Bicycle Mechanics - what's wrong with this picture?

I am a fender newbie. i mounted my berthoud fenders for my fall/winter commute. But something seems very wrong. the rear fender is not keeping spray away from my drivetrain, or left foot for that matter. The fender atttaches to the chainstay bridge with a p-clamp in the upward position. The fenders are 40mm wide, tires are 32mm Vittoria Randonneur. I've got a bit of clearence and the front fender sits and works perfectly. i guess i could go down to 28mm tires - but i'd rather have the extra cushion. i am also going to reverse the pl-clamp with the intention of lowering the fender. any other suggestions?

aren't fenders supposed to keep that gunk off my bike? :)

Fender needs to be closer to the tire. Also, front fender needs a mudflap hanging off it.

Spray looks like it's coming from the front. Post a pic of your front-wheel & fender.

Spray looks like it's coming from the front. Post a pic of your front-wheel & fender.

i'm kind of embarrassed i didn't think of this... mudflap is defintiely something i want to add. but the whole rear wheel (tire and rim- more so on the left side) are pretty caked in dirt. that shouldn't really happen without a mudlfap , right?

i'm kind of embarrassed i didn't think of this... mudflap is defintiely something i want to add. but the whole rear wheel (tire and rim- more so on the left side) are pretty caked in dirt. that shouldn't really happen without a mudlfap , right?

Memories of commuting in Vancover.
The gick in your first photo is from the front. The rear wheel will get pretty gunky, the fender stops it being thrown off so it ends up all over the inside off the fender and on the rear wheel. Do yourself a big favour and clean your rims and brake pads regularly, it will greatly reduce brake track wear.

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Flap the front. The rear too. And yes to the frequent braking-surfaces maintenance.

Rotating the rear fender so that it extends below the chainstay bridge a good bit is also doable. Either method will give the blow-by less time and space to expand and contaminate.

Rotation may/will require drillin', but drillin', 'tis no biggie.

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The fenders won't keep your drivetrain completely clean. After the gunk sprays the inside of your fender, some of it is going to drip off onto your bike.

Is this single speed bike?

I agree with all the above posters that you need a front mudflap.

Here are some instructions for mudflaps..

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

The closer you get them to the ground, the more effective they will be.

Is this single speed bike?

yes, with a coaster brake. fitting a rear fender for the long term on a SS bike is especially problematic. considering chain stretch and all. personally, i am worried about drilling for the brake bridge mount and as the chain stretches, then having to move the wheel fender back to keep a good fender line. a sliding bridge on this bike wont work because they aren't long enough - 27" frame, 700c wheels.

someone (VO or Gilles Berthoud) needs to make an L bracket with oblong holes to make positioning in these situations easier. how many other people would need this?

I agree with all the above posters that you need a front mudflap.

Here are some instructions for mudflaps..

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

The closer you get them to the ground, the more effective they will be.

thanks, i know this site. though i find this one much better:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gzahnd/sets/72157600115186491/

Mud flaps back and front, front for you and rear for your mates.