General Cycling Discussion - Think fenders make a cyclist feel better about the rain.?

We So Cal cyclists get freaked out about rain..What the heck is that..Another rainy day in SO Cal...Not as bad as the last bouts....At times we have some sun out today..But roads very wet...
Think a cyclists who does not like wet, cold socks....the cold spray...that soaked/cold sensation...filth on the chains/drive train...
think fenders make us feel any better about being uncomfortable...My bike group was to start out a 30 mile ride with a TT...wonder how many went...bet, ridership was down 70%...we insist on blue skies...do fenders help your mental attitude...hate the dirty spray hitting your face...

I don't know abut the road, but I will chime in anyways, on the trails I love having a front fender. No matter how big or ugly it stops the mud from caking on my glasses. I don't 'like' my ass being wet but if my glasses get caked I am one pissed off rider.

I keep meaning to get some fenders, but I always forget to do it when I'm at the LBS. I commute on my bike, so fenders are a pretty big deal, I HATE going to work with a wet ass. I can wipe my glasses off, but I can't do that to my ass.

Fenders make a big difference to me as a commuter. Here's something else I must have when I ride in the rain - a way to keep my head dry. So I always carry a shower cap with me just in case. To me there is nothing worse than water running down my scalp.

Fenders? I've always considered myself more of a Gibson man myself. :rolleyes:

I noticed Morbius only has a front fender? Reason we so Cal riders don't get serious about fenders..what we get, maybe 20 days of rain , if that...Just give it up is most of our responses...The subject came up because today is a rainy day here... Fenders...Might help to lessen the spray..
I find the only really effective means of keeping your legs dry...Performance Triflex tights...Rain pants too steamy..Some of my problems of riding in the rain..But nothing seems to work with cold feet...

No fenders for me here in SoCal since rain is so infrequent here. Perhaps same reason why insurance companys don't sell flood insurance here...

No fenders for me here in SoCal since rain is so infrequent here. Perhaps same reason why insurance companys don't sell flood insurance here...
If you are a serious commuter here in SO Cal, you might want some additional comforts for commuting in the rain..That makes you totally serious...I would only put them on my bike I use as a 'city bike.'...

I have a love/hate relationship with my mudguards.

I love the fact that they help keep me and my stuff dry, and that other cyclists can ride near me in the rain without getting soaked from my rooster tail . . .

But they can be a huge pain to get set up correctly, and invariably after putting the bicycle together when I've arrived at my cycling destination, the mudguards rub the tire for the first few days.

They've also got this fascinating ability to scare me half to death - when the tires pick up bits of road grime and that road grime runs through the fender, it makes a noise that sounds like the entire bicycle is about to fall to bits beneath me. They also resonate in the wind with a loud hum sometimes when the wind is just the correct angle. The first time that happened, again I thought something was falling to pieces on my bicycle until I discovered what it was.

That said, I don't regret having them, and won't take them off my Marinoni.

Living near Portland Oregon, fenders are a must. Did 30 miles this morning...raining the whole time. I still got pretty soaked, but no racing stripe, and its nice in a group if the other people have fenders...although you still get some spray off most of them, its alot easier to avoid than the wall of water a bike without gives off. Most of the people that do the group rides that I do, have dedicated rainbikes..

I'd only have full coverage fenders, half fenders, or any of those clip on ones without full coverage are just next to useless. If it's going to be fenders, it better damn well be full fenders.

If I had eyelets on my new roadbike I would slap some fenders on it.

Yeah, I've been riding to work in the rain a bit lately and I haven't seriously considered fenders yet. Would probably do it when I get more disposable. Right now if it's raining I wear a change of clothes.

Which brings up the next question. What do commuters do about sweat and body odour? I'd feel guilty as hell if my BO got bad enough to affect my co-workers.

I keep meaning to get some fenders, but I always forget to do it when I'm at the LBS. I commute on my bike, so fenders are a pretty big deal, I HATE going to work with a wet ass. I can wipe my glasses off, but I can't do that to my ass.

You don't wipe your ass???????
:D

D

I wasn't going to mention that Doug for fear of starting off another fierce saddle pong thread. Maybe that's why his spokes keep popping :D

very funny wise asses

very funny wise assesOh c'mon now. You gotta expect some ribbin' on this forum. ;)

very funny wise asses

wiped wise asses, s'il vous plait :D :D :D

When I was in the soggy UK, most of the bikes I saw had fenders (or as they call them, mudguards). Part of the reason is to keep from rain splattering on you. But part of it, at least among club and group riders, is to keep it from splattering on your mates.
Machka could answer this, but I believe fenders are required on Randonnees, probably for that reason.

Which brings up the next question. What do commuters do about sweat and body odour? I'd feel guilty as hell if my BO got bad enough to affect my co-workers.

Baby wipes--no kidding.

... two hours later ... I would never have guessed.

When I was in the soggy UK, most of the bikes I saw had fenders (or as they call them, mudguards). Part of the reason is to keep from rain splattering on you. But part of it, at least among club and group riders, is to keep it from splattering on your mates.
Machka could answer this, but I believe fenders are required on Randonnees, probably for that reason.

Mudguards are considered a common courtesy in the UK, most clubs are reluctant to let you ride with them if you don't have them.

As for Randonnees, some events/clubs require them, some don't. They weren't required on the Rocky Mountain 1200 or the Great Southern Randonnee, but they were "strongly recommended" on the PBP, and I think they are required on the London-Edinburgh-London. As for North American clubs, the ones in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon definitely require them. The ones in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, don't require them. I'm not sure about other clubs.

I think it boils down to this: if you'll be cycling in a typically rainy/wet area, most clubs require mudguards.

after almost needing fenders this am, the sun has come out here in So Cal...too late..Sure tomorrow will be a fenderless day..
another reason for considering fenders...I do pack up my bike and take it to rainy areas...Like Brittany...Just being prepared...

Northwest cycling requires fenders at a minimum. I added mudflaps to give more spray protection to my feet & those behind. Giles Berthaud leather flaps are available & I found leather belts from thrift stores will make a spray gaurd for 2 or 3 rear fenders. Don

Actually my gf's uncle uses a mud flap for the front tire too. Keeps the tire pretty clean.

That's what I was saying: Giles on front, belt strip on back. Like this one.

Ollo..Where did you get that large saddle wedge..Looks like it would hold a jacket and tools,etc.....

Which brings up the next question. What do commuters do about sweat and body odour? I'd feel guilty as hell if my BO got bad enough to affect my co-workers.
Baby Wipes + more deodorant does it for me. Actually not baby wipes -- I don't see them too much anymore, but Lever 2000 makes "Lever 2000 antibacterial wipes" which aren't as good as a full shower but are definitely better than nothing.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/physlabs/512079.html

I keep baby wipes at work just in case, I can't shower..But, showering is an option..a ride before work and fresh shower..one is ready to take on the world.

I don't use fenders, here in SoCal rain is pretty much an anomoly.

If I ride to school, I usually go swimming before classes so I get to school, rinse off in the shower, swim and shower with soap/shampoo.

I'm not overly concerned with much getting on me, and there aren't any people out riding when i go to school.

I personally feel that the job of a good fender is to keep dust and dirt from entering the chainrings and the rest of the drivetrain.
So, anything but a full front fender, with mudflaps to within centimeters of the ground, is almost useless, in my opinion.
The only reason I don't have that yet is that the store I have to get them from is so far away, around 160 km one way, that I won't go there just to pick up a pair.

Rain might be an anomaly here in So Cal but its rained quite a bit these last few months and I've been out in it each time. I have a clip on fender that makes life much much more enjoyable in the rain.

I recall once riding in the rain 20 miles to Oceanside..I hate the spray saturating your pants rear and front and even sense you are swallowing some of the road spray..

The dust and sand thrown up by the front wheel, even when it's dry, is enough to warrant a full fender for every ride.
Unless you happen to enjoy cleaning your drivetrain...

I don't use fenders and look at me! No, those are not freckles.

http://wydra.home.sprynet.com/muddy.jpg

Lol. Owned.

... and your hat looks like something out of a horror movie :D

Here in the UK all tourers have fenders (mudguards) and no tourist would think of riding without them. They would be very unpopular with other riders and considered antisocial. After all they weigh nothing and come with stainless steel fittings so it's no big deal. Carrying rain gear at all times is also recommended, as being an island we have no climate only weather. That said, I would much prefer it if the weather here was drier (my arthritis) and I look forward every year to touring in the southern part of France where you can usually be sure of having dry weather.

Five of the six bikes I own have fenders and none of them are ugly. Of course, I ride cruisers and matching fenders are common. I rarely get too dirty as a result, but I also get where I'm going slower than the rest of you guys :)

Ah, you lucky English people.
To have such a nice bike touring country just hours away.
I've never been there myself, but I've read dozens of bike tour journals from trips in France.
Too bad I don't speak French.

... and your hat looks like something out of a horror movie :D
On the beginning of the ride the helmet was solid blue. My face looked like that before I washed it 2/3 rds of the way into the ride.

Fenders make me feel better. When I was living in Sunland California fenders were not necessary. Here in Ohio they are. They keep the water spray off my feet and sand and mud out of my components and off my back. Today’s fenders work in various ways. I use them in a degree of protection for me and my bike. When the weather is good, off with the fenders. The smap-on's are even better. I commute each day. I like to keep my commute speed at 17 to 25 mph. for only 12.5 one way with or without fenders. So far I must be going too slow to notice a slowdown with them on. On some group rides in the rain, us fendered bikes ride point most of the ride just to be courteous. I hope that they do not read this thread, I enjoy the free lunches after the ride.

I have a love/hate relationship with my mudguards.

I love the fact that they help keep me and my stuff dry, and that other cyclists can ride near me in the rain without getting soaked from my rooster tail . . .

But they can be a huge pain to get set up correctly, and invariably after putting the bicycle together when I've arrived at my cycling destination, the mudguards rub the tire for the first few days.

They've also got this fascinating ability to scare me half to death - when the tires pick up bits of road grime and that road grime runs through the fender, it makes a noise that sounds like the entire bicycle is about to fall to bits beneath me. They also resonate in the wind with a loud hum sometimes when the wind is just the correct angle. The first time that happened, again I thought something was falling to pieces on my bicycle until I discovered what it was.

That said, I don't regret having them, and won't take them off my Marinoni.

Hey! I have a Marinoni too! One day on a wet ride I show up with fenders on my Marinoni, one guy looks at it and says "Fenders? On a Marinoni?"

Jerk.

I too use fenders but on my touring bike. My Marinoni does not see much rain these days. I like 'em, but like you said, a ***** to set-up and every bike is differant. I have found that using zip ties a good way to attach them on the bike, provided you don't take them off much.

Digger

Fenders? I've always considered myself more of a Gibson man myself. :rolleyes:

What kind of bar ends are you running on that rig ??? Homemade ???
I like long bar ends....I would like it even better if you could still buy those old Scott AT-4 handlebars that connect with the plastic bridge....I missed out on that one

I bought a pair of Dunlop mudguards yesterday.... but it was so wet I couldn't put them on :D :D :D

Forget fenders, I am looking for rubbers for my shoes. Last night I had to ride through a downpour and my feet got water logged. I hate cycling or running with wet feet.

I re-installed the Bluemels on the Motobecane I picked up a few months ago since the Nokians won't be needed anymore (not enough clearance for those big tires). Rode it for the first time today in the rain and now I'm a convert. Fenders are fantastic. No more wet butt & shoes were much drier.

The only thing I don't like is now I can't wipe the tire with my hand after riding over glass.

i ride in socal and i love my fenders. if you ride everyday then you will be happy you have them.

I cant say about fenders halping my attitude, but I can say they do keep me from being wet and uncomfortable, and thats all I really need from them :)