Commuting - SKS Chromoplastic vs Soma Eurotrip fenders

Well, it's starting to move in to winter here, and I'm looking at getting a set of fenders. Both the SKS Chromoplastic and Soma Eurotrip caught my eye, and both are roughly the same price (within $2 or $3 of eachother). I know everyone seems to love the Chromoplastics, and I haven't heard much on the Somas, but they looked pretty comparable in the store. A pro for the Somas is that it seems to come with a mudflap stock, whereas it seems I would have to fabricate one for the Chromoplastics.

Are there any pros and cons that I'm missing here? Thanks in advance.

I have the SKS fenders, and they're great.

Never had the soma's, and the material (metal surrounded in plastic), is definitely the way to go, so that's probably fine, but I'd go with the SKS, because I once bought some Zefal Paragon fenders, which had a similar mounting mechanism to the Soma's, based on the pictures I see.

The problem with the Zefal's was that little plastic clip on the end of the stay that clamps onto the fender. Not nearly as strong a connection as the stainless steel nuts that directly tighten onto stainless steel stays. With the Zefal's I could never get those plastic clips tight enough to stay in place, so the fender was always moving on me. Bad idea.

I had a set of SKS P50's, which claimed to work with either 700c or 26 inch tires, but they didn't come far enough down my back tire to even let me put a mudflap on and I spent most of last winter with a stripe up my back. As I understand it, not all SKS fender have this problem. It's too bad, because they looked nice, had great mounting hardware and didn't wobble or flop around.

Also look at the Planet Bike Cascadias. I personally prefer them over SKS because the PBs have built-in mudflaps.

I had a set of SKS P50's, which claimed to work with either 700c or 26 inch tires, but they didn't come far enough down my back tire to even let me put a mudflap on and I spent most of last winter with a stripe up my back. As I understand it, not all SKS fender have this problem. It's too bad, because they looked nice, had great mounting hardware and didn't wobble or flop around.

+1, I was able to add mudflaps to my SKS's, they are short, but I also have Planet bikes on a bike that come with mudflaps and cover more of the wheel. I like to keep my bike clean as well as myself.

Also look at the Planet Bike Cascadias. I personally prefer them over SKS because the PBs have built-in mudflaps.

+1 on the Planet Bike fenders. Everything I've bought from them has been great, and the fenders were no exception. They fit wonderfully on a 27", a 26" and everything inbetween, the hardware is top-notch, and mounting was super easy.

The Soma fenders look nice, but the mud flap really isn't long enough to be functional, IMO. Given that, I'd cast my vote for the Planet Bike Cascadias too. The mud flaps on the Cascadias are great.

any Fender recommendations for a 29er wheel with big fat tires?

any Fender recommendations for a 29er wheel with big fat tires?

Yes. Again, the Planet Bike Cascadias (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7029.html). Here's a pic of my 29er with 29x2.0 Marathon Supremes with the Cascadias.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3564744482_5a1fc82c3c.jpg

A front view might be useful too. I've got one at home that I can post later if you're interested.

My planet bikes cracked after two seasons. I replaced with SKS and they seem sturdier. I did have to pay extra for their mudflaps. But, they work.

Tom

Yes. Again, the Planet Bike Cascadias (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7029.html). Here's a pic of my 29er with 29x2.0 Marathon Supremes with the Cascadias.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3564744482_5a1fc82c3c.jpg

A front view might be useful too. I've got one at home that I can post later if you're interested.

thanks!
I am going to have to rig a rear mount with P-clips or something as I don't have eylets. I am going to switch my front White Brothers Magic fork for a rigid fork with eyelets I was thinking of going with the IRD rigid fork.

any pictures of a close up of the mounting system?

any pictures of a close up of the mounting system?

This pic is with the SKS fenders and narrower tires, but I used the same stuff to mount the Cascadias.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2033/2503818631_5e0b76c494.jpg

It's a zinc T-plate from the hardware store wrapped in black duct tape with old reflector brackets holding it to the fork. It turns out to be amazingly stable. I got lucky and the holes that were already in the T-plate were exactly where I needed them, but you could easily drill new ones and maybe cut off part of the plate if you needed to.

I did have a problem with the rear fender when I switched to the Cascadias and the bigger tires. As I recall, the plastic clip that keeps the fender off the tire didn't quite fit between the seat stays, but I was able to solve that with one of the spacers (intended to work around disc brakes) that came with the fenders. This wouldn't be a problem if I had more tire clearance -- can't even get 2.35's on this lousy bike. ;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3568/3564744368_024e4db169.jpg

I love SKS. As everyone said from what I have seen now it seems that the P50 will only work well with a 26" wheel however I have a set of the P45 and they could easily handle almost the widest wheel you would want to run on a 700C bike (with the exception of something enormous like a Big Apple) so if you want it for 700C go with the P45 for the widest.

Here is a P50 on a 26" wheel.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/Johnny_Alien/1994%20Bridgestone%20XO-3/Full-2.jpg

Here is a P45 on a 650B wheel.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii31/Johnny_Alien/Bleriot/Full.jpg

SKS Chromoplastics FTW!

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/all2.jpg

Yes. Again, the Planet Bike Cascadias (http://ecom1.planetbike.com/7029.html). Here's a pic of my 29er with 29x2.0 Marathon Supremes with the Cascadias.

A front view might be useful too. I've got one at home that I can post later if you're interested.

Yeah, I highly recommend Cascadias, or other chromoplast fenders that lack a safety release in the front, to anyone who would entertain an attempt to break their neck at a least expected moment.


+1 on the Planet Bike fenders. Everything I've bought from them has been great, and the fenders were no exception. They fit wonderfully on a 27", a 26" and everything inbetween, the hardware is top-notch, and mounting was super easy.

It's a truly great company that can provide such a thrill to the riders.

There's no possibility of SKS fenders jamming in the front wheel?

There's no possibility of SKS fenders jamming in the front wheel?

The struts just jump off the release with SKS. With Planet Bike, if you are fast enough, you take a flight and the fork is likely a goner. The situation appears here similar to that with Ford Pinto. Metal fenders do not need a release, because they lack the flexibility allowing them to grab the tire and fold inwards locking the wheel.

The struts just jump off the release with SKS. With Planet Bike, if you are fast enough, you take a flight and the fork is likely a goner. The situation appears here similar to that with Ford Pinto. Metal fenders do not need a release, because they lack the flexibility allowing them to grab the tire and fold inwards locking the wheel.

Oh, I was just wondering because my brand new SKS fender on my Bridgestone just jammed up my front wheel this week despite the releases. Luckily I was traveling slowly. This is a legit concern with any fender in my opinion. Keep spreading FUD around, though.

My planet bikes cracked after two seasons. I replaced with SKS and they seem sturdier. I did have to pay extra for their mudflaps. But, they work.

Tom

My SKS cracked after about 2 years as well. My next set will be Planet Bikes.

Oh, I was just wondering because my brand new SKS fender on my Bridgestone just jammed up my front wheel this week despite the releases. Luckily I was traveling slowly.

That is the first I heard. Can you provide details on the jamming?

any Fender recommendations for a 29er wheel with big fat tires?

I haven't used them personally, but if I needed something I would buy the Gilles Berthoud Stainless. 700x60 should work for just about everything. It won't completely cover something like a 2.35 Big Apple, but it will still keep you dry.

For a 26" wheel, the Wald 962-26 has proven extremely sturdy.

Oh, I was just wondering because my brand new SKS fender on my Bridgestone just jammed up my front wheel this week despite the releases. Luckily I was traveling slowly. This is a legit concern with any fender in my opinion. Keep spreading FUD around, though.

He's not really spreading FUD, what he is describing is exactly what the quick release is for and what happened to you is exactly what it is trying to avoid. You are proof that not everything works as advertised 100% of the time. Regardless I would rather have that extra level of "possible" protection then none at all. On other fenders I am guaranteed 100% that the fender will jam. At least on the SKS there is a percentage chance that the quick release safety feature will work in your favor.

(Note: Not that I think any other fender is dangerous OT that I don't like them. I bought and installed some Planets for my dads bike and they were easy to install, look great, and work like a fender should. I just happen to personally prefer the SKS)