Banzai

I have Planet Bike Freddies on my ATB, and they're...ok. They rattle and bounce a bit, and don't feel very...permanent. I caveat that statement with the disclaimer that they are also the "quick" install hardware, with the rubber "feet" that grip the fork and chainstay, since that particular bike has a front suspension and no eyelets up there.

Now it is time to put fenders on my roadie/regular commuter, because, to be honest, I don't always want to haul out the ATB on the bad weather days.

Since my regular commuter has all the proper eyelets/attachment points, I can get normal mounting hardware, so this seems like an all new product essentially; because of that I'm disregarding my current experience with the Freddies.

So. In the way of full coverage fenders, which do you recommend, and why?

Brian Ratliff

SKS for permanant installation. They are more durable (it is made of an aluminum core with plastic coating) and their attachments are more solid because of the two wire supports made from the same piece of wire. Because of the plastic with metal core construction, they can also be cut up and customized a bit better.

Both of my commuters have SKS. My road bike has Freddies because they are lighter and there is a clearance issue at the rear brake bridge. I also take them off in the summer, so it is not a permanant installation. I used to use SKS on my road bike as well, but the clearance was so touchy that it was a multihour pain in the a$$ to get them on every winter and every time the tire got grit on it, they would rub a bit. Freddies are good when there are clearance issues because they have a more curved cross section.

unkchunk

I'd go for the SKS fenders. I have both and I'd rate the SKS as better, but that dosen't mean that the Freddys suck. What tips the scale for me is that it's easier to attach home brew mud flaps on the SKS. I think that a big long mud flap is just as important as the fender itself. The Freddy's mud flap is to me just a visual design element. It's not practical at all.

grolby

The clearance problem is caused by the little metal clip, right? I took a pair of needlenose pliers and bent the arms of that clip up against the inside of the fender. Took thirty seconds, no more clearance issues!

Of course, if it's not the clip, well, that's different. But that clip is such a pain in the rear, I consider it a pleasure to explain my little solution.

ItsJustMe

I now have SKS. I had Zefals before. I think they're both pretty durable. The SKS mounting is different, not sure if it's more solid, probably not much difference really.
My rear Zefal did break when something got caught in the spokes, but I think that's a GOOD thing; the alternative would probably have been to lock up my rear wheel.

DataJunkie

I had planet bike on my old hybrid. They were okay.
I just installed a pair of SKS on my new touring bike. They were even easier to mount and slicker looking.
Not that the freddy fenders were bad.

AJRoberts

My flat bar commuter has freddies and my road bike has SKS. I like the SKS better as they don't seem to rattle as much, and the silver colour is oh so sexy.

Brian Ratliff

Naw... it was the squarish cross sectional shape of the fender itself. I couldn't get the center of the fender far enough from the tire with the edges pushed all the way up to the brake. Those metal tabs, by the way, are absolutely meant to be crimped into the fender, once the tab is positioned properly.

RonH

I had SKS on my old road bike. Didn't like them. The whole setup looked kind of flimsy and cheap even though they weren't cheap. They rattled a lot and I was always afraid they would fall off when I hit the next bump or pothole.

I have Freddy Fenders on my present commuter. They don't look cheap or flimsy and they definitely won't fall off --- unless I get hit by a garbage truck.

ZachS

Honjo!!

chajmahal

What size tire and fendes were you using? If you tried to mix a 32-35mm tire and a P35 or a 2.1" tire and a P50 then it's a tight squeeze. SKS recommends a P45 for 32mm and larger. Same goes for other tire/SKS fender combinations.

Daily Commute

I argue with Brian a lot in A&S, but he is right about this. The SKS fenders on my Cross Check have survived wipe outs and even a raccoon attack. They are built to detach when severely stressed and then to re-attach.

Brian Ratliff

All three bikes are road bikes (two are built up as commuters, but share a road bike heritage, including the small fender clearance); I should have clarified this. They all have 700x23c tires on them.

MacG

I've got a set of the narrowest SKS chromoplastics fenders they make (I think anyways) on my fixed-gear road conversion. I really like the look and they mount nice and securely for me. Freddy fenders really don't do it for me for some reason; they look cheapo and kind of ugly. To each his own however. I'm very happy with the mounting and adjusting side of the SKS fenders. I opted to skip the plastic quick releases in the front because I'm a suicidal maniac and thought they looked kind of weird, so I just have the front set up identical to the rear. I actually had a fat stick kick up and dance around betwen my front spokes and the wire stays for the fender on a group ride the other day. It was a tad unnerving, so maybe I should break down and put those plastic clips in there for a bit of peace of mind...

To those with fitting problems with the SKS fenders: they make at least three different models with varying widths and curves to fit fatter and narrower tires. Yes, you are supposed to bend the tabs on that rear brake bridge mount inwards once you get it where you want it; tire clearance will be tricky at best if you leave it uncrimped. The widest version of the SKS fenders is at least as big as the freddies I see and quite possibly bigger. If you can't find a source for the different width SKS fenders, check with Jim at https://www.hiawathacyclery.com as he stocks several sizes (that's where I got mine).

jeff-o

I have a set of Zefal fenders on my Trek. They have held up well so far.