Rain, muck fender clearance

[vrkelley]

I'm noticing about 10miles into the ride the road dirt seems to be filling up on the inside fender and rubbing on the tire. Any suggestions about how to keep the road bike fenders clear?

[PaulH]

Make sure that the back of the fender has the closest clearance. That way, any crud will come off BEFORE it gets under the fender.

Paul

[Violineb]

Or take off your fenders like I did. Strangely enough, not even Panaracer Fire XC 2.1s fit under my fenders :( Maybe I need a different pair of fenders?

[SAB]

Is your frame designed for big touring/winter tires AND fenders? The typical road racing frame won't handle both, just not enough room for standard fenders and tires. You can use a seat-post mounted clip-on rear fender which have several inches of clearance, but the coverage is not the best. I have a steel cyclocross frame I ride in the winter, which will handle 700x45 tires plus have room for standard full-coverage fenders. If the rear fender is within a couple of millimeters of the rear tire than it might get mucked up.

[vrkelley]

No it's a "road bike" that doesn't take fenders, panniers etc. More impractical poorly though out bike stuff. So my fenders are wired on and I use a seat post rack.

So the clearance is pretty close. It was misty the other night that the brakes were loaded with sand and grit. The bike was pretty clean in the morning but by PM commute I found myself having to loosen the brake cable for more clearance!

[cristoff]

I'm noticing about 10miles into the ride the road dirt seems to be filling up on the inside fender and rubbing on the tire. Any suggestions about how to keep the road bike fenders clear?
I just thought after reading your tread maybe spray underneath fenders with "pam".Don't know if it will stick to plastic, that's what I have. I'm going to try it.

[vrkelley]

Great idea. I use PAM anyway to do the inital loosening of grease and grime when cleaning the chain. It melts the goop off. Then on the 2nd pass, I use the really good chain cleaner to remove moisture and do the final cleaning.

Hmm...the fork area (where there is no fender) seems to load up first. Not sure if PAM or any grease is good on a carbon fork.

[MichaelW]

What is PAM?

[2manybikes]

Even if there is not much clearance under the headset, you could find fenders with good clearance that do not go under the fork, they mount to the brake bolt behind the fork crown. Check Performance and Nashbar. For riding in the slush I used old fender parts and made motocross style fenders for one of my mtb's you can do the same on a road bike if you have the time to experiment a little.

Photo...... high clearance fenders for snow....mud flap from mtb tube...

[2manybikes]

Great idea. I use PAM anyway to do the inital loosening of grease and grime when cleaning the chain. It melts the goop off. Then on the 2nd pass, I use the really good chain cleaner to remove moisture and do the final cleaning.

Hmm...the fork area (where there is no fender) seems to load up first. Not sure if PAM or any grease is good on a carbon fork.

Does she ever complain ?? :) :)

[vrkelley]

What is PAM?

PAM is a baking grease that comes in a spray can. If you use it don't let it get on the carbon frame. Rather soak the rag and apply it to the chain. Maybe WD40 would work better...never tried that.

http://www.pam4you.com/pages/index.jsp

[jharte]

2manybikes, I like those fenders! I wish I had seen those before I bought the ones I use now. My commuter/tourer is also a MTB converted and I have your basic fenders. I installed some knobbies (26x1.95) and the tires barley fit. The fenders I have were recommended by my LBS. I probably told him it was a commuter and thus...road style fenders. I may change them. I like yours!