Touring - Minimalist fenders

On my Schwinn Le Tour, circa 1978, I have aluminum fenders I had added when the bike was new. The fenders are only about 12 inches long, and are fastened at one point each. The fenders have done a reasonable job of keeping me dry when I ride. Does anyone know of a source for such fenders so I ccan add them to a few other bikes in my household?

Maybe buy a set of full sized ones and cut them up to make 2 or 3 sets of minimal ones? You would have to make or find some brackets though.

I would have thought that 12" fenders would work about as well as no fenders, which is what I have been running lately.

I make my own out of bamboo, and glass. I have found that they do not need to be wide or C section to work. The C just catches more air. I do use full length though.

I make my own out of bamboo, and glass.

Would love to see some pics?

I would have thought that 12" fenders would work about as well as no fenders, which is what I have been running lately.They do a good job of keeping water off me. I do have a rear rack as well, and the bags on it seem not to get as much water on them as one might expect were the fenders not there. The fenders are about two thirds of their length behind the attachment and one third in front.

This is my idea of the minimalist, it keeps my upper body clean and reduces the amount of grit around the upper seat stays and seattube;

http://www.rei.com/product/736719/sks-adventure-fender-set

I used these for both front and rear fenders, I did add an extra set of struts to both for more stability. Woody also sells extra struts BTW. http://www.woodysfenders.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8

there are clip on plastic ones ..B'trager & Zefal.

a rear rack with a strip down the middle adds some of that..

Myself I like my feet to not get the wheel-spray hosing on them.
and only long Mudguards do that service.

Out here, we don't have minimalist rainfall .. YRFMV

The fenders are only about 12 inches long, and are fastened at one point each

I think it would be wise to use proper fenders with multiple, secure points of attachment so that accidents are avoided and you keep all your teeth and skin.

A recent thread illustrated how one bicyclist used an ultralight rack to save perhaps 12 oz, which subsequently collapsed under load, locked the wheel, caused a crash and nearly ruined the entire frameset.

It's not worth jeopardizing your safety just to cut 6 oz weight off your fenders. Urinate before you ride, 6oz saved!

SKS and Velo Orange (http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/accessories/fenders/fender-sets.html) make good quality, durable, reasonably-priced fenders. They not only work better than the minimalist fender you propose, they can also enhance the appearance of your bike - and we all know shiny bikes go faster!

Depends. Toba (Lambert Cycles) came out with something last year called the Toba Farrell Quick Mount Bicycle Fender. It wasn't actually a fender in the classic sense - it was actually a water dispersion system designed specifically for road bikes with tires less than 28c in profile. It worked well - own two of them. Unfortunately it wasn't well accepted (people in general have cery little imagination and its hard to evaluate a product like this over the Internet) and has been discontinued. But there are probably some for sale somewhere.

It occurs to me, no one has actually answered your question.

What you want are the Wald Splash guards (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/splashguards.html).

I'm in favor of full fenders, but not every bike needs them, and those shorties do look stylish, if I do say so myself.

It occurs to me, no one has actually answered your question.

What you want are the Wald Splash guards (http://www.waldsports.com/index.cfm/splashguards.html).
Yay!
Not for me, but I think they look pretty cool too. And I had no idea they were still around!

Minimalist fenders = no fenders. Get dirty!

They basically just cut down on the grit sprayed onto your Brakes,
and at your headset lower bearings, by the tire.

Never managed to drive in heavy rain and stay completely dry, or in muddy conditions and stayperfectly clean - even with oversized fenders. But a properly placed rear fender - even an abbreviated one, will at least keep the rear tire from flinging water and mud up your back. For me - thats the most annoying problem dealt with.

I'm doing better with Full Fenders And a cycle Rain Cape, covering me well
when rain is not blowing sideways.

Never managed to drive in heavy rain and stay completely dry, or in muddy conditions and stayperfectly clean - even with oversized fenders. But a properly placed rear fender - even an abbreviated one, will at least keep the rear tire from flinging water and mud up your back. For me - thats the most annoying problem dealt with.

Yes, even full front fender will let water dribble across the feet unless it has the lower flap. On trips to (rainy) Germany I was a bit surprised to see lots of commuters (esp younger folks) riding mountain bikes with shorty flared fenders (I guess they snap on, not sure). The rear esp sticks out far from the tire so I wondered how well they actually keep tire spray off.