spray back at the person behind too, but not at face level. The total absence of mudguards, though, lobs schmutz in an arc from near road level up to the vertical, which, after a brief sojourn aloft, rains back down on the person behind. Unless, as said, you keep a good bit back. Not sure what the distance is, but I think you can be in the filth fallout zone even if you're two car-lengths back (7m?).

I have been in groups where the mudguard threw more shyte up into my face than a mudguard-less wheel. It gets angled sharpy right up onto the following head. I have deliberately chosen the mudguard free wheels. That said it depends on the angle of said mudguard.

Permanent mudguards on the commmuter, never had mudguards on the road bike. Just an ass saver.

tomasrojo

nee wrote: »

I have been in groups where the mudguard threw more shyte up into my face than a mudguard-less wheel. It gets angled sharpy right up onto the following head.

That's interesting. The mudguard should really just cut the upper angles of the spray off. Which means if you're following closely you might well get just as much spray in your face (I was thinking of someone following at commuter distances) as following someone without mudguards, but not more. But you have empirical evidence so I'm not going to argue it! Might get side splash from a mudguard that isn't close around the wheel, I guess?

For riding in groups, Sheldon Brown says rear mudflaps are a real courtesy. I'm assuming virtually no-one who rides in groups actually uses them, but I put one on to keep my trailers clean. Really effective.

Pinch Flat

I have permanent mudguards / fenders on my commuter. An absolute must IMHO. They'll protect you on wet roads, no spray on your back / in your face.

beauf

tomasrojo wrote: »

....But you have empirical evidence so I'm not going to argue it! Might get side splash from a mudguard that isn't close around the wheel, I guess?...

I don't get it either. maybe the mudguards people are using are too short or too far from the wheel or too narrow.

I have a bag on my carrier on my commuter and it doesn't catch any spray.

robyntmorton

When training for the Galway Cycle this year (my first experience of group riding) I learned to equate the amount of countryside kicked up onto my face with how good I was getting at following the wheel in front. Weirdly I started to miss it on a dry training session. I did at one point joke that I should dismount and dive face first into a field, so it looked like I was doing something (I didn't).

That said, getting spray coated while in full cycling gear is one thing. I'm not sure this is a good look when you're arriving into work.

(Spray in part courtesy of Sullivlo)

eeeee

beauf wrote: »

I don't get it either. maybe the mudguards people are using are too short or too far from the wheel or too narrow.

I have a bag on my carrier on my commuter and it doesn't catch any spray.

I come back from winter spins looking like I've face planted a ditch. Big love for the front on a filthy winter spin!
It's the angle of the rear mudguard in my experience, shoots it straight back up.
Some work, some don't. It's not brand dependant, but angle/installation that makes the difference imo, I've gathered significant empirical evidence of this!

greenspurs

caputmundi wrote: »

Not sure if this has already been discussed before, but I'm interested in knowing your views on having or not having fenders Mudguards on the bike you use to commute and the reasons behind it. On the one hand it seems like a no brainer, it keeps you and commuters behind you clean. On the other it looks better but makes your commuting more challenging, if you get what I mean. I never thought about this until starting the debate with a friend. Maybe it's just a case of functionality over aesthetics.

Fixed your post ......

And dont cycle on the pavement , i mean footpath .......

greenspurs

68 lost souls wrote: »

I'm confused... How do you play guitar while cycling?

Im more a Gibson Les Paul man myself !!

peasant

In my mind, a bike without mudguards (and by extension the lights/reflectors that come with them) can not be called a commuter bike.

But I commute in regular clothes...the same clothes I sit in the office with for eight hours.

ted1

Jep Gambardella wrote: »

I'd have mudguards on my commuter from about October to April. I use them mainly to keep the bike clean and cut down on maintenance and they do keep the arse a bit dryer.

I don't really understand anyone who says its respectful to other commuters. I commute by bike every day and I've never been sprayed by someone else because I wouldn't be drafting strangers.

Where do you commute? Because I can tell you that in both the N11 and rock road you'll either be behind people or have people behind them , and it's nit drafting its traffic

HowItsMade

bought crud roadracer mk3 mudguards for my giant contend a few weeks ago but they don't fit i'm running 25mm, does anyone in here use the sks raceblades i'm thinking of getting a set of those but worried they won't fit?

Plastik

Raceblades will fit 25's fine. I've been using a set with Conti UltraSport2 28's and they just about fit underneath.

Mercian Pro

Couldn't believe how few cyclists on the Sean Kelly yesterday bothered to fit mudguards. At least when it was raining, the mud etc being thrown up didn't really stay on your face and glasses. When it eased off and the roads were still wet was a lot worse and a peaked hat didn't prevent muck coming up under the glasses. I was going to suggest they get a supply of eye-wash at the food stops!

Regarding mudguard fit, there are two critical measurements- the clearance below the brake bolt (assuming you have conventional brakes) and the size of the tyre. The first will probably dictate what type of mudguard will fit and the second will affect the size.

Most mudguards that don't extend below the hub level of the wheel will result in water dripping back onto the tyre and being directed back on whoever is behind. In some clubs they are referred to as "greedy bastards"!

jive

When I first started commuting I didn't have mudguards and looking back I can't believe I stuck it out as I had a soggy wet arse every other day. Picked up a pair of SKS mudguards for €20 to fit to the bike, they're not perfect and they rub sometimes but still up there with the best €20 I've ever spent!

I still get wet shoes/socks on bad days... might try attach something to the front mudguard to make it a bit longer.

magicbastarder

are any tyre designs better than others for flinging up water?

tomasrojo

jive wrote: »

I still get wet shoes/socks on bad days... might try attach something to the front mudguard to make it a bit longer.

I did something similar to what they recommend here:
http://phred.org/~alex/bikes/fendermudflap.html

I used plastic milk jug material and small nuts and bolts. There are definitely nicer-looking materials you could use though.

joey100

Any recommendations for full mudguards, with the extra flap bits if possible, for a bike without the eyelets? Have used crud catchers but find them finicky and have broken on me once or twice.

jive

tomasrojo wrote: »

I did something similar to what they recommend here:
http://phred.org/~alex/bikes/fendermudflap.html

I used plastic milk jug material and small nuts and bolts. There are definitely nicer-looking materials you could use though.

Brilliant, thanks for that. My bike is so ugly a sliced up milk jug would actually improve the aesthetics of it so no fears there!

tomasrojo

Well, this is what the front one ended up looking like:

Mercian Pro

joey100 wrote: »

Any recommendations for full mudguards, with the extra flap bits if possible, for a bike without the eyelets? Have used crud catchers but find them finicky and have broken on me once or twice.

The SKS Raceblade Long certainly give good protection, have flaps and fit most bikes with conventional brakes once they have 3 or 4mm clearance. No need for eyelets as they fit onto the hub skewers. They do leave a small gap at the brakes and the quick release clips can get gunged up and stick closed or worse, open. They come with a three year warranty and have replaced mine on a few occasions.

BBB do a similar mudguard but a few club members have had problems with the plastic stays breaking. Not sure what warranty they have.

Luxman

Mercian Pro wrote: »

The SKS Raceblade Long certainly give good protection, have flaps and fit most bikes with conventional brakes once they have 3 or 4mm clearance. No need for eyelets as they fit onto the hub skewers. They do leave a small gap at the brakes and the quick release clips can get gunged up and stick closed or worse, open. They come with a three year warranty and have replaced mine on a few occasions.

BBB do a similar mudguard but a few club members have had problems with the plastic stays breaking. Not sure what warranty they have.

Avoid BBB for sure. Had the stays snap off without any type of impact or abuse. They just snapped one day and nearly went through the wheel. Also clearance and constant adjustment needed

caputmundi

Thank you guys for your input. I'll definitely keep my fenders.

As for why I call them fenders instead of mudguards, it boils down to English not being my first language and having learned most of what I know from the yankees

Derrydingle

On club spins do members use mudguards in winter months ?

Pinch Flat

Derrydingle wrote: »

On club spins do members use mudguards in winter months ?

A lot of clubs would require it. Good manners really.

Wishbone Ash

Derrydingle wrote: »

On club spins do members use mudguards in winter months ?

It's a requirement in many clubs (usually from the period where the clocks go back until they go forward again). I tend to fit them any time of the year if I know it's going to be wet. It could be 'policed' better when the rule is in place in my club as there's always one or two who don't bother.

I'm not pushed about them on my commuter bike as the journey is only 20k each way and I'm not bothered about getting wet.