Mudguards...
Author
Discussion

Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,211 posts

246 months

Sunday 16th September 2012
quotequote all
Well, the Scottish weather has definitely begun to slide towards winter and I don't think I've managed a ride that's been dry from start to finish in the last fortnight. So I'm thinking about mudguards. Especially if I go out with some friends.

The problem is that they're ugly as sin. So I don't want to leave them on permanently, but I don't wnt a ridiculous hassle each time I want to go for a spin in the rain.

What do road riders on here do? Are there quick release mudguards or clip on ones that don't leave unsightly brackets?

I know the answer is a second bike but...

Ian Lancs

1,158 posts

195 months

Sunday 16th September 2012
quotequote all
I use these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/crud-roadracer-mk2-mudguar... (but not at that price - mine were cheaper from Evans Manchester).

Annoying things about them:
the little nylon brushes that keep the guard from contacting the wheel (can hear it swish)
if you cycle over anything bumpy, they resonate and make me think my bike is about to fall apart!

Good things:
They keep the road spray away

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Sunday 16th September 2012
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I've been looking at Cruds too. Do they cause any damage to the frame at all?

Jimbo.

4,221 posts

218 months

Sunday 16th September 2012
quotequote all
Used the Crud Race 2 thingies (?). They were...OK. Not amazing coverage so your feet/you/the guy behind still gets sprayed (although a lot less that normal!), and they flex about horribly.

If your bike has the mounts/clearances, then SKS Chromoplastics are where it's at. Tough and with excellent coverage. Yes they look wk, but then what mudguards don't?!

Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,211 posts

246 months

Sunday 16th September 2012
quotequote all
In fairness, I can live with them looking ste so long as I can flip them comp,eatery on and off quickly without permanent brackets and stuff cluttering the frame up. Are these suggestions all 'quick release' as the lazy man's law suggests that anything that takes effort to snap on and off will end up being left on!

Ian Lancs

1,158 posts

195 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
The Cruds I linked to don't (haven't) caused any damage to my frame yet.
They also appear to be quite long (I've had someone sat right behind me who didn't get sprayed - although I wish they did cos they might have had a turn up front!)

The only difficult bit removing them, is the re-usable zip tie - I found it a bit fiddly. The stays are held up by double wrapped o-rings which are a bit tight at first, but ok after a few uses.

Juffled

189 posts

211 months

Monday 17th September 2012
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i have the raceblades on me one and only bike, they are ok you can take them on and off in less than 1min which i liked and for a short commute they are fine but they arent all that secure and will bump around rub and make general noise, i put chromoplastics on my gfs bike, they are brilliant, if you can be arsed use them on a 2nd bike for winter, there arent any better types/brands, if you try and save £10 in buying cheaper then you will regret it later.

i put the clear 3m tape around the stays/fork to stop grit rubbing into the paintwork which is something they (raceblades) can do, you can also get raceblade longs now, i would imagine they have the same problem as the normals if not more so, i am happy with with mine for what i need it for, stops a lot of water but not everything and if its raining your going to get wet anyway

Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,211 posts

246 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Sounds good. I'm not tremendously fussed about getting wet because as you say, it's happening anyway! It's more to stop the road much up my back/face and be kind to those behind.

A minute on and off sounds cool...

TKF

6,232 posts

264 months

Monday 17th September 2012
quotequote all
Disastrous said:
Sounds good. I'm not tremendously fussed about getting wet because as you say, it's happening anyway! It's more to stop the road much up my back/face and be kind to those behind.

A minute on and off sounds cool...
As discussed earlier, since we have the same bike you can be my tester

Disastrous

Original Poster:

10,211 posts

246 months

Thursday 20th September 2012
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Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Thursday 20th September 2012
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Looks like a great way to funnel road st onto your front mech while doing nothing to protect your legs or the face of people following you.

yellowjack

18,454 posts

195 months

Friday 21st September 2012
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Disastrous said:
WIT said:
"We're proud of the result and believe we offer an even greater product in the EXCITING WORLD OF REAR FENDERS for road bikes"
Since when were fenders/mudguards regarded as an exciting subject, even amongst the most adenoidal, beard weaving, sandal wearing cyclists?

Then I scrolled down to see "designed and produced in The Netherlands. The plastic used is 100% recycled and recyclable." and all became clear.

boolay

1,553 posts

267 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
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I need to invest in a pair of mudguards now the roads seems to have a permanent damp, gritty surface

Do the SKS Chromo's require proper mudguard fixing points? I was tempted by the Crud Roadracers, but now not so sure after the reviews here

Any other recommendations?

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

279 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
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I've got the SKS Raceblades and they do ok, as someone above said.

They're easy on and off within 1 minte. When you first get them they require a bit of fiddling to make sure they don't rub on tyres, but once solved they're ok.

Feet still get a little wet, but importantly no solid black line up your bum and shorts stay dry thumbup

boolay

1,553 posts

267 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
quotequote all
Hmmm, they look pretty neat. What is the protection like for the rider behind?
I do mostly club riding, and don't want to piss anyone off!

Comfortably Dumb

1,237 posts

214 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
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I'm about to get a set of raceblades longs after seeing them fitted to a bike at my lbs.

They're a little more expensive than some but the mounting/quick release system looks very good.

CatMatt7

101 posts

236 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
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I had some Crud Road racers and didn't get on with them. I have just switched to SKS Raceblade longs and they are much, much better.

I haven't yet taken them off as they seem secure enough not to want / need to take them off at every opportunity, unlike the Crud Roadracers. That said they are clip off, so if I do want to remove them, it would be a 1 minute job, if that.

So far, so good.

Rouleur

7,417 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th October 2012
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boolay said:
I need to invest in a pair of mudguards now the roads seems to have a permanent damp, gritty surface

Do the SKS Chromo's require proper mudguard fixing points? I was tempted by the Crud Roadracers, but now not so sure after the reviews here

Any other recommendations?
Subject to the frame having enough clearance you can make them fit by using brackets like these - I got them from my LBS, it's one of those shops that has a box full of random bits! - and a bridge piece that IIRC comes with SKS guards.

http://reviews.wiggle.co.uk/7867-en_gb/5300001954/...

The brackets fit on the forks and seatstays and the bridge goes between the stays behind the BB. My brother and I have both done it to our Langsters and although it's a bit fiddly, once in place they stay put.

AMG01

421 posts

171 months

Monday 9th September 2013
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Just bumping this thread. Its getting to that time of the year again and I want to get mudguards for my Bianchi. Any further recommendations?

gazza285

11,167 posts

237 months

Monday 9th September 2013
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Disastrous said:
I know the answer is a second bike.
OP answered his own question in the first post.