Lead mudguards!

I fitted whyte full guards last week, with a little modifications. They are nice and silent whilst riding. I went out today but found it hard going after a few weeks off from a chest infection and the mid teen mph winds. Average speed was up there but felt like sh! T at the end of the 30 mile ride. I've got a junior club run with my lad tomorrow so can have an easier ride.

Crud RR2, need fettling and ingenuity but once you get them right they do the job and add only a few grams.

Yes, put gaffer tape around the frame so the clamps grip better. They'll squeak and whiffle when you go over sand or leaves but a puddle sorts that out quick.

Mine are on their third winter and have only needed the occasional nudge or cheap part after cycle park knocks and bumps (I ride the winter bike to work).

Sign me up. 17 mile (each way) commute on my winter bike. Puffing like a steam engine and sweating like an old dog. Slowest time ever!

Me, I'm just slow all the time! I just put Crud 2's onto my new carbon bike and they seem to fit ok. Also, they are nice and shiny black, just like the bike. (For the minute!)

Were the SKS raceblades the short ones?

If so, how did you get the front one not to rub? I even popped back to the shop I bought them from and the mechanic gave up too! Sadly I couldn't get a refund as I thrown away the packaging!

For two winters I've used SKS raceblades and crudracer and they do a job - kind of.

Finally committed to a new bike this autumn (Whyte Susses) and fitted full guards. It'll be my winter and commute bike and they won't come off - ever!

Already convinced this was one of my best bike decisions.

The good bike will now only be used when it's warm and dry.

I fitted full mudguards to my steel bike a few weeks ago. The look kind of works - steel, Brooks saddle and bar tape. Old school.

I set a new PB on Strava when I took it out on the hour-long loop that I ride all the time. I put it down to aero advantages. They must smooth the airflow over the wheels.

I'm no scientist, but that has to be the answer.

Because if it's not the answer, and the truth is it's just because my legs were feeling good that day, then it might actually be true that "it's not about the bike". And I'm not having that at all. Because if it's not about the bike, I don't need a new bike.

So it's the aero thing. Definitely.

You can't beat proper fixed mudgaurds I have a set of giant mudgaurds on my defy. I think if you only ride alone and don't mind a wet arse and shins then ride with or with out its your choice. However if you ride with a club or with anyone else you really need guards.

I've tried crud gaurds, sks long and sks race, they are all frankly shit compared to fixed mudgaurds, faire enough if you don't have a bike with eyelets then these type of gaurd are a compromise, after years of making do I bought a defy frame and fitted the fixed gaurds which are simply great because you can forget they are there. Ok it makes the bike look old school but and not very pro, though I suspect that pro riders use gaurds for wet weather training as they would be more concerned with function over style.

Fitted Crud Roadracers last week. First big hill I rode nearly killed me - not because of the guards (which are great) but because I was overdressed and coming down with a cold. All that peak September fitness feels like it was years ago!

I've fitted a pair of sks guards to my crosser using the secure clips on front and back. This means you can just undo 3 bolts and pop the guards on and off in a couple of minutes, leaving the clips attached to the frame. Dead easy.

Having finally picked up some SKS raceblades for the CX today, I'm worried about stories of them slipping. Any tips to stop it? I was going to wrap the tubes in electrical tape to stop paint damage.

In response to the OP, if you adjust your mudguards so they don't rub then your bike won't feel so hard to ride. Also get some LED lights, that bottle dynamo isn't helping.

Quote:

Sorry, I obviously meant to say 'ride faster and overtake then'...

Are you sure that's what you meant?
Are you wearing HI-Viz undies?
Do you own a pair of reflective cycle clips?

Do you, and I apologise for the uncouth remark to follow, ride a folding bike?

Quote:

If you're riding close enough to get spray you're too close, especially in bad weather.

Spoken like a true commuter nerd...

If you're riding with no-one else around, feel free to ride without mudguards - it's your ass. But if you're going to commute in London, or anywhere else, please fit the guards - fed up with getting other people's spray in the face.

Not sure why my edited post from earlier today is now appearing newer than my reply to the reply!

i'm currently rebuilding the Tripster ATR as my winter über-bike. got 28mm tubeless tyres, tortec guards and rack, and i'm testing the new Rival22 hydraulic groupset. all-in, with pedals, it's 10kg on the nose. so not too shabby

I did buy some sks short ones a while back but kept getting horrendous rub on the front tyre. Every time I got it sorted I'd hit s bump and it'd start again.

Took them off and they sit in the parts bin somewhere.

Maybe I'll try again one day but can't bring myself to that yet.

Can't understand the reluctance to use mudguards... Well I can, it took me years before I caved in, but once I did, there really is no looking back.

For a start it just opens the window of what is acceptable weather to be riding a bike in reasonable comfort.

Not being sprayed means that its easier for your clothes to maintain a reasonable core temperature. It also means that you do not get the dreaded chamois rash from the edge of your chamois. Also, your cables, headset, brakes do not get contaminated with salty, grit filled water, so your bike performs better as well. Oh, one final thing, your rear light is unlikely to be contaminated by water and fail on your when you most need it!

The downsides are a little extra weight (minimal) and a reduction in aero performance (approximately 0.5-1 mph)... oh, and you do look a lot less euro.

Honestly, get mudguards, you'll never look back.

On the subject of winter bikes, I'm going to use my Allez over winter mainly.

Last year it sat mainly on the turbo but I find that boring plus, at times, painful due to issues I've had with my hip/groin.

I've just ordered some new brake blocks and have a set of 25c tyres hanging up and calling to me to fit. (Not sure if they are any good - Bontrager Select - but they were a fiver each so rude not to buy them! They have no direction / drive logos for a tyre with grooves though which is odd!)

Thanks to upgrades my father has made I also have access to practically an unused 2300 drivetrain too. So ALU bike with cheap and replaceable drivetrain. Job done.

Can't quite bring myself to fit mudguards though!

I decided a while back that as our winters are so long it seemed pointless not enjoy this time on a good bike. rain doesn't hurt a bike. so ti frame (great for winter), run a second hand drive, a pair of dedicated winter wheels, again a second hand cassette, clean it regularly and ditch the chain come spring. Sure, the salt can be a problem on the components, but again clean after each ride, takes 2 minutes to do a basic job, and if its really bad weather i'll be on the rollers, or doing something else as I'm not taking another black ice induced painfest again......and no mudguards, I just hate them.