Touring - Need to make decision on fenders.

I recently purchased a Trek 520 with 700x32 tires. I've looked through Performance, Nashbar, Pricepoint, etc., and all have road bike fenders that mention they will fit up to a 700x28 tire. Will they fit with a 700x32 or 700x35 tire? If not, where can I get a pair of good fenders that will fit? The bike is also being fitted with front and rear racks and arkel panniers, if that matters.

Freddy Fenders by Planet Bike (http://www.planetbike.com/fenders.html).

Ditto on the Freddy Fenders, you'll want the 45mm hybrid/touring fenders for your 32 tires. SKS fenders are also a very good choice. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fenders.html

Planet bike fenders definately fit on my roomie's 520 with 32cc tyres.

Also consider fashioning a front mudguard if you are expecting rain. Rear is unnecessary (I found it caused splashback on my rear panniers), but it helps the guy behind you.

Definately go with the Planet Bike fenders, their strong, super resiliant to bending and look as good as any fender. But the best part is, is that Planet Bike gives 25% of their profits to bike advocacy!

Journey On
Chris

I prefer the SKS chromoplastic fenders, although the PBs are definitely easier to set up.

Planet bike fenders are great. Also consider getting a large mudflap so that your drive chain remains cleaner for longer. Once your out there, you don’t want to have all sorts of grit and grime on your chain.

Ditto on the Planet Bike Freddy Fenders. I put them on a 2006 Trek 520 a few months ago - get the 45mm size and they will work great. They also look good . . . which is also very important!

Cherry Bomb

I've installed several sets of fenders and just last night installed a set of Zefal fenders on my touring bike. I much prefer the SKS fenders as they are a whole lot more adjustable.

For SKS you have to remember that AFTER you put everything together and get the alignment together you take each nut off and Locktite it back on. On a trip you must always carry spare fender attachment components.

The Zefal fenders are fairly nice but they are a bit on the narrow side, their material is a bit too brittle for my tastes, they have a funny joint system that might or might not work over time. And their directions are pretty poor though if you've installed fenders before you can dope it out.

Remember that fenders represent a means of making it difficult to repair a flat. They are all sorts of problems when you have to lay your bike over since they can be pushed out of alignment and then drag on the wheel. They impede access to the brake releases as well. In some cases they're noisey and when they rub against the wheel (sometime almost indetectably) they can rob power from your progress.

Fenders have some advantages - in rain and slush they really do improve your life. If you can find an old British style rain cape and you have a good enough fender system you can ride almost dry.

Fenders are also nice on dirt roads since they keep the majority of dirt off of the bike and you.

I don't have any hesitation of riding off paved roads with my bikes since I've ridden mountain bikes from their inception when the only differences were essentially cosmetic. You need to remember that your traction is compromised and that going downhill requires great care since your brakes are severely limited when you have smooth tires off paved road.

Fenders can also make some bikes look better.

Try here (http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/fenders/27002.html)

Will they fit with a 700x32 or 700x35 tire? If not, where can I get a pair of good fenders that will fit?

Check here for the wider SKS P45 fenders:

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&Category=27&Brand=377&type=T

I have those SKS fenders on my touring bike (with 700x37 tires) and Planet Bike Hardcores on my 26" wheeled commuter.

Both are fine, but I slightly prefer the SKS. The front has an extra set of supports to keep the fender from wobbling at the bottom and also has a safety release if something gets caught underneath the fender.