Commuting - Fender Flaps

"Keep your eyes on the road, FENDER FLAPS!!!" I shouted at an inattentive motorist this morning... OK, so I made that up :p

I've come to realise that although my fenders do a great job my feet and (more importantly) my chainrings are still getting sprayed with roadcrap. A while back I found somewhere online that sold flaps for fenders to cut down the spray, now I can't find them. Does anyone have a link they could share ? I think the problem is that I don't know the right name for them :rolleyes:

Cheers!

Nashbar has some.
I've never used them.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=109&subcategory=1124&brand=&sku=9381&storetype=&estoreid=

Thanks bradw, love those crazy patterns!!!

I also just found some at CobbWorks (http://www.cobbworks.com/accessories.html), also check out their top tube stickers:

"My other vehicle f**** up the environment". Hahaha, that's too funny.

Make your own!

http://www.phred.org/~alex/bikes/fendermudflap.html

I only made the front one, but it works great. Almost as much difference between no fenders and fenders as frenders only and fenders+mudflap. About $4 worth of materials total. Just don't cut it too short.

Joel

I'll second Joel's recommendation. To avoid cutting them too short, I'd suggest you make them so long they touch the ground, and that you mount them on your bike.

Once they are installed, cut them to the appropriate length.

My front mudflap is about 3-4" wide and stops at 6-7 cm off ground. Longer than that and it drags on potholes and the like.
My rear mudflap is 5" wide and is necessary because I pull my daughter on her trailercycle. Otherwise, I wouldn't have it. I made it so wide because it is used to support a few 2,5 x 5" SAE reflectors.

Regards,

I made the mud flaps for my fixed-gear out of those clear vinyl floor mats (not the hard chair ones). Cut out triangular shapes and taped them onto the bottom of my fenders. They seem to be very durable and the ideal flexibility (to me), and they last a long time.

Mud flaps are a must IMHO!

Ron in Boise:beer:

Mud flaps work GREAT! Regular fenders - no matter how long - don't keep the water and mud off your feet, but the wide mud flaps do a pretty good job.

I bought some on ebay on the "Collectibles/Transportation/Bicycles" section. They cost about $6.00 per pair. Mine are from the 1950's or 1960's and have a cool decorative jewel and metal star just to jazz it up.

Oh, Baby! Don't hate me because I'm cool.

Wow Mike, looking cool there! I think that qualifies as fender porn :D

Originally posted by Mine'sAPint
Wow Mike, looking cool there! I think that qualifies as fender porn :D

hee hee. I thought that would turn some heads. Nothing like a good looking mud flap.;)

I also just found some at CobbWorks (http://www.cobbworks.com/accessories.html).

I realize this is a very old thread, but with rainy season coming up it seems timely again.

I just ordered a set of the CobbWorks mudflaps. They don't have a picture of them on their website, but they emailed me one. I have attached it to this post. They look to me like they will work very well... big enough, red reflective stripe on the rear one, pre-curved to fit your fenders. I'll post an update after I receive them and get them mounted.

Just make some. Get some stair tread rubber at the hardware store for 50 cents, cut to size, drill a hole though the fender and rubber, put a bolt in to hold it. I use a piece of plastic from a plastic jar (like a yogurt jar, or a bit thicker) as backing so the bolt doesn't pull through the rubber. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes.

Just make some. Get some stair tread rubber at the hardware store for 50 cents, cut to size, drill a hole though the fender and rubber, put a bolt in to hold it. I use a piece of plastic from a plastic jar (like a yogurt jar, or a bit thicker) as backing so the bolt doesn't pull through the rubber. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes.

I'm lazy and want something that doesn't look like crap. And it doesn't take ten minutes. I'd have to:

1) find a hardware store
2) go there
3) shop
4) come home
5) figure out what I want to do
6) cut the pieces
7) mount them
8) puke because it looks like crap

Here is a place that I buy all my "Accessory" items from as they are
good folk's to deal with and offer items that no one else does.

Even the naked lady mud flaps!! :D :D

www.bikeworldusa.com

Check under "Mud Flaps"

cut up some plastic Milk containers

I realize this is a very old thread, but with rainy season coming up it seems timely again.

How about a set of Brooks mudguards (not leather!).
I Never knew they made them.

How about a set of Brooks mudguards (not leather!).
I Never knew they made them.

They're the best mudguards ever made, but it takes at least 10,000 miles to get them broken in properly. ;)

Make your own!

I did this as well. The mud flap stops at least as much crap from hitting me as the rest of the fender does. Can't believe they even sell fenders without flaps.

Took about $2 and 15 minutes to make and mount the flap (I did front only since I never ride with anyone, I didn't see any point in making a rear flap).

Not sure how a mud flap could look better or worse. It's a mud flap. I wonder about the thought pattern that leads someone to think that anything they make will "look like crap". Everything is made by someone, and a mudflap takes almost no talent and no tools beyond a drill and a pair of scissors.

Besides, why buy something when you can make it? Buying is no fun. If I wanted the easy way out of everything I'd drive to work.

Well you certainly put me in my place. I stand humbled before your greatness.

I'm going to rotate the back fender a few more inches towards the rear on one of my rides by extending the fender from the bolt at the bottom bracket area instead, i'm thinking it will look cleaner. But i've always been fond of milk carton fenders.

A long flap almost to the ground is the best. But, it has to be flexible to go over things.
I use two layers of inner tube glued together with tire patch glue. It works great, even in deep snow it just flexes up and out of the way. I just wire it on with heavy wire around the fender, no holes in the fender and easy to remove or replace if damaged.

old water bottle works good!

my bike with fender attachment on the far right.

http://s94916384.onlinehome.us/alleycat/DSC01336.JPG

Did it, too. I found a truck inner tube on my way to work one day. I cut out what I wanted and used a rivet gun to attach to my fender. Freebie. I actually like the ones from Nashbar. If I had seen those before I made mine I might have gotten one....naah, I like making stuff!

So the mud flaps that came with my Freddie Fenders are probably bogus. They're small and say something like Planet Bike on them. I should just trim them away and do something that works.

So the mud flaps that came with my Freddie Fenders are probably bogus. They're small and say something like Planet Bike on them. I should just trim them away and do something that works.

Yep. They are more of a styling touch than an effective mudflap. These are the ones from Cobb Works mounted on my commuter:

http://home.comcast.net/~michaelnel/mudflaps_800.jpg

How funny, I was just thinking as I read this thread "Gee, the flaps on my new freddy fenders are alot smaller than the ones shown here... I wonder if they work?"

Now I know I have a task ahead of me.

I think the general rule of thumb about mudflaps is "If they aren't so big they look seriously geeky, they aren't big enough to be effective."

I'm lazy and want something that doesn't look like crap. And it doesn't take ten minutes. I'd have to:

1) find a hardware store
2) go there
3) shop
4) come home
5) figure out what I want to do
6) cut the pieces
7) mount them
8) puke because it looks like crap

Here's how my mudflap effort worked
1.Do nothing until it's time to add oil to my car.
2. Wash the black valvoline bottle out and cut the narrow part into the shape of the flap (10 minutes)
3. Drill a hole (5 minutes)
4. Attach with a zip tie (2 minutes)

The curved edges look pretty nice.

Is there a Cobbworks link that works? I'd like to see the styles.

I also bought some rubber from Home Depot and might perform a do-it-myself-er.

Is there a Cobbworks link that works? I'd like to see the styles.

I also bought some rubber from Home Depot and might perform a do-it-myself-er.

http://www.cobbworks.com/accessories.htm

Here's how my mudflap effort worked
1.Do nothing until it's time to add oil to my car.
2. Wash the black valvoline bottle out and cut the narrow part into the shape of the flap (10 minutes)
3. Drill a hole (5 minutes)
4. Attach with a zip tie (2 minutes)

The curved edges look pretty nice.
There's a major flaw here.



Step 1 can take me 2 years easily, the amount of time I use the car these days.


Total time: 2 years, 17 minutes. Nah.

This thread keeps making me think of Spinal Tap.

Mudflaps. Heh.

There's a major flaw here.



Step 1 can take me 2 years easily, the amount of time I use the car these days.


Total time: 2 years, 17 minutes. Nah.

:beer: ha ha! Hey maybe people can cut a corner or 2 and just get one from the gas station "donation bin".

Jur, even if you don't drive your car, you should still change the oil... If you plan on ever driving it again I mean. Oil breaks down over time. I'd do 6 months max on regular oil or a year on synthetic. Or if you drive it once a year, just change the oil right before you drive it.

Everyone: You just made me sad. I had decided to get Freddy Fenders and thought the mudflaps would be worth having! Now I find out I need to make my own anyway. Oh well.

I've got some chrome pin up girls en route in the mail for a new set of fender flaps I'm going to make out of scrap rubber. Pictures in a couple of weeks.

Mines are shown on this page (http://www.mgagnon.net/velo/garde-boue.en.shtml).

Mines are shown on this page (http://www.mgagnon.net/velo/garde-boue.en.shtml).
Yours are the best-looking ones, even better IMO than the Cobb ones. Thanks for the photos. I am going to make these.... :)

wouldn't a light plastic chain thingy be usefull here? Wish i could find one of the new ones...

Perhaps slightly off-topic, but one idea I've heard is using two rear fenders, using a rear fender in the front also (cut to fit of course) because it is longer. By this you can have it extend longer in front also, IMO the front fenders are usually too short in both ends. A mudflap is still a must in the front.

p.s. I'm planing a "fenderization", so this has been a very helpful thread. Thank you guys.

Well today is the first day I've ridden in rain on purpose. It worked out pretty good except that I have GOT to add a big mud flap to the front fender. Road spray all over my feet. Otherwise I stayed dry, but it was raining only lightly. We'll see how it goes in heavier rain.

Anyway, I know what my project is this weekend! :)

This one is pretty hot.

http://www.wallbike.com/Berthoud/mudflap.html

My SKS chromoplast fenders' flap is a bit small. I made a mudflap extender from an old folder which plastic matches the existing flap. I just stuck the additional piece on with some double-sided tape. I think I may have too much down there now since it tends to scoop up sticks and twigs that become trapped between tyre and fender, necessitating stopping and clearing.

I have the Berthoud leather mudflap. It looks and works good. It protects my feet and drivetrain from spray on smooth roads but not my feet from deeper water holes. I'd like something a little longer, wider at the top and more flexible at the bottom.

It seems to me there is a possibility that a mud flap can be attached to a fenderless bike, just in front of the cassette, affixed to the downward sloping tube. That is, if the idea is to keep stuff off of the chain and gears.

This one is pretty hot.

http://www.wallbike.com/Berthoud/mudflap.html

Or to match your Brooks saddle:

http://tinyurl.com/955ux

What do you guys do if you don't want to drill holes in your fenders? I have SKS P35s.
Thanks.

I'm in the same boat, don't necessarily want to drill holes. Was thinking about using hot glue...

I have the black flame version (sold by Nashbar). For $5 you can't go wrong!

Perhaps slightly off-topic, but one idea I've heard is using two rear fenders, using a rear fender in the front also (cut to fit of course) because it is longer. By this you can have it extend longer in front also, IMO the front fenders are usually too short in both ends. A mudflap is still a must in the front.

I wouldn't recommend it. A mudflap needs to easily flex away from the tyre. A rigid flap would catch when going down kerbs at slow speed. You also want it to flex around large pieces of debris like stones. If a big enough object gets caught between the tyre and fender it can jam the wheel.

Just made these flaps this weekend with an empty anti-freeze jug. I left the labels on for extra fashion.

http://www.sheepcamp.com/images/IMG_3467.JPG

Mines are shown on this page (http://www.mgagnon.net/velo/garde-boue.en.shtml).
Michel, last night I made and installed my front mudflap. I was a little worried about the drilling, but that was surprisingly easy. The mudflap looks great, and now I am hoping it will rain!

Only one question -- I installed mine with the "treads" facing out (towards me); I noticed you installed yours with the treads facing in. Why?