Classic & Vintage - VO Fluted Fenders on a Hercules?

Well, as I'm working on the old Hercules, I'm looking about the fenders and possibly replacing them. The fenders are bent up in quite a few spots and while they aren't totally horrible, but they're not great either. The stays on the fenders at the moment are the ones that are bolted onto the axles which is totally wrong and a major source of irritation. At a minimum I'd need new, proper stays on the fenders to make them minimally acceptable to me.

Right now VO has these 650b fenders on sale (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/vo-polished-fluted-58mm-fenders-650b.html) and I'm kicking around the idea of grabbing a set and putting them on the old Hercules. The current fenders are around 52mm wide and the VO fenders are 58mm wide so I don't believe the width would be a big issue. Oh, and I like fluted fenders. :)

Has anyone put something like these on a similar vintage bike? Is this an act of heresy that is beyond redemption if I put those on the bike?

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6075/6084706166_fb864376cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084706166/)
Pre-Raleigh Hercules (as purchased) - 17 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084706166/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6084155729_f140dab23b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084155729/)
Pre-Raleigh Hercules (as purchased) - 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084155729/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6065/6084702838_91fd2db70c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084702838/)
Pre-Raleigh Hercules (as purchased) - 8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/6084702838/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

Heresy indeed. What's wrong with the originals? The dents give them character, and they are part of the identity of the bike. Keep 'em.

If it makes the difference between a bike you'll ride a lot and a bike that will sit a lot, I say go for it. But you should keep the originals in case you or a future owner ever wants to reverse the change.

Yeah, total heresy, a real hanging offense. If you do it, you'll have to send me the originals to atone.

Heresy indeed. What's wrong with the originals? The dents give them character, and they are part of the identity of the bike. Keep 'em.

I agree about character, but I guess I need to fess up here... I received a raise and I'm trying to find ways to spend the extra money, so I figured I'd support VO with some of my extra income. ;) Nah, JK.

Just thinking out of the box here a bit more than anything else. Maybe I'll just get the proper stays instead.

Beat up fenders add character to English three-speeds. - And they make your bike one-of-a=kind, as no two beat-up fenders are the same.

Forget that fancy schmancy fluted stuff!

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh117/auchencrow/Raleigh%20Sports%201953/RaleighSports-1953016.jpg

If it makes the difference between a bike you'll ride a lot and a bike that will sit a lot, I say go for it. But you should keep the originals in case you or a future owner ever wants to reverse the change.

I've got too many bikes around to ride anything a LOT these days (I'm up to 17 bikes in the house), but I do like them to look nice. I do have a tendency to hold onto the old parts that I take off bikes. My Davidson Tandem supplied a couple sets of mid-80's Specialized cranks I've still got hanging around and I'm quickly piling up parts as I swap and try stuff. I'm pack rat by nature. :|

Yeah, total heresy, a real hanging offense. If you do it, you'll have to send me the originals to atone.

It appears my fluted fender fetish is simply not flying in the C&V forums. So, just in case, do you have an old Herc to put them on or are you just a fender/mudguard collector? ;)

I agree, keep the originals, but those stays have to go.
You could maybe get some nearly original equipment "steel" not "wire" stays on the Ebay.
They'll be happy to take your money.

Beat up fenders add character to English three-speeds. - And they make your bike one-of-a=kind, as no two beat-up fenders are the same.

Forget that fancy schmancy fluted stuff!

That's a 1953, eh? It's roughly the same era as my Herc and looks like quite the sweet ride. Putting that pic into the thread might have just tipped me into keeping the original fenders.

I agree, keep the originals, but those stays have to go.
You could maybe get some nearly original equipment "steel" not "wire" stays on the Ebay.
They'll be happy to take your money.

Sort of like these? http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-NOS-VINTAGE-STEEL-FENDER-STAY-Never-used-/140291888169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20aa0c5429
I guess I'd need to get the little p-clamps or whatever they're called to hold the straight ends or would I bend them into a circle somehow?

That's a 1953, eh?...

Affirmative.


.... Putting that pic into the thread might have just tipped me into keeping the original fenders.

:thumb::thumb::thumb:

do you have an old Herc to put them on or are you just a fender/mudguard collector? ;)

Well, I started this thread a while back. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/704123-Fenders!-I-love-Fenders.?highlight=i+love+fenders
I've got 4 or 5 pairs in the basement waiting for just the right bike.

I picked up a R.Sport frame some years. Over the years I've added parts. I've got mixed feelings about alternate fender styles. The original black with a white bobtail are certinaly classic but the Walds are all shiney and sparkle in the sun. They definatley change the character of the bike.

( If anyone wants to correct this abomination, please feel free to send a set of Raleigh fenders my way. I'd be happy to intsall them and credit you with saving an endangered species :thumb: )

219695

I picked up a R.Sport frame some years. Over the years I've added parts. I've got mixed feelings about alternate fender styles. The original black with a white bobtail are certinaly classic but the Walds are all shiney and sparkle in the sun. They definatley change the character of the bike.

( If anyone wants to correct this abomination, please feel free to send a set of Raleigh fenders my way. I'd be happy to intsall them and credit you with saving an endangered species :thumb: )

I've seen that pic before and that bike does look pretty nice with those abominations affixed. ;) I like shiny stuff and those Walds are indeed shiny!

Well, I started this thread a while back. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/704123-Fenders!-I-love-Fenders.?highlight=i+love+fenders
I've got 4 or 5 pairs in the basement waiting for just the right bike.

I remember that thread well. :) Any thread that features fenders/mudguards and/or 3-speed hubs instantly gets my attention!