Fenders

OldNickToo

I am probably going to get some flames out of this. However.

Up until now it's been reasonably dry, but Winter is nearing. Memories of mudguardless riding from my youth are not pleasant.

Also I just fitted a pair of Trail Bear tyres which chuck stuff up at me like nothing else. The bike frame and front gear setup are full of twigs, gravel and grit.

So I am thinking about fenders.

My instincts say to go with full fenders, to protect both the bike (frame, derailers etc) and me. But I do a fair bit of bush bashing, and I have concerns about stuff getting jammed up under the fenders. These tyres will thros up a 1.5" gumnut into the air.

The nifty-looking clipon fenders and stuff look sexy, and would seem to clear better, but do they provide anywhere near the protection?

Also I am having trouble finding weights for these things. I was looking at maybe Planet Bike HardCore full fenders.

So. Any takers?

OldNickToo

hmmm..having said that, there does not seem to be much _choice_ in Oz....

rek

SKS make some great fenders.

On my mountain bike I have an SKS Shockboard on the front, and an SKS X-Tra Dry 3 on the rear. They both attach with a really easy quick-release system which lets you take them on and off as the weather requires.

They don't protect quite as well as a full set of fenders, but are a lot lighter, far easier to pull on and off (5 seconds vs. 5 minutes with spanners in hand), they do a good job with mud and other crud.. enough to take care of the 'big' stuff.

Comparing them against a full set of fenders (which I have on my commuter), the only real drawback is that the clip ons don't give 100% coverage from standing water under all circumstances, when cornering and such you might get a few dribs and drabs of water on your legs.

The rear clip-on, not being a full wrap around, doesn't protect the derailleur from much of the water either. But let's face it, after a wet and muddy mountain bike ride, you're going to need to wash the whole bike anyway.

They're also more durable, as they attach to the sprung part of the bike. I had some 'normal' style fenders on my old MTB which attached right on the fork arch.. an unsprung part of the suspension, so they had to deal with all the rattling and such abuse that comes with off-road riding. I think they lasted about 3 rides before the mounting brackets vibrated and sheared right off.

__________________
Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

OldNickToo

Thanks for that reply. It covers a lot of ground and is exactly what I was looking for.

Interesting point about sprung vs unsprung. In my old days there _were_ no springs, but of course fenders weren't made of aluminium and plastic either! <G>

I will check out the SKS stuff.

I notice that a couple of companies, including SKS, make a frame- mounted fender. From the looks of them, they may be there to take the worst of the stuff that comes straight back at the frame, and add a bit of extra lower protection when you are riding straight.
Thank s again.

HowardSteele

I do cross country trail ridding and will not leave home without the crud catcher that 30 cm piece of plastic that clips on the downtube, the front wheel kicks up lots of loose debre, and this nifty little fender stops most of it from going straight into my eyes.ive run all tracks and tech single track, without this fender shaking loose.

On the back I’ve got a curved fender that clips on the seat post, this is for stopping that muddy stripe down your backside when chasing through mud and slush, this to has stood the bashing I dish out, but saying that, fellow riders have broken theirs in spills.

OldNickToo

Excellent! Thank you. This is the sort of experience input I am looking for. Do you also use a front fender of the clip-on type, in conjunction with the "muck catcher"?

HowardSteele

I have thought of trying out one during the rainy season, it defiantly will be a benefit but i don't think it will put up with the banging and spills of the downhill single track, if you are just ridding open jeep tack and gentle single track i don't see why you shouldn't use one.

I ride a full susspension, and my shock is located in line with all the crud thrown up by the back wheel, there i use a neoprene mask strap, you know from a diving mask, it has Velcro on either side so i attach it between my two suspension links and it works well, it is stretchy so it adjusts to the ups and downs of the shock movement.