General Cycling Discussion - Fenders!

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a pair of fenders for a newly built surly x-check, for commuting/light touring. Any suggestions? Or, anything to stay away from? I'm looking for well-built fenders above all else.

Any help would be appreciated.

SKS chromoplastic. Probably P35.

Wald fenders are well priced for very good quality. American made they are!

http://waldsports.com/index.cfm/fenders.html

I'd say stay away from Planet Bike Cascadia fenders. I've had two pair break on me so far. Very flemsy. The SKS one's mentioned above are quite sturdy.

I'd say stay away from Planet Bike Cascadia fenders. I've had two pair break on me so far. Very flemsy. The SKS one's mentioned above are quite sturdy.

What broke? Just curious as they are aluminum with stainless struts.

No, the one's I have aren't aluminum. They are plastic. It broke where it connects to the bridge at the bottom bracket.

No, the one's I have aren't aluminum. They are plastic. It broke where it connects to the bridge at the bottom bracket.

prob not cascadias then as they are aluminum clad in polycarbonate.

I have both SKS (P35 and P45) and PB Cascadias. I just like the SKS better. Mostly it's an aesthetics thing.

I also felt cheated by the Cascadias. I expected the mudflap would make them longer. No, the Cascadias with mudflap are actually shorter than the SKS without a mudflap. So basically, they shorten the fender before adding the mudflap. That's just plain silly.

From shops in England (http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pp/road-track-bike/SKS-MUDGUARDS-ROAD/SKSAMUDR), you can order SKS P-series with a small front mudflap and a rear reflector. That's where I got mine.

I have the Planet Bike Freddy Fenders attached to a Specialized Hard Rock which I use as a utility bike. They've taken a lot of abuse in the past 6 years and still looking good.

If you want a classy look get the Velo Orange aluminum hammered fenders. Good Luck mounting it though. You need a degree in mechanical engineering to figure it out.

Great. Thanks for the info! The SKS chromoplastics do look quite nice. I'm wondering however about sizing. I've got 700c wheels with Schwalbe Marathon plus', and am wondering if P35 or P45 would be better. I may also buy a set of nobby'er tires for more cyclocross riding, so would want that option. Any ideas there?

prob not cascadias then as they are aluminum clad in polycarbonate.

They are cascadias. They just don't look nor feel like they have aluminum in them. Maybe they do, but there are quite delicate.

And before you say they are probably knock offs, these and the prior pair came straight from Planet Bike. The set I have now, was replacements from Planet Bike for the first failed set.

Great. Thanks for the info! The SKS chromoplastics do look quite nice. I'm wondering however about sizing. I've got 700c wheels with Schwalbe Marathon plus', and am wondering if P35 or P45 would be better. I may also buy a set of nobby'er tires for more cyclocross riding, so would want that option. Any ideas there?

You'll have to make that determination.

Here's the sizes.
P35
700x20,23,25,28

P45
700x25,28,32,35

P50
700x35,38,40,42,45

If you want a classy look get the Velo Orange aluminum hammered fenders. Good Luck mounting it though. You need a degree in mechanical engineering to figure it out.

I got them for my Long Haul Trucker and I like them. The price is in line with cheesy plastic fenders at the bike shop, but they look much better. I did not have a problem with the install, but I'm not big on reading directions, either. Cut the stays to the right length, and the rest just falls into place.

They are cascadias. They just don't look nor feel like they have aluminum in them. Maybe they do, but there are quite delicate.

And before you say they are probably knock offs, these and the prior pair came straight from Planet Bike. The set I have now, was replacements from Planet Bike for the first failed set.

Relax, it's nothing personal...wasn't going to say they were knock offs. I'm just trying to figure out how they broke as mine are still going strong.

I am jealous. I wish I could figure out a way of putting fenders on my GT Xizang, a hardtail mountain bike that I'm using more for road and improved trail uses at this phase in my life. I switch between 26x2.4" knobby mountain tires/wheels, and my 26x1.5" Marathon Plus highway tires/wheels. I don't think there's a practical way to mount fenders on a mountain bike with a RockShox Judy fork and a mountain bike hardtail rear end. Maybe for your road and touring bikes...

I have Planet Bike Cascadias on one bike. They've worked out fine. Depending on how and where you ride, I can see how they could break, but I've had no problems with them, myself.

I have Planet Bike Full Hybrid/Roads on another bike (also plastic, but with heavier-duty stays than the Cascadias). They're also fine. I think they're a little heavier than the Cascadias, and maybe they'd be more durable. I'm pretty gentle on my stuff, so I think they'll both last as long as I need them to.

I've been thinking of getting some Velo Orange fenders for my old steel bike, but I haven't, because I don't really like to ride it in the rain anyway, because it's already rusty enough.

The current issue of Bicycle Times (issue #9) has fender reviews.
- Tanaka Brass Traditional
- Origin-8 Classique Sport Rosewood
- Planet Bike SpeedEZ Road
- Bontrager Nebula Deluxe Aluminum
- Civia Loring Bamboo
- Portland design Works Origami
- Axiom Clipper LX Trekk
- SKS Alley cat
- Velo Orange Hammered Polished

I like both SKS and Velo-Orange. I use the SKS on my all weather bikes (winter slop and salt) and use the VO fenders on the summertime rides.

If you want a classy look get the Velo Orange aluminum hammered fenders. Good Luck mounting it though. You need a degree in mechanical engineering to figure it out.

That would be "moderately classy". There's some guy in Seattle making custom hardwood bicycle fenders. Now that's "Super Classy".

Fender installation is one of those jobs that you think should take about 10 minutes and sometimes that's all that it does take. Other times it will have you using words that only bike mechanics are allowed to say.

I got these

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/fenders/vo-polished-52mm-zeppelin-fenders-700c.html

Velo Orange aluminum fenders for my hybrid with 700cm wheels and wide tires and am very pleased with them. Their installation guide isn't terribly helpful but I did get them installed myself, although I had to fabricate a couple of little aluminum brackets to mount the front stays.

I have SKS chromoplastics on my Surly LHT and that bike has been to hell & back on numerous occasions.

I have SKS chromoplastics on my Surly LHT and that bike has been to hell & back on numerous occasions.

Rumor has it that hell recently got flooded. Is that so?

I'm a big fan of SKS fenders. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and do a fine job of keeping water and crud off me and the bike.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5172222625_b455c5bac0.jpg

That would be "moderately classy". There's some guy in Seattle making custom hardwood bicycle fenders. Now that's "Super Classy".



This guy?

www.woodysfenders.com

I bought a shorty rear fender from him just to see what they looked like. The thing is a work of art! I bought one with purpleheart in it to match my violet colored bike. It looks great on there.
My only concern with wooden fenders is how various weather conditions affect them.