Classic & Vintage - 27" chromed steel fenders - buy new?

I want these heavy fenders to deck out my all-steel "french" "touring" bike (the truly amazing Motobecane-made Astra TdF). Because there's nothing worse than getting splashed with muddy water while trying to coax your Allvit to into getting the chain to stop skating across your Atom freewheel--particularly if you are simultaneously and futiley (sp?) trying to slow the rotation of your wet Super Chromix cheese grater rims.

I really didn't want to fool with dents and rehabbing/retrofitting bent/rusted stays. I just assumed that Wald or Pyramid or somebody would make them, heavy, cheap, and shiny. But I can't find them anywhere.

Any ideas?

You don't say where you are. I assume in the US of A by the use of fenders, rather than mudguards. Fenders have long been uncool in the land of the free, but are still widely used and appreciated in Europe, principally Holland, Germany and Scandinavia. There are some shops in America which import Dutch and other European bikes for a discerning niche market, and one would assume that they also carry spare parts, including fenders. If you check out the Work Cycles website, you'll see their importers dotted about the USA, mainly the coasts and the Pacific Northwest. A call to one of them may be fruitful. Bear in mind that some of these European bikes have 28" rims, though, although 27" and 26" are also common.

Velo-Orange has this aluminum set marked down to $35, and they come with hardware although are not pre-drilled. They have other choices under $50. I'm ordering a set for daughter's mixte:

http://www.velo-orange.com/veor46smfe.html

Thanks, PH and Al.

Yes, I'm in the USA.

Al--of course I've looked at VO (after strapping on my drool-catcher). However, I have this kind of strange fantasy of decking out this bike in the manner in which God intended: with every possible low-end chromed steel accoutrement. The VO fenders are great, they just seemed a little too good for this project.

Anybody got any for sale?

You don't like the polycarbonate SKS "commuter" fenders from Germany? Lightweight, don't rust or dent, don't rattle, and you can even polish them with car wax, and they cost under $30. Chicago Al's aluminum fenders do look pretty nice, though, especially for $35!

Of course we say fenders. Mudguards just sounds silly;).,,,,,BD


ANd yeah the SKS fenders are pretty nice. I just got a set from the LBS. Take offs from a Raleigh One Way. They look nice, and do the job. I can't
even tell they're there unless I look down, hehe.,,,,BD

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n267/Kustombyker/Miyatafender1.jpg

Do "mudguards" stop water spray just like fenders :p

BTW, yesterday I was riding in Chicago around the Air & Water Show, lots of hipsters have fenders now, just takes us Yanks an extra decade or two :lol:

Th...I have this kind of strange fantasy of decking out this bike in the manner in which God intended: with every possible low-end chromed steel accoutrement...Anybody got any for sale?

I've seen them on the 'bay, also, these guys have all that olds stuff, post a WTB and you'll find some:
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3

Assuming they would fit, why not find yourself a full fendered Schwinn Conti-Varsity to use for the fenders and then flip the bike for a handsome profit? Lots of them out there, especially here in the PNW. You could probably find one with the full generator lighting kit to add if you felt the bike was still too light in weight. :)

Thanks, everybody.

If I did find a Varsinental in decent shape with orig fenders in usable condition, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to part it.

I'll try the Schwinn forums and, sigh, the bay. Goodbye credit rating, hello identity theft.

You don't like the polycarbonate SKS "commuter" fenders from Germany? Lightweight, don't rust or dent, don't rattle, and you can even polish them with car wax, and they cost under $30. Chicago Al's aluminum fenders do look pretty nice, though, especially for $35!

Oh, no, for this project, too modern looking (actually, too modern looking for me in general), too light, and not electromagnetic enough. :)